The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1918-10-25

vluuaI eases of this disease can he
Teca@ni@cd'
What is tire course of the disease?
Do people die CT it?
''Ordinarily, the fever lasts from
three to four days and the patient re-
covers. Bat while the proportion Of
deaths i'm the present epidemic has
generally been low, in some places the
outbreak has been severe and deaths
nave hcCn numerous When death oc
ours it is usually the result of a com
plicHtiOn."
What causes the disease and how is
it spread?
"PacteriOlogists who have studied in
fiuenza 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 by others germs with long
names.
mo matter what particular kind Of
germ causes the epidemic, it 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,
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 viii 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, q cold compress to the forehead
and q light sponge. Only such medi-
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-called safe, sure
and harmless remedies advertised by
patent medicine manufacturers.
If the patient is so 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
die ordinary house clothes while in the
sick room and slip this off when leav-
ing to look after the others.
Nurses and attendants will do well
to guard against breathing in danger
Gus disease germs by wearing simple
fold of gauze or mask while near the
patient"
VIII a person who has had influenza
before catch the disease again?
alt is we'll known that an attack of
measles or scarlet fever or smallpox
usually protects a person against an
other attack of the same disease. This
apDears not to he true Of Spanish in
fuenza.' According to newspaper re
ports the King Of Spain suffered ali
attack of influenza during the cpl
demic thirty years ago, and was again
stricken during the recent outbreak in
Spain"
How can ere guard against ini;u-
enza?
"In guarding against disease of all
kinds, it is important that the body be
kept strong and able to fight off dis
ease germs. This can be done by hav-
ing a 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, it is we'll to re-
member that milk is one of the best
all-around foods obtaiIable for adults
as well as children. SO far as dis
ease like influenza is concerned, health
authorities everywhere recognize the
al re
and overcrGwded homes. While it is
not always possible, especially in
times like the present, to avoid such
oyercrOwding, people should consider
the health danger and make every
effort to reduce the home oyercroWd-
ing to a minimum. The value of fresh
air through open windows cannot be
over emphasized.
when croWdng is unavoidable, as
in street cars, care should be taken to
keep the face so turned as not to in
hale directly the air breathed out by
another person.
at is especially important to be-
ware of the person who coughs or
sneezes without covering his mouth
and nose. 1t also follows that one
should keep out of crowds and stuffy
places as much as possible, keep
homes, offices and workshops well
aired spend some time out of doors
each day, walk to work if at all prac-
ticable-in short, make every possible
effort to breathe as much pure air as
possible.
In all health matters follow the adj
vice of your doctor and obey the regu-
lations of your local and state health
officers"
Cover up each cough and sneeze,
II you don't you Il spread disease"