The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-01-04
PSYCHOLOGIST EXPLAINS
HOW INFLUENZA IS SPREAD

- YAAA 1AO
terminate or grow in an unfavorablt
soil or under improper climatic cor
ditlons. The same is true of bacteria
This explains why some persons d.
not have the influenza. Their bodie:
do not provide the proper soil.
In the process and growth and null
tiplication in the body, these little or.
ganisms excrete substances which are
poisonous, and they destroy or impair
some vital functions. No symptoms
of the disease are apparent until suf-
ficient time has elapsed after the en-
time has to elapse for the bacteria tc
or otherwise impaired and function
ing of the body to produce discernible
symptoms. The time that elapsed be-
tween the entrance of the germ and
the appearance of the first symptoms
of the disease is known as the incu-
baton period.
The incubation period of influenza
is from two to four days. This means
that it takes the germ from two to
four days to produce sufficient poison
in the body to cause a headache, back
ache or dizziness. 1t also means that
before these symptoms appear that
the few invading germs multiply, pro-
ducing thousand upon thousand of
their kind before we become aware of
their presence. The germs continue
to multiply during the course of the
disease. The infected person is a host
and producer of the germs causing
the disease from the moment of his
infection until his complete recovery.
By his movements from place to place
during any part of that time he may
scatter the disease broad cast. To
prevent this, the quarantine rules pro-
vide for the isolation of the infected
person, and thus confine as far as
possible the germs to the source of
production.
The quarantine of the individual
has been found very effective in the
combating of some diseases. In the
Ease of influenza and others it has
not been found sufficient. The germs
of the influenza are believed to grow
and multiply in the air passages and
inasmuch as they are there multiply
ing during the i%ncubating period of
two to four days, an infected person
can and does spread the disease dur
ing that period. This was very forcib-
ly illustrated in a small town not far
from Moscow. Two soldier boys re-
turned home from an infected train
ing camp apparently in good health.
They circulated about the town visit
ing their many friends. Shortly they
took to their beds. Their many
soon did the same. In the
course of two weeks so per cent of
nnon1o IF tho fOVxyp xuorQ Hnyup
with the disease.
To prevent the spread of the d.
tease during the incubating period,
health laws provide for not only the
quarantine of the afflicted individual,
out also all persons residents Of the
building who have come in con-
act with him and have been exposed.
Thus we have the reasons for the
quarantine of the homes, permitting
10 one to leave Or enter.
It has been demonstrated and prov
N by archaeological science that bac-
,eria can live a considerable length
# time without growth or multiplied
ion, in the same sense that the spark
# life in a kernel of wheat can live a
considerable length of time out of its
habitat, and will grow again
When placed in the soil under favor
lble conditions.
It has been found the disease pro-
bacteria are carried upon the
and other articles that may
ONE in contact with a person suffer
ng with an infectious disease, and
by chance contaminates that ar
icle. This was very forcibly dem
nstrated in a district also not far
rom Moscow, where two rural fami-
les came down with the disease prac-
ically upon the same day. The mem
ers of these two families had not
cen awav from their homes for a
considerable time, and had not come
4 contact with any one having the
isease prior thereto. The question at
nee arose how did these two families
ecome infected. In tracing the mat
er it was found that the rural mail
on that route had come down
nth the disease two or three days
rior to the time that these two fami-
es showed symptoms of the disease;
nat prior to the time that he mail
lrrier came down, during the incuba-