Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-10-16


now being made through the National
Research Council and the United
States Hygicnic Laboratory will fur
nish more certain way in which indi-
vldual cases Of this disease can be
recognized"
What Is tho couree Of tho disease1
% people die Of ~
"Ordinarily, the fever lasts from
three to four days and the patient re-
covers But while the proportion Of
deaths in the present epidemic has
generally been low, In some places the
outbreak has been severe and deaths
have been numerous. Wheh death Oc-
ours 1t is usually the result o! q COM
plicatlon."
What causes the disease and how 10
Il spread7
"Bacteriologists who have studied in.
fuenza epIdemics In the past have
found In many Of the cases q very
Small rod-shapcd germ called, after It's
discoverer, Pfeiffers bacillus. In other
cases Of apparently the same kind Of
disease there were found pneumOcOcci.
the germs OF lobar pneumonia. StW
others have beon caused by strepto-
cocci, and By others germs with long
names.
"No matter what particular kind of
germ cauHes the epidemic, 1t Is now
believed that Influenza is alwa:s
spread from person to person, the
germs being carried with the air along
with the very small droplets of mucus,
expelled by coughing or sneezing.
forceful talking. and the like by one
who already has the germs Of the dis
ease. They may also be carried about
In the air in the form Of dust coming
from dried mucus, from coughing and
sneezing, or from careless people who
spit on the floor and on tho sidewalk.
As in most other catching Diseases a
person who has only q mild attack OF
the disease himself may give very
severe attack to others"
What should bo dono by those who
catch tho dlsease7
ut ia very important that every per-
son who becomes sick with Influenza
should 60 home at once and go to bed.
This will help keep away dangerous
complications and will, at the same
time, keep the patient from scattering
, the disease far and wide. 1t is highly
desirable that no one be allowed to
sleep in the same room with the pa
tient In fact, no one but the nurse
should DO allowed in the room.
"If there is cough and sputum or
running Of the eyes and nose, care
should be taken that all such dis
| charges are collected on bits of gauZe
! or rag or paper napkins and burned
If the patient complains of fever and
headache, he should be given water to
drink, n cold compress to the forchend
and light sponge. Only such mcdi-
cine should be given as Is prescribed
by the doctor. 1t Is foolish to ask the
druggist to prescribe and may be dam
gerous to take the so-callcd safe, sure
and harmless remedies advertised by
patent medicine manufacturers.
"If the patient is 80 situated that he
can be attended only by some one who
must also look after others In the fam.
= lily, II is advisable that such attendant
wear wrapper, apron or gown over
the ordinary house clothes while In the
! sick room and slip this Off when leav-
Ing to look after the others.
! "Nurscs and attendants will do well
to guard against breathing In danger
| Gus disease germs by wearing q simple
! fold Of gauze or mask while near the
patient"
VIII a person who has had influenza
before oatch the dseaee again?
at is we'll known that an attack Of
! measles or scarlet fever or smallpox
usually protects person against an.
! other attack of the same disease. This
appears not to be true Of Spanish in
fuenEa.' According to newspaper re-
ports the King Of Spain suffered an
attack OF influenza during the cpl
! dsin.S thirty yeGrS ago, and was again
stricken during the recent outbreak In
SPAIN"
How can one guard against Infiu-
enxa7
"In guarding against disease Of all
kinds, 1t is important that the body be
kept strong and able to fight off dis
ease germs. This can be done by hay
ing q proper proportion of work, play
and rest, by Keeping the body well
clothed, and by eating sufficient whole
some and properly selected food. In
connection with diet. 1t lie well to re-
member that milk Is one Of the best
all-nround foods OhtaInable for adults
as well as children. SO far as a dis.
ease like Influenza Is concerned, health
! authorities everywhere recognize the
very close relation between It's spread
| and OvercrOwdcd homes. While It "a
not always possible, especially In
times like the present, to avoid such
ty,n ct, ~
the health danger and make every
off net f. ~