Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-01-27
A PRINCE OF FRAUDS WAS
JOHN BARLEYCORN, M. D.
Of Nerves Rather Than an Epi-
demc of Flu

- despair or woeful wringing of hands
in the grim determination of the retail
liquor men to withhold their stocks from
druggists who wish to sell the stuff as
''fiu' medicine. Alcohol isn't good for in
f1uenza, according to wise medical au-
thorities.
The lamented Barleycoru had truly
versatile character. He was by tempera-
ment an optimist. He was lively in con-
versaton. He was amusing in odd and
dangerous ways. He had cheerful habit
of song, though he sang indifferently.
For poets, vagabonds and tired men of
all sorts who found themselves often in
need of false and temporary strength and
didn't mind paying for it with increased
fatigue, he was an oblging companion.
Now and then at rare intervals he may
have helped man over a hump.
But as doctor John was the most con-
sistent, the most picturesque and the
most dangerous of frauds and impostors.
He fooled his patients cruelty. And if
you are to believe some of the most emil
nent authorities in all medicine, notably
the officials of the Chicago Board of
Health, he killed countless people during
the epidemic of last year by leaving them
weak, enervated and ready victims for
the disease which he pretended to cure.
1t is by no means certain that q revival
of influenza is either present or impend-
ing. The health authorities and the doc
tors generally are less disturbed than the
general public. Reports from hospitals
and army and navy stations indicate that
what is abroad is mild form of influenza
nearer III form and effect to the old
fashioned grip.
There is little promise thus far of an
actual epidemic, unless it be an epidemic
of nerves-which could be almost as
lamentable as an epidemic of infection.
To be in constant dread of disease is
somehow to invite it.
Colds, grip and "fu' itself are not the
result of cold weather. They are conse-
| quences of direct infection which any one
| in sound health can easily resist or con-
| quer Rational prevention, therefore, is
rot matter of quick stimulation that in
| evitably lessons physical resistance. It
is matter of health and hygiene
Walk to work, even if you have to get
| up earlier in the morning. Walk home.
| If it is not possible to walk all the way
walk part of the distance. The colder the
| day the better you will feel after the first
mile.
Grip or "au' or whatever it is that
| seems to be in the air has no relation to
| temperature, to wind or rain or snow. 1t
can thrive only in impure air or in a
weakened body.
For that reason everybody ought to
avoid crowded trolleys. The street-car
service isn't what it ought to be. We are
confronted by condition which is the
direct result of efforts to maintain five
cent fares by economical operation of the
transit lines.
Thousands of people who wait for
street cars to ride short distance would
be healthier and happier if they learned
to walk. Motors, taxicabS and street cars
have taken away the last opportunity for
wholesome exercise that remained to peo-
pie who live in cities.
Antipathy to physical exertion is a ma
tional trait that can have many subtly
disastrous consequences. And revival
of the habit of walking would have a
! tonic effect not only upon the walkers
1t might have a tonic effect on the
P. R. T.
Precautionary measures are easily pos
sible to those who use even overcrowded
| trolleys. The navy has an admirable
method. All men on every station are
lined up regularly once or twice a day
when grip, colds or "fu" are prevalent
! Under the supervision of the surgeons
! they are required to spray their nose and
| throat cavities with a standard disin-
| So NJ l,p1,, L
with physicians prescription or ready
made at any drug store.
A cold of any kind-even the familiar
"cold in the heads in itself warning
of a prior condition of imperfect health
and lowered vitality Avoid overwork
not only when the "fu" threatens, but at
other times. Get plenty of sleep. Eat
simple food. Exercise in the open air is
essential. These are the oldest rules of
hygiene and they offer surer preven-
tive of illness than all the whisky ever
distilled.
Fresh air is as important in winter as
it is in summer So is exercise. Indeed.
there is some excuse for those who avoid
eXertion in the heat of midsummer.
There is no excuse for the physical
lethargy which in winter weather causes
people to huddle in closed rooms and troll
ley cars. An hours hard walking daily
at this time of the year is the best sort
of medicine. And as the trolley service is
it ought to help most of US to save time.
Let Barleycorn lie. Leave the worry
ing to the health authorities.
Doctor Furbush appears to know very
definitely what he is about and he isn't
getting excited. He has done great deal
of work with and for the army and he has
the army's habit of refusing to take
chances or do things by halves. His ad-
vice and suggestions should be taken
literally. II the need arises he will tell
" AZ,
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