Morris tribune., 1918-11-29
CONTROL OF SPANISH INFLUENZA

The Spanish influenza is serious menace, but i'm
proper methods used in the attempted control the
disease are a serious mistake.
Serious loss is entailed by the disorganization
ciden to control that do not control, but the
most reparable loss sustained by the closing of pub
lie schools. Every public results in
the closing of the public schools with little thought
the effect which the loss of studious effort for
few days few weeks has the life equipment of
the boy the girl
The question is in which the public is vitality
interested both by of having the disease controlled
and also by having that effected the proper
manner and for that reason, submit the following
from The Minnesota Public Health Association Journal
of November IA, under the caption of What We Have
Learned on Control of Spanish Influenza"
eve that restriction of part only
of the activities of modern life accomplish
the restriction of influenza.
eve have learned that the necessities modern
life demand that extravagant and costly partial
srictions of these activities which really restrict
influenza, be abandoned
eve have learned that restriction of influenza may
be attained by simple mechanical expedient,
versal wearing of masks This is just the expedent that
put out of action huge scale the Fearful"
wheming,' and "unopposable gas-attacks of the Ger
mans.
Masks have been used for years by surgeons and
to protect wounds from the mouthspray
the and they have been used for years
by medical and to protect themselves
the mouthspray of contagious patients In the of
the pneumonia form of bubonic plague, fear
fully contagious fearfully known
borate masks essential guarding the eyes
the and mouth
"a small fraction of the high COST the great oss
and of the Reorganization inflicted by other
control of influenza, (Which however, do not control in
fuenza) would provide not only the masks but a
staff sufficient to that they persstently
constantly everywhere by everyone outside private
homes.
within private instinct of protection
should be sufficient to insure precautions The
practcability of control by the public to protect itself
at the door of the private homegoing in. 1t be-
gins at the door alsocoming out What is done with
in the home cannot be controlled unless infected
present. What is done outside the home, however
should be controlled absolutely, with grim completeness
eve are disturbed by rumors of a second and
recurrence of influenza. We warned-let us
hope unnecessary-to prepare for such repetition
"Let us then prepare-but prepare adequately, with
appreciation of relative values, and let avoid
the feeble reactionary bound policy
of doing something, mind how silly, merely
satisfy popular demand for action
"Let us do the thing, and then sit tight.
"The thing is the restriction each person of his
her and mouth discharges; masks clean
hands will do this practicable amount
of the general population will
"Let therefore, abandon "practicabe
amount of quarantine entirely futile inadequate
farcical and set the whole population back it's
normal of life but wearing Masks injunc
lions also washing hands.
For those who become SICK the usual rules govern
ing all communicable diseases should as
matter of course