The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1919-10-09

the fact that the patient looks SICK.
His ewes and the inner side OF his
eyelids may be slightly "bloodshot,"
or "congested," as the doctors say.
There may be running from the
noze, or there may be some cough.
These signs of a cold may not be
marked; nevertheless the patient
looks and feels very sick. In a
number of instances during the re-
cent pandemic large proportion
of the cases of influenza showed an
intestinal (darrheaD type of in
lection.
In addition to the appearance and
the symptoms as already described,
examination of the patients blood
may aid the physician in recogniz-
ing Spanish Influenza; for it has
been found that in this disease the
number of white corpuscles shows
little or no increase above normal.
What is the course of the disease!
Do people die of it?
AS already mentioned most Of
the cases are apparently infections
of the respiratory organs and re-
semble a very contagious kind OF
"cold." Sometimes, however, re-
spiratory symptoms are entirely alb
sent and there is merely severe de-
preston, weakness, aches, and pains
turnout the body, and some fever.
In still other cases diarrhea Is a
nrOminent SVmDtOm
Ordinarily, the fever lasts from
three to four days and the patient
RECEIVERS. But while the proportion
of deaths is usually low, in some
places the outbreak is severe and
deaths are numerous. When death
occurs it is usually the result of
the development of pneumonia or
of some other complication.
What causes the disease and how
is it spread?
Psychologists who have studied
| influenza epedemics in the past nave
found in many of the cases very
small rod-shaped germ called, after
its discovery, Pfeiffer's bacillus. In
other cases of apparently the same,
kind of disease there were found
pneumocOcci, the germs of lobar
pneumonia. Still others have been
caused by streptococci, and by other
germs.
Several European observers, on
the basis of experiments conducted
during the recent epidemic, believe
that the germ of influenza is no
ordinary bacterium, but that 1t be-
longs to class of exceedingly small
germs spoken of as "fiilterable vir-
uses" because they can pass thru
the pores of tunglazed porcelain
| filters.
No matter what particular kind
Of germ causes the epidemic, 1t Is
now known that influenza is spread
directly and indirectly from person
to person. Moreover, judging from
experience in other diseases, 1t Is
probable that the germ, whatever
its nature, is carried about not only
bv those who are i'll with influenza
but by persons who may be entirely
well. Everything which increase:
personal contact, therefore, SHOULD
be regarded as a factor in spreading
influenza.
1t is clear that there are man!
different ways in which such germ
may be spread from person to per
son. Thus they may be sprea!
quite directly by being carried witt
the air along with the very small
droplets of mucus expelled b.
coughing, sneezing, forceful talking
= and the like, by one who alread.
has the germs of the disease. II
guard against this mode of sprea,
the use of face masks has been ad
= vocated. Tho the, use of suitabl
= constructed masks will reduce tn
e interchange of respiratory germ
t thru inhalation, it must be remem
p bered that there are many othe
= paths by which such germs ar
Y spread, either directly or indirectl!
Z Soiled hands, common drinkin
. cups improperly cleaned eating an
q drinking utensils in restaurant
soda fountains, etc, roller, towel
:, infected food--these are only te
= of the common vehicles of ger
. transmission. The use of fac
y masks appears to make people mel
IS lect these other paths of infection
and therefore such use has not bee
K attended with the success predictt
l. for them. If we would be more su
n cessful in combating intiuenz
D. greater attention must be paid
IL the factors just enumerated.
IS What should be done by those VI
IN catch the disease?
ne 1t is very important that eve
"a person who becomes sick with
Sc fluenza should go home at once a
ro 10 nod This will helm keen aW