The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-01-27
A SAFE RETREAT
FIGHTING THE FLU.
State Board of Health Gives Warning
Which the People Will Do
Well to Heed
Especial to the Starr

Jacksonville, Jan. 27.-For a period
of twenty-four hours ending Monday
noon the State Board of Health an
nounces the occurrence of 185 addi-
tional cases of influenza, showing an
increase of 26 cases for similar pre-
ceding period. The attitude of the
State Board of Health is one of pre-
paredness. The number of cases re-
ported up to date does not indicate an
epidemic of serious proportions as
yet, but it is apparent that there is
NO means of determining at this time
just how serious the epidemic might
become The state health authorities
have in cooperation with representa-
tives of the United States Public
Health Service been able to establish
a direct connection between cases of
influenza at certain points in Florida
and in the city of Chicago where the
epidemic is now raging. 1t is urged
by the State Board of Health that the
public generally meet the situation
without fear or unnecessary alarm. 1t
is pointed out that preceding the pre-
vious epidemic of influenza a great
deal of discussion was entered into
but little actual preventative work
done. DR.. Greene in discussing the
matter states that it is hoped that the
epidemic will be mild and limited but
feels that it is his stern duty and re-
sponsibility to proceed upon the as
sumption that we will have serious
&hof ic
therefore necessary to utilize every
available force and to adopt every
reasonable y precautionary measure.
Announcement was made at the offices
of the State Board of Health that the
Seaboard Air Line and the Atlantic
Coast Line had promptly complied
with requests of the state health au-
thorities by agreeing to place addi-
tional day coaches on all passenger
trains in the state whereby congestion
and crowding in hot, stuffy cars may
be avoided. The register of graduate
registered nurses may be obtained
from Mrs. Benham. 738 Tallyrand ave-
nue., Jacksonville, who is president of
the board of examiners for nurses.
The State Board of Health is in a
position to supply the names of prac-
tical nurses throughout the state.
LET NOSTRUMS ALONE
The state health officer when asked as
to the value of vaccines and serums in
the treatment and prevention of infiu-
enza made the following statement:
There is no serum or vaccine that is
known to have a curative effect in in
fnenza cases. There is a vaccine that
is called influenza, sero bacterin. This
should not be confused with the dis
ease now epidemic, viz: Spanish infu-
enza. The so-called influenza vaccine
was devised for the treatment of
colds. 1t is inadvisable to take the
cold vaccine in the presence of other
bronchial or lung complaints. for the
reason that until the treatment is
completed one has what is called a
negative phase of immunity and is
therefore more susceptible than under
ordinary conditions. The officials at
the State Board of Health in discuss
ing the treatment and prevention IN
the event of the occurrence of a large
number Of cases of influenza submit
ted the following information. Aspirin
acetanalid and other coal tar products
should not be taken freely except un-
der the advice and direction of ply
sician. They cause the patient to per
spire, under certain conditions cause
depression and render ones resistive
power weak and predispose one to
colds. At best they do nothing more
than relieve pain and aching and re-
duce fever. Your doctor. under the
circumstances surrounding the treat
ment of influenza, knows of better
and safer means of treating you. In
the event of a widespread epidemic
medical and sick room supplies are
more difficult to obtain. Certain ar