Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-10-18


BILE that the laboratory Investigations
now being made through the National
Research Council and the United
States HYGIENE Laboratory will fur
nish a more certain way in which indi-
vidual cases Of this disease can be
recognized"
What is the course of the disease?
Do people die of 1t?
"Ordinarily, the fever lasts from
three to four days and the patient re-
covers. But while the proportion of
deaths in the present epidemic has
generally been low, in some places the
outbreak has been severe and deaths
have been numerous. When death oc-
ours it is usually the result of COM
plication."
What causes the disease and how Is
it spread?
"Bacterologsts who have studied In
flucnza epidemics in the past have
| found in many of the cases a very
| Small rod-shaped germ called, after its
discoverer Pfeiffer's bacillus. In other
cases of apparently the same kind or
disease there were found pneumococci,
the germs Of l0bar pneumonia. Still
| others have been caused by strcpto-
cocci, and by others germs with long
names.
mo matter what particular kind ct
germ causes the epidemic, 1t IS now
believed that influenza is always
spread from person to person, the
| germs being carried with the air along
with the very small drOplets Of mucus,
expelled By coughing or snce%inS'
| forceful talking, and the like by one
| who already has the germs OF tie dis
ease. They may also be carried about
| in the air in the form of dust coming
| from dried mucous, from coughing and
| sneeZing, or from careless people VINO
sDit on the floor and on the sidewalk.
! AS In most other catching d""aS2S,
person who has only a mild attack OF
the disease himself may give Il very
severe attack 10 others"
What should be done by those "ho
| catch the 6isca6c2
at Is very Important that every Ter
! son who becomes sick with Influenza
should 20 home al "ncc and 70 &c tea.
/ This will help keep away dangerous
complications and will, nj the same
! time, keep the patient from scati"rss
the disease far and wide 1t is highly
desirable that no one be al'o"ca--to ~
sleep In the same room with the pa
| tient. In fact, no enc but the nurse
should be allowed in the room.
IF there is cough and sputum or
running of the eyes and nose, care
| should be taken that all such DIS
charges are collected on bits of gauze
or rag or paper napkins and burned.
II the patient complains of fever ana
headache. he should be given water to
drink. a cold compress to the forehead
and n light sponge. Only such meul-
cine should be given as Is prescribed
| nv the doctor. 1t is foolish to ask the
druggist to prescribe and may be dam
perous to take the so-called safe, sure
| and harmless remedies advertised by.
patent medicine manufacturers.
"If the patient is so situated that he
can be attended only by some one VINO
| must also look after others in the lam
| iIy, ii is advisable that such attendant
! wear q wrapper, apron or gown over
! the ordinary house clothes while in the
sick room and slip this off when leaV-
ing to look after the others. -
"Nurses and attendants will do well
tn guard against breathing In danger
GUS disease germs by wearing a simple
fold of gauze or mask while near the
patient"
viii person who has had Influenza
before catch the disease again7
at is well known that an attack or
| measles or scarlet fever or smallpox
usually protects person against an
other attack of the same disease. Thls
aDpears not to be true Of Spanish IN
fluenZa.' According to newspaper re-
! Dorts the King OF Spain suffered an
| attack Of influenza during the epi-
demic thirty years ago, and was again
stricken during the recent outbreak IN
Spain"
How can one guard against influ-
! enza?
"In guarding against disease Of all
! kinds, it is important that the body De
kent strong and able to fight off dis
ease germs. This can be done by haT-
ing q proper proportion Of work, play
end rest, by keeping the body well
clothed, and by eating sufficient whole
some and properly selected food. In
connection with diet, it is well to re-
member that milk Is one Of the best
all-arOund foods Obtdinable for adults
as well as children. So far as dis
ease like influenza is concerned, health
authorities everywhere recognize the
very close relation between its spread
and overcrowded homes. While 1t is
not always possible, especially in
times like the present, to avoid such
overcrOwding, people should conSlde!
the health danger ard make every
effort to reduce the home OVercrOWd-
ing to a minimum The value of fresh
air through open windows cannot be
over emphasized.
"Whcn crowding Is unavoidable, as
in street cars care should be taken to
keep the face so turned as not to in
hale directly the air breathed out by
another person.
at is especially important to be-
ware of the person who coughs or
sneezes without covering his mouth
and nose. 1t also follows that one