The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-10-07
Spanish Influenza" 0Three Day Fever"
 'sThe Flu" "
What is Spanish Infuenza? Is ii Something New? Does it Come
 From Syrainq
By Rupert Blue, Surgeon General.

country and called spanish 1nnuen' a" resembles a very contagious kind If "cold" accompanied by fever, pains n the head, eyes ,ears, back or other parts of the body, and feeling of se- we're Sickness. In most of the cases the symptoms disappear after three or four days, the patient then rapidly some of the patients, how ever, develop pneumonia. or inflam- nation of the ear, or meningitis, and | many of these complicated cases die. | Whether this so-called Spanish" in- | fuenza is identical with the epidem- ics of influenza of earlier years is not yet known. How Can Spanish Influenza" be
 Recognized?
 There Is as yet no certain way in which single case of Spanish in- fiuenza" can be recognized; on the other hand, recognition Is easy where there Is a group of cases. In contrast to the outbreaks of ordinary. coughs and colds, which usually occur i1 the cold months, epidemics of influenza may occur at any season of the year.
 In most cases person taken sick with influenza feels sick rather sud- denly. He feels weak, has pains in the eyes, ears, head or back, and may be sore all over. Many patients feel dizzy, some vomit. Most of the patients complain of feeling chilly, and with this comes fever in which the temperature rises to 100 to 104. In most cases the pulse remains rela- lively slow.
 In appearance one Is struck by the fact that the patient looks sick. His eyes and the inner side of his eyelids may be slightly "bloodshot,'' or "congested," as the doctors say. There may be running from the nose, or there may be some cough. These signs of 8 cold may not be marked: nevertheless the patient looks and feels very sick.
 What is the Course of the Disease? Do People Die of 1t? Ordinarily, thea 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 occurs 1t Is usually the result | of a complication.
 | No matter what particular kind of germ causes the epidemic, 1t is now believed that influenza Is alway: spread from person to person, tht germs being carried with the aiI along with the very small droplets ol mucous, expelled by coughing Ol sneezing, forceful talking, and the like by one who. already has the germs o the disease. They may also be carried about in the air in the form of dus coming from dried mucus, iron coughing and sneezing, or from care less people who spit on the floor ana on the sidewalk. As in most Othe
 catching diseases, a person who ha only a mild attack of the diseas' himself may give a very severe attacl to others.
 Catch the Disease?
 It is very important that every per son who becomes sick with inf1uenz should go home at once and go t. bed This will help keep ava dangerous complications and will, a the same time, keep the patient iron scattering the disease far and wide It is highly desirable that no one b allowed to sleep in the same roor with the patient. In fact, no on but the nurse should be allowed i the room.
 If there Is cough and sputum C o( should be taken that all such di. charges are collected on bits of gauz
 or rag or paper napkins and burnet If the patient complains of fever an I headache, he should be given water t l drink, a cold compress to the foft } head, and light sponge. Only sue
 medicine should be given as Is prt
 scribed by the doctor. It is foolish = ask the druggist to prescribe and ma
 be dangerous to take the so calle
 safe. sure, and harmless" remedi' S advertised by patent-medicine manl c lecturers.
 If tle patient is so situated that
 can be attended only by some one WI n must also look after others in tl
 family, 1t is advisable that such a u tendan. wear a wrapper, apron. if gown over the ordinary house cloth
 while in the sick room, and slip tn off when leaving to look after u
 othera.
 Nurses and attendants will do w Il to guard against breathing in da f. gerous disease germs by wearing T simple fold of gauge or mask wh u near the plant.
 Will Person Who Has Had Infiue ,l "a Bcore Catch the Disease Agai It is we'll known that an attack y measles or scarlet fever or smallp ll usully protects a person against a
 other attack of the same disease. , How Can One Guard Against J- Influenza?
 In guarding against disease of q kinds, 1t is important that the bo
 be keR: strong and able to fight
 disease germs. This can be done n having a proper proportion of wo " play, and rest, by keeping thel bo
 well clothed, and by eating sufficie
 wholesome, and properly select
 food. Tn connection with diet, 1t
 well to remember that milk is one the best all-around foods obtaina St for adults as well as children. ne Where crowding is unavoidable, IL in street cars, care should be tai LII to keep the face so turned as not k inhale directly the air breathed
 by another person.
 It is especially important to bew ng of the person who coughs or snee n without covering his mouth and n' It also follows that one should k