Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-10-09
HOW to COMBAT
HESPANISH FLU
Public Health Service Tells About
the Epidemic.
ATTACKING WHOLE COUNTRY
How the Disease May Be Recognized
and Its Spread controIIed-Vie-
tim Should Be Isolated and
Physician Called at Once.
BY DR.. CHARLES 6oLDUAN,
of the U. S. Public Health Service.

DJ IN Sl6nEGS DOI0OANg
of the U. S. Public Health Service.
From reports received by the United
States public health service and vari-
Gus state health authorities il is evil
dent that so-called Spanish influenza"
has gained firm footing in this eoun-
try and is extending from number of
different places, especially seaport
towns. In the opinion of leading med
ical authorities the disease will prob
ably extend over large part of the
country. This is supported by the ex-
perience of European countries this
summer, which showed that the dis
ease is very highly contagious.
Surgeon General Blue of the United
States public health service has is
sued a call to health authorities
throughout the country to inaugurate
educational campaigns in order to
teach the people how to guard against
this strange malady. In addition to
this he has arranged with the medical
section of the National Research
council to have laboratories in various
parts of the country endeaVor to find
out exactly what kind of a germ is
responsible for the epidemic and how
best to control the spread of this germ.
From military standpoint it is of
the utmost importance TO prevent the
introduction of Spanish influenza
among troops. Because of the sud-
denness of the onset and the rapid
spread of the disease, military unit
invaded by the disease quickly shows a
high percentage of noneffectives.
Physicians here and abroad are still
much in doubt concerning the exact
nature of the germ causing Spanish
influenza.
How to Recognize It.
In order to help control the spread
of the disease, Surgeon General Blue
suggests that all cases suspected to be
Spanish influenza" be reported at once
to the health authorities. This brings
up the question, how to recognize the
disease. Following are some of its
characteristics as observed during the
present epidemic:
The patient is taken i'll very sudden
ly without any preliminary warning.
Usually there is severe headache, or
pain in the eyes or ears or in the back.
Some patients complain of feeling
sore all over. With the pain there are
chilly sensations and fever, the tenn
perature usually ranging from 101 to
1O4 degrees. Most of the patients feel
sick enough to go to bed.
Accompanying these symptoms there
are often some sneezing and coughing,
running from the eyes and nose, and
congestion of the eyes. Usually these
local symptoms are not severe; GER
tainly they are not at all proportionate
to the very great feeling of sickness
which the patient experiences.
Ordinarily the fever lasts only three
or four days and then quickly drops
to normal. Nevertheless, the patient
often feels weak for several days more
and should be kept in bed to avoid
overtaxing the heart.
Way to Prevent Its Spread.
In response to requests for informa-
ton as to the best means of preventing
the spread of the disease, Surgeon
General Blue gave the following ad-
vice:
According to the best evidence
available, the disease is spread from
person to person, and probably mostly
through the method of 'droplet infec-
ton BY this is meant infection
through the inhalation of tiny drOplets
of germ-laden mucous sprayed into the
air when those who already have the
germ in their system cough, sneeze- or
speak loudly. 1t is important, there
fore, to keep away from those who
cough or Sneeze without using hand
kerchief to catch the spray of mucus.
Equally dangerous is the person who
spits on the floor or sidewalk
"Overcrowding always favors the
spread of such epidemics. Hence it is
important to keep rooms well aired by
having windows open. Sufficient whole
some and properly selected food, suit
able clothing, proper proportion of
work, play and rest, and plenty of
fresh air and sunlight-these are all
needed to help the body resist disease.
Go to Bed and Keep Isolated.
"A person attacked with Spanish
influenza should gOto bed AT once. 1t is
highly desirable that he stay in a room
by himself For the headache and fever
a towel wrung out of cold water may
be used to advantage; the fever may
be relieved by cool sponge. A doctor
should be called, and no medicine
should be given except that prescribed
by the doctor. If there is cough and
expectOration, or running from the
eyes and nose, the discharges should
be received in a piece of gauze or a
paper napkin and burned"
AS preventive measure the surgeon
general recommends learning and fol-
lowing this bit of advice:
"Cover up each cough and sneeze;
If you don't, you'll spread disease"
A booklet has been prepared by the
public health service which describes
the disease and explains what steps to
take TO prevent it and to treat suffer
ers.