The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1918-10-25

49, SWAROO~tG0 WyVWO kkSt1V VI III tOS
crease above the normal. Il ID posi-.
BILE that the laboratory Investigations
now being mnde through the National
Research Council and the United
States Hygienic Laboratory viii fur
nish . more certain way 10 which indi-
vidual cases Of this disease can be
recognized"
What % the course o. the dlseass5
DO people die o. ~
Ordinarily. the fever lasts from
three to four days and the patient re-
Y But while the proportion OF
deaths Ii the present epidemic has
generally been low. In some places the
outbreak has been severe and deaths
have been numerous. When death oc-
ours II IL usually the result Of q CONF
plication."
What, causes the disease and how u
Il spread7
"Bacteriologists who have studied In
fiuenza epidemics In the past have
found ii many Of the cases . very
Small rod-shaped germ called, after its
discoverer. Pfeifer's bacillus. In other
cases Of apparently the same kind Of
disease there were found pneumococci.
the germs Of lobar pneumonia. Still
others have been caused by strepto-
cocci. and BY others germs with long
names.
mo matter what particular kind Of
germ causes the epidemic. It. 10 now
believed that influenza Ii always
spread from person to person, the
germs being carried with the air along
with the very small droplets Of mucus,
expelled by coughing OF sneezlng,
forceful talking. and the like by q
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, n from careless people who
spit on the floor and On the sidewalk
AS in most other catching diseases, q
person who has only a mild attack of
the disease himself may give q very
severe attack to Others"
What should be done BY those who
catch the disease7
ut is 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. It Is highly
desirable that no n be allowed to
sleep In the same with the pa
tent. In fact, no n but the nurse
should be 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.
II the patient complains of fever and
headache, he should be given water to
drink, a cold compress to the forehead
and a light sponge. Only such medi-
cine should be given as is prescribed
by the doctor. It is foolish to ask the
druggist to prescribe and may be dam
gerous to take the so-called safe, sure
and harmless remedies advertised by
patent medicine manufacturers.
If the patient is 81 situated that he
can be attended only by some n who
must also look after others in the fam
ily, 1t is advisable that such attendant
wear a wrapper, apron or gown over
the ordinary house clothes while in the
sick room and slip this off when leay-
ing to look after the others.
Nurses and attendants will do well
to guard against breathing in danger
Gus disease germs by wearing a simple
fold Of gauze or mask while near the
patient"
Will a person who has had influenza
before catch the disease aoain7
ut Is well known that an attack OF
measles or scarlet fever or smallpox
usually protects q person against an
other attack OF the same disease. This
appears not to be true Of Spanish in
fluenza.' According to newspaper re-
ports the King Of Spain suffered m
attack Of influenza during the cpl
demic thirty years ago. and was again
stricken during the recent outbreak In
Spaia."
How can ons guard against ins'u-
enxa7
''In guarding against disease Of all
kinds, II Ii important that the body be
kept strong and able to fight OF dis
. > germs. This Z be done by hav-
ing ! proper proportion Of work. play
and rest. b. keeping the body we'll
clothed. and b. eating sufficient whole
some and properly selected food. In
connection with diet. It II well to re-
member that milk II one Of the best
all-around foods obtainable for adults
a well a. children. So far rs q dis
ease like influenza II concerned, health
authorities everywhere recognize the
very close relation between Its spread
and overcrowded homsG While Il 10
not always possible. especially n
times Ike the present, to avoid such
overcrowding. people should consider
tho health danger and make every
SHORT TO reduce the home overcrowd-
lug TO ! minimum. The value Of fresh
ar through open windows cannot be