The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-12-10

Washington, D. C.-With the subsid-
ence of the epidemic of influenza the
attention of health officers is directed
to pneumonia. bronchitis and other
| diseases of the respiratory system
which regularly cause a large number
Of deaths, especially during the winter
season. According to Rupert Blue,
Surgeon General of the United States
Public Health Service, these diseases
will be especially prevalent this win
ter unless the people are particularly
careful to obey health Instructions
"The present epidemic" said Sur
geon General Blue, has taught by bit
ter experience how readily a condition
beginning apparently as slight cold
may go on to pneumonia and death.
Although the worst Of the epidemic is
over, there will continue to be large
number of scattered cases, many Of
them mild and unrecOgnized, which
will be danger spots to be guarded
against" The Surgeon General likened
the present situation to that after a
great fire, saying, mo fire chief who
the hose on the charred debris as soon
as the flames and visible fire have dis
appeared. On the contrary, he con-
tinues the water for hours and even
days, for he knows that there is dan
ger of the fire reminding from smol-
dering embers."
Then you fear another outbreak Of
influenza 2" he was asked mot neces-
sarily another large epidemic" said
the Surgeon General, but unless the
people learn to realize the seriousness
of the danger they will be compelled to
pay heavy death toll from pneumo
mia and other respiratory diseases
Common Colds Highly Catching.
ut Is encouraging TO observe that
people are beginning to learn that or
binary coughs and colds are highly |
catching and are spread from person
to person by means of drOplets OF |
germ laden mucus. Such droplets are
sprayed into the air when careless or
ignorant people cough or sneeze with
out covering their mouth and nose. II
is also good to know that people have
learned something about the value of
fresh air. In summer, when people }
are largely out of doors. the respira-
tory diseases Coughs. colds, pneumO-
mia, etc.) are infrequent; In the fall,
as people begin to remain indoors, the
respiratory diseases increase; In the
winter, when people are prone to stay
In badly ventilated, overheated rooms,
the respiratory diseases become very
prevalent.
Suitable Clothing Important.
"Still another factor in the produc-
lion OF colds, pneumonia and other re-
spiratory diseases Is carelessness or ig-
1Crance of the people regarding suit
able clothing during the seasons when
he weather suddenly changes, sitting
n warm rooms too heavily dressed or,
What is even more common, especially
lmong women, dressing so lightly that
windows are kept closed in order to be
comfortably warm. This Is q very In
urious practice.
Could Save 100000 Lives.
Il believe we could easily save one
hundred thousand lives annually In
he United States If all the people .
you'd adopt the system of fresh air .
wing followed, for example, In tuber-
ulosis sanatoria. There Is nothing
Mysterious about it-no specific medi-
inc, no vaccine. The important thing u
, right living, good food and plenty al
resh air.
ropIet Infection Explained In Pictures.
1.-THE Bureau OF Public Health,
reasury Department has just issued
striking poster drawn by Bergman,
lie well-known Washington cartoonist
he poster eXemplifies the modern
ethOd of health education. A few
ears ago, under similar circumstances,
e health authorities would have is \
led an official dry but scientifically
,curate bulletin teaching the role of :
'oplet infection in the spread of re- :
iratory diseases. The only ones who i
ould have understood the bulletin i
ould have been those who already i
lew all about the subject. The man :
the street, the plain citizen and the +
any millions who toll for their living +
)uld have had no time and no desire +
wade through the technical phrase +
)gy." \
USE @- +