New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1918-12-07
U. S. HEALTH SERVICE
ISSUES WARNING
increase in All Respiratory Dis.
eases After the influenza
Epidemic Probable.
Pnnuenxa Expected to Lurk for Months
How to Guard Against Pneumonia.
Common Colds Highly catchino-im-
portance Of Suitable Clothing -covIl
save 10000 Ltvea

tE A6cO 1A, -. S.-WItn the Sun81Oe
ience Of the epidemic of influenza the
attention OF health officers is directed
TO pneumonia, bronchitis and other
diseases OF the respiratory system
which regularly cause a large number
or deaths, especially during the winter
season. According to Rupert blue,
Surgeon General Of the United States
Public Health Service, these diseases
will be especially prevalent this win
ter unless the people are particularly
careful to obey health instructions.
1.-The present epidemic" said Sur.
.geon General Blue, has taught by bit
ter experience how readily a condition
beginning apparently as a slight cold
may go on to pneumonia and death.
Although the worst Of the epidemic 10
lover, there Will continue to be a large
number OF scattered cases, many OF
them mild and unrecognized, which
will be DANCE. spots to be guarded
against" The Surgeon General likened
1.-THE present situation to that after q
great fire, saying, mo FIRE chief who
understands his business stops playing
the hose on the charred debris as soon
as the flames and visible fire have dis
appeared. On the contrary. he con-
'finues the water for hours and even
days, for he knows that there is dam
ger OF the fire reminding from smOi-
.dering embers."
"Then you fear another outbreak Of
influenza 2" he was asked mot neces-
isarily another large epidemic" said
the Surgeon General, but unless the
people learn to realize the seriousness
of the danger they will be compelled to
pay a heavy death toll from pneum0-
mia and other respiratory diseases.
Common Coids Highly Catching.
ut is encouraging TO observe that
people are beginning to learn that or
binary coughs and colds are highly
catching and are spread from person
to person by means Of drOplets OF
germ laden mucus. Such drOplets are
sprayed into the air when careless or
ignorant people cough or sneeze with
out covering their mouth and nose. 1t
is also good to know that people have
learned something about the value OF
fresh air. In summer, wheE people
are largely out Of doors, the 'respira-
tory diseases Coughs, colds, pneumo-
MIA, etc. are infreGuent; in the fall,
as people begin to remain indoors, the
respiratory diseases increase; in the
,winter, when people are prone to stay,
In badly ventilated. oyerheated rooms.
the respiratory diseases become very
lpnevalent.
Suitable Clothing important
| s.Still another factor lin the produc-
ton Of colds, pneumonia and other re-
jspiratory diseases is canelessness on ig-
lnorance Of the people regarding suit
liable clothing during the seasons when
the weather suddenly changes, sitting
i'm warm rooms too heavily dressed OF
what is even more commoI, especially
among women, dressing SO lightly that
windows are kept closed In order to be
comfortably warm. This Is very In
furious practice.
Could save 100000 Lives.
Il believe we could easily save ono
hundred thousand lives annually in
1.-THE United States II all the people
would adopt the system of frexh air
living followed, for example, in tuber-
culosis sanatoria. There Is nothing
mysterious about it--no specific medk
cine, no vaccine. The Important thing
10 right living. good food sAd plenty It
fresh air.
,Dropiet Infection Explained In PictursaL
1.-THE Bureau Of Public Health,
Treasury Department has just issued
d striking poster drawn by Bergman,
the well-known Washington carto0nist.
The poster sxemplifies the modern
OF health education. A few,
years ago, under similar circumstances.
tie health authorities would have IL
sued IN oflcial dry but scientifically
accurate bulletin teaching the role Of
droplet infection In the spread Of No
spiratory diseases. The only ones who
would have understood the bulletin
would have been those who already
knew all about the subject. The man
in the street, the plain citizen and the
many millions who toll for their living
would have had no time and no desire
to wade through the technical phrase
ology."
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