Milford chronicle., 1919-09-12
HOLD THE FLU AT BAY;
THERE'S NONE IN SIGHT

The influenza epidemic may or may
NOT recur this year officials of the
Public Health Service say, but though
it is neutral on the question. the
/ United States Government is going tc
be right on the job if the disease
should break out again. A pamphlet
stating the precautions that should be
taken to guard against the disease
has been issued and copies of this
are available for distribution.
One of the few things that have
been determined about the disease is
/ that persons who once had it can
catch it again just as easily as the
first time. One attack of the disease
or a dozen for that matter, does not
make one invulnerable to another
doctors of the Public Health Service
say.
Another thing they are pretty sure
of is that if there should be another
epidemic it will come along in Octo-
ber and November, when people be-
gin to keep doors and windows closed
and ventilation in the homes is not
much bothered about. The air is not
cold enough to kill the germs and in
the large houses they breed in large
numbers.
In the autumn, it is maintained, peO-
pie are naturally susceptible to colds
and influenza germs are prevalent
at the same time they are apt to fall
easy victims to the disease. DR.. w.
H. HOke, of the Wilmington health
service office, says that there is no rea-
son to believe if the epidemic does re-
turn there should not be cases just as
severe as there were last fall.
Health service officers throughout
the country are keeping a close watch
for the first sign of any recurrence of
the disease. The officers who inspect
health conditions of ships entering the
Baltimore harbor haveNnot found any
traces of the disease yet, though it
was about this time last year when the
first signs of the disease were noticed
on ships arriving in Baltimore, Dr..
Hoke has nearly 1000 giving informa-
ton about curing and preventing the
disease, and will give copies to any
one making a request.
A summary of the precautions list
ed in the pamphlet says:
In guarding against diseases Of all
kinds it is important that the body be
kept strong and able to fight off dis
ease germs. This can be done by hav-
ing a proper proportion of work, play
and rest. by keeping the body we'll
clothed and by eating sufficient whole
some and properly selected food. In
connection with diet, it is well to re-
member that milk is one of the best
all-around foods obtainable for adults
as well as children.
so far as a disease like influenza
is concerned, health authorities every
where recognize its very close relation
between its spread and overcrowded
homes. While it is not always possi-
BILE, especially in times like the pres
ent, to avoid such overcrowding, peo-
pie should consider the health dan
ger and make every effort to reduce
the home overcrowding to a minimum.
The value of fresh air through open
windows cannot be. over-emphasized.
Where crowding is unavoidable, as
in street cars, care should be taken TO
keep the face so turned as not to in
hale directly the air breathed out by
another person.
1T is especially important to be-
ware of the person who coughs or
sneezes without covering his mouth
and nose. 1t also follows that one
should keep out of crowds and stuffy
places as much as possible, keep
homes, offices and workshops well air
ed, spend some time out of doors each
day, work to work if at all practicable
in short, make every possible effort
to breathe as much pure air as possi- |
ble Baltimore Sun.