Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-10-20
DANGER OF RELAPSE
IS ALWAYS PRESENT
ThOsc Suffering Influenza Should Bc
on Guard Against Possible Re
CurrCnCc Of Trouble.

while the epidemic Of Influenza
Continues 10 be extremely serious IN
Oklahoma there are Indications that
iis vIrulenCe In decreasing In the
sudd"unc# Of iis Onsct, tho total
number Of persons affected ana the
proportion Of serious cases TINS cpl
dcmiC seems 10 have been the worst
over experienced In this country
Every phase Of the problem Of deal
ing with the epidemic Is being close
ly studied by physicians and scicn-
lists The length Of time between
such opidcmicS. however, is so great
the last one most nearly resomb-
ling this being the grip epidemic OF
lsS0-9O--that the problem present
ed Is In many ways an entirely new
one. Many OF the most important
factors are unknown. Experiments
have been made with serums or
vaccine Apparently the results at
tnined are beneficial, but the expert
mcnts have not been carried on long
enough or on Il sufficiently extended
scale for positive verdict 70 be
given For instance, there is no
question OF the protection afforded
by vaccination against typhoid and
smallpox. The same positive posi-
tion cannot be taken In regard TO in
flucnZa VdCCIncs.
Relapse Should he Guarded Against
As the severity OF the epidemic
tends to wanc, 1t is OF the utmost i'm.
portance that victims should guard
against n possible relapse. Quite
large proportion OF the fatal cases
have been those OF patients who
seemed temporarily to have rccov-
cred. have left their beds, too soon
perhaps returned 10 work, only TO
relapse. The danger OF complica-
tIons seems greater in the case OF "A
relapse than with the original III
ness.
Under direction OF the state board
OF health authority was given health
officers. and local officials through
out tho states to close schools,
churches and theaters and forbid
public meetings wherever such mea-
sures seemed advisable. This was
a necessary precaution, even IL 1t did
involve n certain amount OF public
inconvenience There are features
about the exact mode OF the trans
m ission of Infection in Influenza
which are not yet known with aoso-
lutte certainty 1t IL certain. how
ever, that II Is transmitted from per-
son to person and that the danger OF
Infection Is Increased by public gath
erings. In many communities In
tho state the quarantine order was
promptly followed by a decrease in
the severity OF the epidemic.
The question sometimes IL asked
why one person in family will be
victim OF influenza, while another
apparently as much or more exposed
will not be affected. II must be re-
membered that there Is great diff
ference in the susceptibility OF var
ious persons to infection. 1t is al
most impossible altogether to avoid
the germs which cause influenza AT
time when an epidemic is preva-
lent. The same Is true OF tubercular
and other germs. Some persons,
however, have high resisting powers
and seem little affected, while others
are quick victims OF Infection. Ex-
erclse, pure food and air, hygienic
living tend to raise the resisting
powers. II IL also only common
sense to avoid crowds and other sit
uatlons where the danger OF infec-
ton Is increased. Medicines should
be taken under the direction OF
competent physician. 1t should be
remembered that this disease Is
rapid IN It's onset and no time should
be lost in obtaining medical advice.