The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-10-14


BILE that the laboratory investigations
now being made through the National
Research Council and the United
States HYGIENE Laboratory will fur
nish more certain way in which indi
vidual cases Of this disease can be
recognized"
What 10 tho course Of the disease
Do people die Of Il?
"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 been severe and deaths
have been numerous. When death &C.
4 curs 1t Is usually the result of COM
4 plication."
What causes the dIssass and how Is
Il spread7
"Bacteriologists who have studied tn
nuenza epider lies In the past have
found In many Of the cases very
| Small rod-shaped germ called, after Its
discoyerer, Pfeiffer's bacillus. In other
| cases Of apparently the same kind Of
| disease there were found pneumOcOcci,
the germs Of lobar pneumonia. Still
| others have been caused by streptO-
| cocci, and by others germs with long
names.
mo matter what particular kind Of
germ causes the epidemic, 1t Is now
believed that influenza is always
spread from person to person, the
germs being carried with the air along
with the very small droplets Of mucus,
expelled by coughing or sneezlng,
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 mucous, from coughing and
sneezing, or from careless people who
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 I very
severe attack to Others.
What should be done by those who
catch the disease7
1T Is very important that every per-
son who becomes sick with influenza
should 60 home at once and go 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.
IF there lis 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, cold compress to the forehead
and light sponge. Only such medi-
cine should be given as is prescribed
by. the doctor. 1t Is foolish to ask the
druggist to prescribe and may be dan
xerous to take the so-ealled safe, sure
and harmless remedies advertised by
patent medicine manufacturers.
III the patient Is SO situated that he !
can be attended only by some one who
must also look after others in the fam
lily, it Is advisable that such attendant
wear a 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 simple
fold of gauze or mask while near the
patient"
/. viii a person who has had influenza
before catch the disease AGAIN.
, ut Is well 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
duenza.' According to newspaper re-
ports the King Of Spain suffered an
attack Of influenza during the cpl
lemic thirty years ago, and was again
stricken during the recent outbreak In
Spain"
How can one guard against Inf'u-
lnxa7
I'm guarding against disease Of all
linds, 1t Is important that the body be
Iept strong and able to fight OF dis
|ase germs. This can be done by hav-
ng a proper proportion of work, play
md rest, by keeping the body well
lothed, and by eating sufficient whole :
ome and properly selected food. In
connection with diet, 1t is well to re- ,
member that milk Is one OF the best
u-around foods obtainable for adults n
. well as children. So far as a dis
ase like Influenza Is concerned, health 7
uthorities everywhere recognize the
cry close relation between its spread c
nd overcrowded homes While 1t IL
OF always possible, especially in ,
ines like the present, to avoid such
people should consider
he health danger and make every
fort to reduce the home overcrowd-
ag to minimum. The value Of fresh
lr through open windows cannot be
yer emphasized
when crowding is unavoidable, az r
/ street cars, care should be taken to
eep the face SO turned as not to In
ale directly the air breathed out by Z
mother person.
nv