Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-12-24
CASTS DOUBT ON
VACCINE vALUE
INFLUENZA COMMITTEES OF THE
AMERICAN NEALvH AssociA.
TON FLEA REPORT.
SAYS EPIDEMIC MAY
De SOME OTHER DISEASE
No Satisfactory Evidence e to Identity
Of Prevailing Malady-commtteo
Makes Suggestion Regarding Pre-.
,ventativs Measures and Treatment
Home Care Better Than Hospital.
ecial TO Times Republican.

LES sNoAhCS, bSa. SuAeSaA~A
committee appointed by the American
Public Health Association to digest
and publish in pamphlet form infor-
nation selected from the discussions
papers and committee reports pres
onted at the recent special meeting of
the association in Chicago has put out
its first report. 1t is called an influ-
enza bulletin and discusses particular
~ the prevention Of the disease.
The meeting was attended by pub
lie health officials apd hysicians from
every state in the union and practic-
ally all of the larger cities. 1t was for
the purpose OF exchanging experiences
in the matter of the control of what Is
called influenza and If possible de-
velop a system for the prevention and
control of this epidemic based on the
most successful methods thus far dis
covered. This bulletin Is the first of
fetal report Of the findings Of the as
has just reached the office Of, the
state board of health.
May Not BE Influenza.
while the prevailing disease is
generally known as influenza and
while it will be so referred to in this
statement, it has not yet been salts
factorly established that 1t is the
identical disease heretofore known by
that name" declares the committee In
it's report. "a
There is no known laboratory meth
4, y,t, Jatn ,aA a-h 10 -
person who is suffering from intiu-
enza ceases to lie capable Of transmit
ting the disease to others.
There is no known laboratory
method by which an attack of infu-
enza can be differentiated from an or
binary cold or bronchitis or other in
Examinations of the mucovsa membranes
of the nose. pharnx and throat"
The report declares that deaths re-
su,ting from influenza are commonly
due to pneumonia, or by the so-called
influenza bacillus, or bacillus OF
Pfeiffer. This invasion b apparently
secondary to the initial attack"
How Infection il Communicated.
"Eyidence seems conclusive con-
tinues the report, that the infective
micro org anisms orfvirus of influenza
is given Oh from the nose and mouth
OF infected persons.s It Reems equally
conclusive that it Is taken In thru the
mouth or nose Ut the person who COM
tracts the d.1ease and ID no utherrway
except as bare possibility thru the
ewes by way OF the conjunctfyast or
tear ducts. ~. Z. n
The committee says that the wear
ing Of ..fiu" masks should be mace
COMPULSORY for BARRIERS. dentists ana
in hospitals and for all who are di-
rectly. exposed to infection. AS to their
Being worn by the general public
however, the committee says:
"The evidence before the committee
as to beneficial results consequent
urcn the enforced wearing Of masks
by the entire population at all times
was contradictory and it has not en-
couraxed the committee to suggest the
general adoption Of the practice. Per-
sd,,s who desire to wear masks, now
ever. in their own interests should pc
instructed as to how to make and
wear proper masks and encouraged TO
do so"
isolation Urged.
The committee says tina. isolation OF
patients suffering from influenza
should be practiced and in cases Of un-
reasonable carelessnesss.it- should pc
legally enforced most rigidly. In cases
Of unreasonable carelessness and dD-
regard of the public interests placaHd-
ing should be enforced.
Home treatment is recommended
where physicians and nurses are avail
able rather than disqualification. The
committee says that sprays and gar
giles are Impractical to use 1s pre-
yentiyes, as they can not destroy
these germs and their use tends to re-
move the protective mucus Of the nose
and throat.
Doubts Value Of Vaeeines.
Concerning the use OF vaccines. ire
&C mnittee says: I'm relation to the
,;se or yacc.nes for the prevention Of
i.;,!ucnza the evidence which has come
70 ths. ,atteldioi, OF the committee as to
.se success or lack Of success of the
practise is contradictory and irrecon-
cilable. In view of the fact that the
casuative-eyganism is unknown there
is no sc.cntiilc basis for the use of any
particular y.ccine against the prim-
AIRY disease. If-used, any vaccine must
be employed or the chance that IT
bears relation to the unknown organ
ism. causing the disease
The use of vaccine for the. compli-
hating Injections rests on more dosIc-
IL grounds and yet the committee has
noe sufficient evidence to indicate that