The weekly Alaska citizen., 1919-02-17
HOW MUCH IS TT WORTH?

influenza? How much is it worth to the in terior to know that it has kept free from it, and that it will keep free from it? Is it pos sible to set any price upon anything as preci- ous as the health and even the lives of per- haps hundreds of the residents of the inte- rior? We think not, and more than that, we think that public opinion is with us. It is impossible to estimate the damage that might have been done if the influenza had been al lowed to spread into the interior of the coun- try. Pneumonia seems to be especially severe and dangerous in this climate, and that is the chief danger from the flu" There is no tell ing how it would have hit the interior, and whether it would have been possible to put up a winning fight against it or not.
 It is general rule that prevention is the best method of dealing with an epidemic of any sort, and this is especially true in the case of the flu. As the epidemic spread over the country it was possible to initiate its ef- fects somewhat at the places it hit last, by preventative measures learned during the first of the epidemic
 Fairbanks and the interior are fortunate in the extreme in keeping free from the plague. There are very few places on the face of the earth that did not suffer from it during this epidemic Altho the quarantine measures cost in the neighborhood of seven thousand dollars, it is small compared with what it would have cost to fight the flu once it gain ed foothold in the interior. It is small price to pay for the security that has been felt by the interiorites, in knowing that every precaution was being taken to safeguard their well-being.
 It was in fact, the easiest way out, in the long run, for it would have been extreme ly difficult to fight the flu successfully be- cause of the living conditions in the interior Fresh air, absolute cleanliness, plenty of sum- shine are the remedies for the flu. There is plenty of fresh air in the interior of Alaska, but to get this warmed and to the patient, without exposing him to the danger of chill and reaction is different matter. The linn lited sanitary arrangements of the majority |of the homes of the interior would make it difficult to fight the epidemic in the homes, and the hospital equipment would be made quate for any extensive epidemic. And as to sunshine, there is plenty of it, we know, but during the time when the flu was raging Outside, and threatening the interior, the aforementioned sunshine was mighty scarce article here. Even now it is extremely doubt full if it would be of much use as remedy for anything, even the "blues"
 Take it all in all, the interior stands solidly behind the health officer in what he has done in discharging his duty. He has |let nothing stand between him and the most efficient quarntine of the section instrusted to his care, and it is due to this untiring and ceaseless watchfulness that the interior es- caped the dread ravages of the disease. The interior owes him debt of gratitude for his efforts and uphold everything that he has done to bring about this condition of safety The people of this community, and the other communities that have been SO safeguarded, are grateful to the health officer and thank full that he was conscientious in the discharge| of his duties. What is it worth to us to have been kept free of the flu? It is of inestim- able worth. No price is too big to pay for it.
 WALTER HINES PAGE