The Era-leader., 1918-12-19
]. 5. HEALTH Service
ISSUES WkRkIHtGj
Increase in All Respiratory Dis.
eases After the Influenza
I Epidemic Probable.
Influenza Expected to Lurk for Months.
How to Guard Against Pneumonia.
Common Colds Highly Catchlne-Im-
portance of Suitable Clothing-could
Save 100000 Lives.

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 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.
1.-THE present epidemic" said Sur
geon General Blue. has taught by Bit
ter experience how readily conditio9
beginning apparently as slight cold
may 60 on to pneumonia and death,
Although the worst Of the epidemic Is
over, there will continue to be largo
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 q;
great fire. saying, mo fire chief Whi
understands his business stops playing
the hose on the charred debris as soon
as the flames and visible fire have disI
appeared. On the contrary, he com
tinues the water for hours and even
days, for he knows that there is dan,
ger Of the fire rekindling from smoH
dering embers"
'Then you fear another outbreak Of
infuenza?" he was asked mot neces,
sarily another large epidemic" said
the Surgeon General, "but unless thu
people learn to realize the seriousness
Of the danger they will be compelled I'd
pay heavy death toll from pneumo1
mia and other respiratory diseases. !;
Common Colds Highly Catching.
1T is encouraging to observe that
people are beginning to learn that Or
dinary 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 ar
ignorant people cough or sneeze with.
out covering their mouth and nose. It
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-
ton OF colds, pneumonia and other re-
spiratory diseases is caSelessness or ig.
norance of the people regarding suit
able clothing during the seasons when
the weather suddenly changes, sitting
In warm rooms too heavily dressed or,
what is even more common, especially
among women, dressing so lightly that
windows are kept closed in order to be
comfortably warm. This Is q very In.
furious practice.
Could Save 100000 Lives.
II believe we could essily save oHe
hundred thousand lives annually In
the United States If all the people
would adopt the system Of fresh air
living followed, for example, In tuber.
culosis sanatoria. There is nothing
mysterious about it-no specific medi.
cine, no vaccine. The important thing
Is right living, good food and plenty 1
fresh air.
oropIet Infection Explained In PIcturea
"The Bureau of Public Health.
Treasury Department, has Just issued
q striking poster drawn by Bergman,
the well-known Washington cartoonist.
The poster exemplifes the modern
method Of health education. A few
years ago, under sir1ilar circumstances,
the health authorities would have is.
sued an official dry but scientifically
accurate bulletin teaching the role OF
droplet infection in the spread Of re-
spiratory diseases. The only ones who
would have understood the bulletin
would have been those who already