Omaha daily bee., 1918-12-29

1t is rather interesting to consider
briefly the measures that have beer
taken in different cities to prevent
the spread of the epidemic, and the
results that have been obtained. In
some communities there was no re-
striction of public gatherings. In
these the epidemic has run a very
rapid and severe course with a con-
siderable death rate. 1t might be said
that the disease ragged until practi
cally all the individuals that could
have it, had had the disease and that
it died out as soon as this material
had been exhaused Following this il
has persisted in a relatively small
number of cases which have had a
mild form. In other communities
public gatherings were prohibited.
In these the epidemic was limited to
the people who were exposed at first
and was quite severe but soon sub
sideded. Following this was period
when there were few widely sep
arated cases of quite mild form. The
number of this type gradually in
creased until the epidemic again
reached large proportions but as a
rule its severity was not great. After
a rather careful consideration of the
advantages of these two methods
in the one the epidemic is over
quickly but it is very severe; in
the other it is more prolonged but OF
less severity-it can be concluded
that the latter measure has probably
saved great many lives
Avoid Crowds.
The methods of preventing the in
dividual from acquiring this dis
ease are we'll worth certain amount
of discussion. If each individual
could have complete isolation from
contact with other people he would
have no chance of getting it. The
chances of getting it increase direct
ly with the-number of people with
whom one comes in contact. 1t is
therefore advisable to keep out OF
crowds and reduce contact to as near
minimum as possible. This espee;
ally includes contact with people
who are known to have the disease
and those who have but recently re-
covered. By masking the nose and
mouth with a fine mesh cloth the
air one breathes can be filtered and
considerable number Of organisms
kept from the air passages. The
chances OF contagion can thus be
reduced 1t may be said, and with
justice, that the mask does not re-
move all germs from the air
breathed in but it certainly reduces
the number and this reduction in
number may be the deciding factor
between sickness and health.
Go to Bed Early.
The use of vaccines prepared from
the germs isolated from cases Of
Spanish Influenza" as a preventa-
tive measure is question on which
there is little data up to the present
time. 1t can be said, however, tina.
if such vaccine is properly made it
will do no harm and there is con
siderable chance that it will prevent
the disease or so protect the indi-
vidual that if he does acquire it, his
case will not be serious. Many OF
these have been prepared in labora-
tories where the epidemic has been
investigated and so far as known
there is no choice between them.
From many conversations with
members of the medical faculty con-
corning the treatment of cases Of
Spanish Influenza" one point
stands out most prominently. The
earlier all individual thus afflicted
goes to bed and stays there the
lighter is his case. The person who
Attempts to keep on his feet and
work it off is foolish and stands
chance of acquiring severe case
and also serious complications OF
which Bright's disease is not I'M
common. The person who goes to
bed as soon as he has an increase
in temperature, in the large Ma
jority of instances will have a light
case and infinitely reduce his chances
of permanent injury from the COM
plications of the disease.