The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1919-07-10
SMOKING CARS AND AFLU.,

During the influenza epidemic OF
October. 1918. Health Commissioner
Robertson rtopped smoking on the ele-
vated and street cars o.. three OF the
four eleveted tines smoking cars had
been run. On the street cars smoking
hoe been permitted on the front plat
form. Theoretically, at least. most street
car passengers entered through the rear
platform and left the cars through the
front platform.
A few weeks ago an ordinance was In
troduced In the council restoring srnok-
Ing cars on the elevated and restoring
smoking privileges to the passengers On
the front platform OF the surface lines.
In the hearings those who advocated
the ordinance admitted freely that dis
continuing smoking privileges had been
OF service In controlling the epidemic.
had saved some lives and much ickness
Accepting this as IN undisputed fact, the
question arises, Is II safe to change the
policy now? We are not through with
the epidemic of influenza. No epidemic
or influenza In h~istory--and they have
come about once a generation since the
years.
The epidemic u 1890 began in Chicago
IN January, 1890. Having lasted tixrough
mat spring, IT, disappeared to recur IN
March, 1891. 1t was much worse in
March n April, 1891. than IL weA in
January. 1890. It reappeareds in the win
ter and spring Of 1892 and 1898. Condi-
tons did not become normal until 1884.
Charts showing conditions from 1888 to
1898 prove this beyond question. Mo- ~
AN deny. nor win any man attempt to
deny, the truth OF this statement.
The present epidemic began In France
about March, 1918. 1t had previously been
recognized in Spain and Italy. h spring
wave was very mild. In July there was
a second and q severe wave. In Septem-
Der there was a third wave, which was
much more severe than its predecessors.
In March OF this year a fourth wave APP
peared. In many sections OF this coun-
try there lave already been three or more
waves, and others are anticipated next
winter.
Says J. J. Walsh. an accepted authority
on medical history: Influenza Is now
to be with us for several years. II win
gradually grow less viruient and become
less frequent, but the bacterial strain
which caused Influenza will probably
maintain special virulence for some i've
or 10 years, at least" q
study Of the Chicago death rate FOR
1918 and 1919 shows that W., are not from
under the Influence of the disease even
now In this period Of ntermittence The
aeath rate was high In the spring OF
1918, but that I'm the first six months OF
1919 has been higher still. The number OF
ieaths each month has been greater than
n haacorresponding month in 1918, with
MeeeXceptioh Of April.
II we admit that the stopping of smok-
ing on the cars was good policy, we must
ADMIN that II would be- unwise to permit
u during the coming winter, at least. A
study oil the death rate of Chicago for
the last so years shows that conditions
have improved steadily. The general death
rate IL lower, as are those from typhoid
fever. scarlet fever. diphtheria. and in
tantile diarrheas. The death rates from
all bacterial diseases have fallen enor-
mou.ly except from pneumonia. brouchi-
It's. and influenza. The death rate from
this group of diseases Is higher thar it
was 80 years ago.
We have given our health departments
ordinances with which to control typhoid,
scarlet fever. diphtheria, smallpox, and
baby sickness. and they have returned
results for which we are grateful. What
are we going to do about pneumonia,
bronchitis, and influenza? If we want
these diseases controlled we must eagfr
our Health departments witt, the recess
sary ordinances. We must give them
power over smoking In cars, the efficacy
or Which all admit, and other powers an
they convince US OF the advantage Of
them.
Ffve-ninths as many persons died from
thesa diseases In October. 1918, In Chicago
as died in the entire United States army
in France from an diseases In one year.
One-third as many died from these dis
eases in a normal veal as died In our
army from all diseases In one YEAR The
pneumonia bronchitis, and influenza stu
alton, speaking I'm general terms, is about
the eame In an parts OF the United States.