The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1918-10-24


that In this disease the number Of
white corpuscles shows little or no In
crease above the normal. It Il posi-
bic that the laboratory ipvestlga lions
now being made through the National
Research Council and the United
States Hygienlc Laboratory will fur
nish more certain way In which indi-
vldual cases Of this disease can b
recognized"
Whist L the courss 81 the dissAssS
% people die Of 10
Ordinarily, the fever lasts from
three to four days and the patient re-
covers. But while the proportion Of
/ deaths In tho present epidemic has
generally been low, In some places the
outbreak has been severe and deaths
have been numerous. When death oc-
Ours 4 is usually the result Of com
ulfcation.s
What causes the disease and hoe =
4 spread7
'SBacteriologists who have studied In
,huenza epidemics In the past have
found In many Of the cases a very
small rod-shaped germ called, after Its
disc0verer, Pfeiffer's bacillus. In other
cases Of apparently the same kind OF
/ disease there were found pneumoc0cci.
the germs of lobar pneumonia. Stin
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 mucous,
/ expelled BY coughing or sneexing,
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 mucous, from coughing and
sneezing. or from careless people who
spit. on the door and on the sidewalk.
AS in most other catching diseases, a
person who has only a mild attack Of
the disease himself may give a very
severe attack to Others"
What should 30 done by those who
catch the diseased
1T Is very important that every per.
con who becomes sick with influenza
! should go homo ct 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 Is highly
desirable that no one be allowed to
Aeep In the Same room with the pa
tfent. In fact, no ono but the nurse
should be allowed In the room.
If there Is cough and sputum or
running Of tho. 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
Il the patient complains of fever and
headache, he should BE-: given water to
drink. q cold compress to the forehead
and . light sponge. Only such medi-
cine should be given as IL prescribed
By the doctor. It Is foolish to ask the
druggist to prescribe and may be dam
terous to take the so-called safe, sure
and harmless remedies advertised by
patent medicine manufacturers: {
ss IL the patient 10 20 situated that he
can be attended only by some one who
must also look after others in the fam
ily,. It Is advisable that such attendant
wear q wrapper. apron or gown over
| the ordinary house clothes while In the
| sick room and slip this or when leay-
ing to look after the others.
.sNnrses and attendants WIN do well
to guard against breathing ID danger
Gus disease germs bywearing q simple
fold Of eauze.or mask while near the
patient. III HI
Win Z person who has had Influenza
before catch The dissass aaain7
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-
h fuenza. According to newspaper re-
/ ports tho King Of Spain suffered an
attack OF influenza during tho cpl
| ,dsmic thirty years ago, ana was again
| stricken during the recent outbreak In
SPAIN lao y.
How can sns guard aoalnst inllu-
snxa7 3
"In guarding against disease Of all
kinds, It Il important that the body be
kept stfon1s and able 20 fight Of dis
.eass germs. Tits can be done " hav-
ing proper proportion Of, work, play
and rest, By keeping tho body well
clothed. and BY eating sufficient whole
some and properly selected food. IN
connection with diet, It II we'll % Il,
member that milk 10 one Of the best
all-around foods obtainable for adults
As well a. children. So Tar As q dis
case like Influenza II concerned. health
authorities everywhere recognize the
very elose relation between it, spread
/. and overcFoHded homea While e Il
net always possible, especially "A
| times Ike the present. to avoid such
sovercroWding, pebble should consider
the health danger and make every
iAhfnpf ~ relslrA tina hhfs1a nvArcf0Vd-