The Bolivar County Democrat. (Rosedale, Miss.) 1887-1969, 1918-10-19

that In rnlS 0tSe3s0 rco numDer o.
white corpuscles shows little or NO In
crease above the normal. It Is posi-
BILE 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
recognised"
What 10 he oeurss o. the dsssass3
Do people die ef lt7
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 bsen severe and deaths
have been numerous. When death oc-
ours 1t Is usually the result Of q com-
pltcatiOn."
What causes the disease and how 10
u sprsad7
"Bacteriologists who have studied In
huenza epidemics In the past have
found in many Of the cases Q very
small rod-shaped germ called, after its
discoverer, Pfeiner's bacillus. In other
cases Of apparently the same kind Of
disease there were found pneumoeocca,
the germs Of lobar pneumonia. Still
others have been caused by strepto.l
cocci, ana bv others germs with long
names.
"No matter what particular kind Of
germ causes the epidemic, 1t Ia now
believed that influenza IL always
spread from person to person, the
germs being carried with the air along
with the very small droplets of mucuas
expelled by coughing or sneezins,
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 wis
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 q very
severe attack to others"
What should b done BY thoes Whs
catch the dIseaoe1
at is very important that every pss.
son who becomes sick with infiuenxs
should go 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 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.
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. d cold compress to the forehead
and a 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 dan
gerous to take the so-called safe, sure
and harmless remedies advertised BY
patent medicine manufacturers.
IF the patient is 80 situated that hs
can be attended only by some one who
must also look after others In the fam
lily, it is advisable that such attendant
wear wrapper. apron or gown over
the ordinary house clothes while in the
sick room and slip this of 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 a simple
fold Of gauze or mask while near the
patient"
Will a person who has had Influenza
before catch the disease again?
1T 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
appears not to be true of Spanish In
fuenza.' According to newspaper re-
ports the King Of Spain suffered an
attack Of influenza during the epi-
demic thirty years ago, and was again
stricken during the recent outbreak N
Spain."
How can one guard against inAv-
enxa7
"In guarding against disease Of all
kinds, 1t is important that the body b.
kept strong and able to fight OF dis
ease germs. This can be done by hav-
ing a proper proportion Of work, play
and rest BY keeping the body we'll
clothed, and by eating sufficient whole
some and properly selected food. In
connection with diet, 1t Is well to re-
member that milk ID one Of the best
all-around foods obtainable for adults
as well as children. So far as a dis
case like influenza is concerned, health
authorities everywhere recognize the
very close relation between its spread
and 0vercrowded homes. While It IL
not always possible, especially In
times like the present, to avoid such
ovefcrowding. people should consider
the health danger and make every
effort to reduce the home overcrowd-
ing to a minimum. The value Of fresh
air through open windows cannot b
over emphasized.
"When crowding is unavoidable, -
in street cars, care should be taken -
keep the face SO turned a. not to In
hale directly the air breathed out b.
another person.
TT II especially important to BE-
ware Of the person who coughs %
sneezes without covering his mouth
and nose. II also follows that one
should keep out Of crowds and stuffy