Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-24

mediation OF all manner of articles com.
monty handled by large group, but in
this instance the character of the trans.
hitting agent Is such as to preserve in.
violate the virulence Of both the primary
cause and the secondary invaders.
Assuming that the theory of spread by
Indirect contact is correct, and we know OF
no definite information to the contrary it
would seem that the major routes of trans.
mission in crowded civil and army life
would In the main follow this same general
method. We have presented figures which
seem to show that It is chiefly transmitted
through mess-kit wash water. This is in
direct contact and has It's parallel in saliva
pollution Of those inanimate objects-door
knobs. backs OF chairs pens, toilet articles
which come In contact with the human
hand. The street car hand-rail is grasped
by thousands each day. as is also the door
knob OF the public building. and the nom
immune is exposed to Infection in proper
ton to the degree Of saliva pollution of
these objects by carriers. unrecognized
mild cases and convalescents. The num-
Der of secondary cases resulting from
these contaminated inanimate conveyors
will largely depend, not only on the NUM-
Der Of carriers and crowded conditions, but
also on tho general personal cleanliness OF
the community. N
1T Is the consensus Of opinion that in.l
Infected persons the influenza virus is
resident in the discharges from the mouth
and nose. Hence it Is logical to conclude
that the portal Of exit is by the same
orifces. 1t Is also universally conceded
that they act as the portals OF entry
not only for the influenza virus and its
secondary invaders, but Of many other
pathogens as we'll. Therefore. any agency 5
yof1
from the mouth and nostrils OF the sick
and introduce them into the mouth and
nostrlls OF the well, with their virulence
undimnished. Will spread the disease.
The hand fulfils these conditions per.
fectly" ~
Tho conclusions Of the report, which,
although they apply to camp life, are
equally adaptable to the life OF the home,
arc as follows:
Il. influenza. as we'll as tho other SO.
called air-bcrne or respiratory diseases, Is
essentially q hand-to-mouth Infection.
y There are major and minor modes of
transmission by indirect contact--by tho
former through tepid mess-kit wash water,
and by the latter through intermediate in
animate objects, the hand being tho con.
Veyor In both instances Among TROOPS
approximately 70 per cent OF tho cases
arise By the major route, This applies to
troop transports as well as camps -
u. Transmission by direct contact IL
only subsidiary to the indirect routes
T. The adoption OF universal method
OF washing mess.kits in boiling water will
enormously reduce tho prevalence OF all
mouth-borne infections.
%. The prevention Of the handto-montN
injections may be accomplished by any
measure which will prevent tho unclean IL
hand from visiting the mouth and nose and y
by the thorough cleansing of the hand
after all such visits.
e. The incubation period OF influenza
"oMid appear to be from two to three days.
~. An epidemic OF influenza among S
troops may be controlled by elimination
or hand-conta minated dishwater,"