The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-16
COL. SMART SPEAKS ! ON INFLUENZA AT
 THE CIVIC FORUM
Army Surgeon Gives Inter- esting Data on Situation and Answers Many
 Questions

Civic association yesterday afternoon be- fore a small but highly interested au- dience. Col Smart has been active in and stated that he was gald of the op' portunity to speak to the people of Bir- mingham on this subject.
 In opening his address Col. Smart stated he was decidedly in favor of clos ing schools and all places of public as- scmbly as means of checking the spread of the disease, not only in Bir- mingham, but everywhere else. He then gave an interesting address on the re- puted origin, spread and methods of combating the disease.
 There is considerable confusion in tn" minds of the people generally as 10 the nature of the disease" wid Col Smart, and often they confuse influenza and lagrippe, which by the way are identical, as being the same as common or febrile colds.
 The symptoms that distinguishes influ- enza from common colds is 'protration.' Lagrippe is not new to us we had four epidemics of it before Spanish influenza appeared, the last being in 1882 Influ- enza is pandemic disease which haA spread over almost the entire world in about a years time. Its spread Is not
  pie carrying the germs from place to place. AS an epidemic 1t comes suddenly and leaves the same way, though we may have local cases from the present epidemic until next spring.
 'The origin of Spanish influenza IS not definitely known. It appeared in Spain in the spring and by the middle of March it was in the camps of the American expeditionary forces iif France, bee etn nd nA hY. got into the German armies until July It reached America in September or Oc- tober.
 Tt is practically impossible to quar- antine against influenza. To do this we should have to stop all of the trains, guard the roads to keep automobiles from passing. and even the rivers and the air would have to be guarded. to keep anybody from landing from boats or aeroplanes. It is here, however, and it is almost impossible to stop it entirely We can only check it. It stops itself in two ways; namely, by using up all or the available material and by gradually losing it's vitality. It is transmitted by close articulation with persons who have it.
 statistics show that about four per sons out of every five exposed to influ' enza take it. The reason the others do not contract IL IS UcCdust iitlt Syol are immune at the time that they are exposed. They may become susceptible later and take it. The mortality from |influenza is comparatively low Although lit is estimated that 360,000 persons have died with 1t or with pneumonia result ing from it in the United States, this is only from 3 to per cent of the num- Der affected.
 Colonel Smarts address was followed by 20-minute question period, and fol- lowing this the meeting was open 80 minutes for three minute speeches from anyone who wished to say anything The following are the questions which were asked and answered by Colonel Smart
 Question. Is there any value in wear ing masks? Answer. It protects oth- CTS but not the wearer. Influenza germs may enter the nose through the eye.
 Question. Is there any serum that
 may be used effectively against influ- enza? Answer. All serums used at
 the army camps are in the experimental stage There is. however, an effective pneumonia serum.
 1 Question. Is 1t possible to have in- | fluenza the second time? Answer. It | is not known just how long a person will be immune after having 1t, but 1t
 is certain that temporal immunity follows an attack.
 l Question. With the number of deaths l from influenza in a community increas- l ing steadily for two or three weeks
 should the schools and other places re- main open? Answer. No. l Question. Can immune persons trans
 init the germs of influenza? Answer People who are sick in bed with 1t dc mot transmit but the person who is lust taking it but doesn't know it may Question. How long are the germs Ialive after they have been discharged: Answer. That is not definitely known lit is certain. however, that fresh air l and sunshine are enmies to them. Question. Are schools the greatest media for spreading the disease? An swer. I don't know that they are the greatest, but they are among the great est.
 ! 0uestion. Is it possible to keep one's lsystem in a condition to escape It? An lswer. Most doctors think that low strte of health makes one more sus Iceptible to it, but l do not think tha' lit has much to do with it.
 l Question. Has influenza been very prevalent in the army camps where thu wearing of masks was required? An | swer. I could see very little difference in the camps where they were worr land where they were not.
 | Question. What are the indications of influenza? Answer. Blue face. witt Il clear mind. coughing. headache ane bloody approximations are among thu symptoms, but the most pronounced symptom is "prostration."
 1 In the discussion that followed som, took issue with Colonel Smart in re gard to the closing of all public places lana some agreed with him that the, should be closed.
 HEALTH MOVEMENT
 .After Colonel Smart's address, ant the exercises which followed 1t bant of philanthropic citizens remained IT the auditorium of the Civic association l yesterday afternoon to organize. [ movement for a modern health system in Birmingham. Commissioner John K Hornady was elected temporary chair I man of the organization. with power C l appoint a committee of five persons tt I formulate plans for a permanent or ganization, Mrs. Neal Wallace wa elected secretary.
 Commissioner Horady states that n will appoint this committee within th' next few days It will make a detailed study of the health needs of the cit! and suggest changes in, the health sys tenn which should be asked of the leg islature in January. When it Is read, Ito report . meeting will be called fo this purpose, at which members of al the civic bodies of the city are invite, to be present A petition. based on th recommendations of the committed will be prepared for presentation t
 the legislature in January.
 Short talks, in which the necessit, for improvement in Birmingham's pub diSnnSGad