Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1918-10-18


may be slightly 'hloodshot,' or CON
gested,' as the doctors say. There
may be running from the nose, or
there may be some cough. These signs
of a cold may not be marked; never
theless the patient looks and feels very
sick.
"In addition to the appearance and
the symptoms as already described.
examination of the patients blood may
aid the physician in recognizing Span
ish Influenza for it has been found
that in this disease the number of
white corpuscles shows little or no in
crease above the normal 1t is posi-
bic that the laboratory investigations
now being made through the National
Research Council and the United
States Hygienic Laboratory will fur
nish a more certain way in which indi-
Vidual cases Of this disease can be
| recognized"
What is the course of the diseased
Do people die Of it?
"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. When death &C.
ours 1t is usually the result of COM
plication."
What causes the disease and how is
It spread2
Observation-Disclosures who hova ctudiad In
fuenZa epidemicS in the past have
found In many of the cases a very
Small rod-shaped germ called, after its
| discOverer. Pfeiffer'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 ny others germs with long
names.
mo matter what particular kind of
germ causes the epidemic, 1t is now
believed that influenza is always
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 the sidewalk.
AS In most other catching diseases, a
person who has only a mild attack of
the disease himself may give very
severe attack TO Others"
What should be done by those who
catch the disease?
at is very important that every per
son who becomes sick with influenza
should go 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
tent In fact, no one 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 light sponge. Only such medi'
cine should be given as is prescribed
by the doctor. II is foolish to ask the
druggist to prescribe and may be dan
gerous to take the so-called safe, sure
and harmless remedies advertised by
patent medicine manufacturers.
IF the patient is so situated that he