Rockingham post-dispatch., 1918-10-17

IuGl III ut8CooO bAg oNAA@OSs
white corpuscles shows little or no In
crease above the normal. II Is possi-
BILE that the laboratory Investigations
now being made through the Nauonal
Research Council and the United
States Hygienic Laboratory Will FUR
nish a more certain way in which indi-
vidual cases of this disease can Do
recognized"
What 10 the course Of the dlseasef
Do people die Of lt7
"Ordlnarily, 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 oc-
ours It is usually the result OF COM
plication."
What causes the disease and how 10
II spread?
"Bacteriologists who have studied IN
fiuenza epidemics In the past nave
found in many of the cases very
Small rod-shaped germ called, after It's
discoverer, Pfeiffer's bacillus. In other
cases Of apparently the same kind OF
disease there were found pneumococci,
the germs Of lobar pneumonia. Stih
others have been caused by strepto-
cocci, and by others germs with long
names.
"No 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 sneezlng.
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 mild attack OF
the disease himself may give a very
severe attack to others"
What should be done by those who
catch the dlsease7
"It Is very important that every per-
son who becomes sick with influenza
should 90 home at once and 60 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 Ii 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
III 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. 1t Is foolish to ask the
druggist to prescribe and may be dan
gerous 10 take the so-calSed 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
tly, It 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 leav-
Ing 70 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"
Will a person who has had influenza
before catch the disease again?
at Is we'll known that an attack OF
: measles or scarlet fever or smallpox
usually protects 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 an
, attack of influenza during the epi
demic thirty years ago, and was AGAR
} stricken during the recent outbreak II
: Spain"
II How can ore guard against lnfiu
enza7
= "In guarding against disease Of al
kinds, it is important that the body b'
q kept strong and able to fight of dis
+ ease germs. This can be done by hav
r ing a proper proportion Of work, pla!
Q and rest, by keeping the body wei
4 clothed, and by eating sufficient whole
g some and properly selected food. Il
Q connection with diet, it is well to re
a member that milk is one OF the bes
all-around foods obtainable for adult
It as we'll as children. So far as dis
d ease like influenza is concerned, healtl
r authorities everywhere recognize tn
. very close relation between its sprea
10 and overcrovded homes. While it /
v not always possible, especially Il
J. times like the present 10 avoid sue
d overcrowding, people should conside
y the health danger and make ever
effort to reduce the home oUescrowt
4 ing TO a minimum. The vaaue OF Tres