The sun., 1918-08-27
The Innuenss scare.


The epidemic which has been called
Spanish influenza" seems to have
visited all the countries Of Europe.
The latest outbreaks are reported
from Paris. Belfast and Glasgow.
1t will cause no surprise II Il visits
this country.
Influenza is a disease that travels
fast and far. and in one Of its raids
circumnavigatcd the globe. The
present epidemic In this respect well
represents It's predecessor. but there
Is some doubt whether 1t really Is
influenza. The report on this sub
ject by officers Of the Canadian army
mobile laboratory ON the western
front Is timely and instructive. Az
ter careful examination Of 1000
camp cases they report:
I'm conclusion we wish to point out
that although this epidemic has been
called influenza for the want Of bet
ter name. yet in our opinion 1t cannot
properly be considered such. for the fol-
Loving reasons:
The clinical course. though similar
to that of Influenza. is Of very short
duration. and there is, so far as we
have observed. an absence Of relapses,
recurrence or complications.
THE present epidemic is character
lied by very slight blood changes.
THE germ Of influenza. the bacillus
infiuenze. was in all cases absent"
The report declares further that n
germ Of a different and milder type
was found. This Is an authoritative
opinion which agrees with the YER
dict Of the Spanish physicians. They
insist that the disease is much milder
than genuine grip. and that the NOR
tally Is low. or the prevailing ru-
mors, one authority says:
The loose application Of the term
Influenza to fever in which the in
fuenza bacillus cannot be demonstrated
Is, to say the least. unfortunate"
Most medical writer's share this
view and deprecate the use Of term
which interests, half instructs and
wholly misleads, and suggest as an
! alternative the term catarrhal fe-
YER" Whether the new epidemic be
influenza or not is best left TO the ex-
perts. The word serves we'll enough
for the description of the malady,
which is now on an offensive through
out the world. This is the point Of
pressing Importance, and health au-
thorities in Europe are busy with
schemes for its prevention, and for
checking its ravages when 1t begins
to spread.
In the matter Of prophylaxis, free
ventilation Is Of the utmost impOr-
i lance. and after that comes the ques-
ton OF the deplorably low standard
Of public conduct that prevails In
the matter Of coughing, sneezing and
expectorating without the use OF
a handkerchief In crowded places
rooms and vehicles. Without doubt
| the virus Of the present epidemic Is
transmitted from one person to an
other in nasal and throat secretions
disseminated broadcast In the un-
guarded moments Of coughing, sneez-
ing and splitting to which people with
coughs or colds. or even without them
are often given.
| Expectoration in public and espe-
clally in trains is becoming more COM
mon. possibly because the war has
taken the minds OF people from the
consequences Of this breach Of snni-
tary rules. But Il would be fatal to
the spread Of influenza If these rules
against splitting We're intelligently en-.
forced. Without this precaution quar-
antine measures might easily fail, and
so far as the experience Of Belfast
and Glasgow is concerned, quaran.
tine has accomplished little. In these
cities the first scare suggested the
closing of the schools, Int this meas.
ure, 1t was held, was as little likely
to be effective rs shutting down the
banks, mills, munition works and the
motion picture shows.
The best defence Of the population
against the spread Of the epidemic
lies In rigid attention to the de-
tails Of personal cleanliness. includ.
ing vigorous action against vermin
and insect pests Of all sorts. The
disease tends to increase during warm
weather, and in addition to the rules
above mentioned the removal Of Ut
ter, waste matter and rubbish should
be vigorously enforced.