American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1919-08-30
The Flu is
Coming Back
(By Frederic j. Haskin)

1erson, former director of the hygiene
laboratory Of the coderal government
and DR.. e. l.. Fisk, director Of the
Life Extension Institute.
The Ameican Medical association is
promoting this research work. At its
recent convention In Atlantic City a
resolution was adopted asking con-
gross to appropriate s1.500,000 to
stimulate and encourage research
work. This suggestion was acted up
on the other day, when Representa-
tive Tess of Ohio introduced resolu-
ton in congress for the appropria-
tin of that amount. The money is to
be turned over to the United States
public health service to be used for
Cooperation in the research worn
that is being carried on by the var
ious state health departments.
Not only are the medical men Of
the country preparing for a reap
Dearance of the diseas, but civic or
CARNATIONS I'm diffeent communities
which undertook to care for the num-
erous victims OF the epidemic year
ago are also making plans against n
recurrence Of the malady. These or
carnations do not intend to be caught
of their guard in the event OF anoth-
er outbreak and in a number OF towns
throuhout the United States special
committees have been appointed to
make preparations for Just such an
emergency. During the epidemic
year ago many thousands OF people
died solely for want of care.
In his letter TO Congressman Tess.
rging the federal appropriation. DR..
GER gives Yomo impressive facts
about the flu. He says II caused half
million deaths In this country last
year, and that IL cost the insurance
companies s2iO 100000.
The economic loss to the country,
he says. is hard to estimate. but II is
enormous. Economists agree that
human life ~ worth mt least $4,000 TO
the state, so that The monetary value
Of the lives lost alone would be about
50, 500 100000. Add TO this the work.
ing time lost by people who were
rick and the total economic loss 20
the country is somewhere between
three and four billion. Or. Geler cites
those figures 10 show that II will pay
the taxpayers to let congress spend
somo Of their money preparing to pre-.
vent recurrence OF the flu.
This loss Of time and man power. he
says. II not really half 40 important
as tie impairment Of the country's
health the long-lingering aftcr-af-
feciH OF the disease. As an example
81 what these amount 10 In one city.
Dr. Gelor states mat tho Red Cross
obrI ter In Cincinnati is spending
100000 In examining persons who
have had influenza. and finding In an
enormous percentage OF cases that
thoy have come through the disease
with impaired orgpnc-heart, kidney
or lungs. II IL also caring for great
many chronic inyalids who were able
10 make their own living before they
had the flu. /.
DR.. Geior firmly believes that the
flu problem can be solved by medical
science. One afte- another. myster-
ious diseases have appeared to kill
and bafrle. and one after another. they
have been conquered. Typhoid, yellow
fever diphtheria, typhus they were
each at one time as deadly and myster-
ious rs the flu Is now. In each case
tho germ was discovered which caun-
] cd the disease and then specific was
made or discovered which would kill
the germ.
This same method must and will be
applied TO tho flu, Many eminent
'ciontifts are making studies of the
subject, What Is needed is an approp-
Ration and authority TO enable the
public health service 10 CO. ordinate
all these efforts ana make them into
a national campaign against the
plague,