South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-12-18
DECEMBER IS, 1918.
POLITICS AND FEAR AS ELEMENTS II
LOCAL FLU" EPIDEMIC

LOO~AL TIL ETlDEMlO.
No one will accuse as of holding a brief for DR. f.
Freyermuth. city health secretary appointment
vas a political one made in payment of campaign sery-
ices. without regard his offices,
he noisest Of his critics today-the administration
organ-yvas among the advocates his appoint
nent. Long editorial reams were published at the time
auding Mayor Carson's vision" choice o men
various city offices. not single mistake was
made We tod that partyism had been eschewed,
and The payment of partisan debts and that all must
well with the ship that had been efficiently ana
cautiously manned with an eye always on the little
things We have 10 assume, therefore i'm the face
OF this prophecy. tnfalnble the spokesman the
p. Gods Party) that Health Secy Freyermuth
making good. else the administration bible is
&c believed amy instance. Its raiIery against now
simply SO many great gobs of mud thrown in its
own face
What the trouble? Why. ne hasn't stamped out the
flu" night and the medical fraternity. much
the same gentlemen as those who protested so vigor
5usly against On. Freyermuths appointment withou,
slsderation from the administration organ at the
-.ae appear that ne is aItogethes
blame for IT, with that organs approval Havins
Paid political debt 10y his appointment year ago,
the purpose to get rid of Or. Freyermuth,
If possible under pretense that he has failed, pay
another political debt with the same office The claim
that the "nu' being handled properly.
and that his method is wrong because the medical
fraternity fails cooperate with medical
fraternity that opposed his appointments an excuse
finding fault. excuse rather reason. and
can readily dismissed situation once understood
The big complaint against Dr. Freyerruuth beer.
that he has fought hysteria and as well as the
disease. Contrary to charges made against him. that
he minimizes the 'nu' epidemic even to denying its
eNistence.natural1y offensive the school maer.
medca.-he has only sought 10 limit the epidemic to
the disease thus keep up the public power OF re
sisance avoid popular hystera, and Undue the PEG
pie spirit -t-iveuess rather one of
'oh my I'm going to die. The jigs all on"-vith the
approach every little cold cough 1t would De
just sensible assert the medical profession
anxious to promote beyond disease into
popular scare multiplying It's victims with imaginar5
cases. This prodteering purposes.
sert that the health secretary by promoting such
denies existence the disease altogether
Get this from a report of the American Public heatt
association. made public Boston. only Friday. u
is signed by Drs w A. Evans d. ID Armstrong w III
Davis. f. s.. s.. c.. woodward. evidently uef
of some standing I'm the medical profession or the,
Wouldn't Hc j. "a position to- make report. and
evidently broad minded enough 10 be working in tn
interests Of truth. rather than political by-pay
They say.
Mental conditions may cause one t, believe
he has influenza when he has not and may
make patient has disease suffer
state alone however viii cause the disease
i'm one who S not affected by the uicro-organ-
ism virus that unGerIies the malady."
That is exactly what DR. Frcyermuth has contended
all alons not thar there is no such disease not that
person have it when he hasn't got it, He ha
only commended that haeins it, fright can make on
suffer more from il than be otherwise would. an,
even make CINE that he has it, when it Is
only imaginary I criminal to promote a public at
aozphere conducive such condition. and the
papers medical men. preachers and public. viii bat
hold theis heads Take this also from The above men
toned report.
physical aud nervous exhaustion should be
avoided by paying due regard TO rest exercise
physical and mental labor and hours of sleep"
Every DIR OF the associations advocacy runs in tina
direction Tn, report even declines to recommend
"aans' wholesale quarantine methods asserting tina
The "au" has different organism-or micro
lin different localities that no set rules b
laid down Tor dealing with IL breaches Ieve-headed
caution. but and frightfuIness nowhere
This for Instance referring the ban" public meet
mss al least interest 20 the eIe-gy:
III churches 20 remain open. services
should reduced the lowest possible num-
Der consistent with the adequate DISCHARGE of
necessary religious Offices and such services as
are held should Dee conducted in such way
TO reduce a minimum. intimacy. and fire.
quency of personal contact"
We quote the above 90 the clergy especially. as en-
couragemeHt them iu case their congregations talk
Oh, advice given ami limit the attendance Ito IN
lowest possible number consistent with min