Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-09-30
CHICAGO PHvSiciANs GETTING
READY FOR SPREAD or
EPIDEMIC.
AN INFLUENZA WEAR;
NO CAUSE EoR ALARM
Physicians Say Victim Has Better Than
80 Chances Out Of 100 70 Recover
Pnsunenia Rate oseiinins-Aveid
Pneumonia BY Going 70 Bed MsNsnt
Of Attack.

Chicago. Sept. 30.-Forty. fifty. or
even as many as sixty out Of every
100 persons In Chicago viii be victims
of influenza during the next few
months. y
This was the nub OF the conclusion
reached yesterday at conference Of
medical men, representing the army.
the navy. the Red Cross. the American
Public Health Association, and the
health department OF the city and
state.
After listening to reports there was
a unanimous agreemnt that this Is
an "infiuenxa year similar to 1890.
when the United States was swept by
this disease. It was the general be-
lief that similar conditions will prevail
this winter. no matter how extensive
the precautions taken to forestall and
meet the epidemic.
Physicians Ar Hopeful.
But the formal statement issued re-
viewing the situation was far from
being gloomy. The public wis assured
everything possible win be done to
check the infection and care for the
afflicted. II was informally estimated
that the victim OF in i1ense alone has
better than % out Of 100 chances ito
recover.
The conse.ee. also made puolc
long list Of instructions for the guild
ance OF the citizen, telling him to pro-
tect himself from infection. and. II he
becomes infected how to avoid expos
ing others, and how to take care OF
himself In order to avoid the after ef-
fects, such as pneumonia, which are
the real menace. They also laid down
the lines for the battle thruout the
state.
Statement BY Board.
The statement follows:
I'VE have heard the reports OF rep
rcsentatives Of the United States army
navy. and public health service, the
state health department. and the chi
cago health department as to the prev
alence Of influenza in Illinois.
'"The disease Srst appeared at Great
Lakes on SEPT. 4 Since then 1t mas
spread to neighboring military estao-
lishments and to the civilian popula-
tton. The proof Is conclusive that the
disease u the same that is prevailing
elsewhere In this country and in var
ious places in Europe.
There have been about 5000 cases
at Great Lakes and the death rate mas
been between I per cent and per
cent. TIE disease developed with great
rapidity for about one week. since
which time 1t has declined rather
evenly. The pneumonia rate began 10
rise about ten days after the onset OF
the influenza and is now declining.
Spread Of "Fiu" Predicted.
There is a moderate amount OF m
fluenza in other military establish
ments and a lesser amount in the
civilian population in northern Illinois.
There is, little in other portions Of the
state. The disease up to now has had
no material influence on the death
rate. So far as we can Judge at this
moment, hea2Ah conditions in this state
are not materially different from nor
NAL. At the same time. in OUT opinion.
influenza will spread over the state
and in time will affect between 70 ana
co. per cent OF the population.
',Plans to meet the situation are be-
ing laid and the public can feel that no
extremely grave situation will be al
lowed to develop While influenza =
not light disease, there Is no reason
why The individual who is affected
should be panicky! Except as to pneu-
monia. the death rate 10 low.
persons who have influenza can
keep from having pneumonia by going
to bed and taking care OF themselves.
both while they are sick and while
convalescent. Persons with mild In
fiuenza and common colds need to DO
little more than to 80 to bed and care
for themselves"