The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1920-01-28

! ed is Lle Statement Ol LII. Il. M
Leitch, city health officer, supported
by Mayor j G. Gibson. Diligent in
quiries have been made by both o.
these officials to ascertain the result.
of general quarantine in other town:
and the consensus of opinion is tha
the closing of schools, churches ane
theatres, etc., has not lessened tn,
number of cases nor lowered tn,
death rate. DR.. Leitch has issued the
following statement, which should b,
carefully read and the advice give1
should be needed by all.
! Influenza is an infectious disease
All infectious diseases will spreae
more rapidly through a community
where people congregate in numbers
and is best controlled by quarantine
and closing places where people NEE
in large numbers and the matter o1
closing everything up has been seri
ously considered but after closely
watching the development and pro
gress of the disease now with us ano
also consulting with other physicians
who have done the same thing there
can be no question but what it is
epidemic in character as well as in
fectious and there is no known meth
cd of controlling disease that is
doubts the epidemic character of the
disease please let them explain why
whole families separated from each
other by miles in the country and
who have been in contact with no one
are coming down daily. In fact the
disease is said to be more prevalent
in the country than in town. My
own opinion is that nothing would be
gained by closing up everything I'M
less it might be a slower development
of the disease through lack of infec-
ton by contact. The schools of
Lewiston are closed, not by order of
the health board but because so many
teachers are sick the schools could not
be carried on. If the schools be
ordered closed here the pay Of teach
ers will go on just the same with no
pupil getting the benefit while if kept
open at least a part of them can go
to school. If so many teachers be-
come ill schools can not be kept
going they will automatically be
closed. All of the uncomplicated
cases of influenza have severe pains
for day or two but otherwise soon
get over it if they will stay right in
bed and care for themselves. Those
who do not stay in bed are liable to
more or less severe complications and
possibly serious results. The fact
that there has been more than 300
cases already in Moscow with only
one death so far and that from a
severe weakening of the heart and
only few other real severe cases
should dispel any wild panic on the
part of the people but none the less
owing to the great difficulty in get
ting help to care for the sick no one
should become careless or Indifferent
to the situation. l will not order the
closing of schools or business places
unless the disease assumes a more
serious form from that now prevail
ing. Should the disease assume a
more serious aspect every possible
means to try to control it will be tax
eni. | do advise that people stay
away from all avoidable gatherings
in order to prevent more rapid
spread of the disease by infection,
stay at. home as much as possible and
On first symptoms of illness go to bed
and stay there until it can be deter
mined whether or not it is influenza.
A strict quarantine of every known
case will be maintained as required
by law. Schools will remain open but
under as close inspection as can be
made daily. Churches and Sunday
schools may remain open under the
same careful inspection.
Owing to poor ventilation of picture
show houses any of them admitting
any school children unless inspected
~ thoroughly competent person
will be ordered closed to remain clos
I'd until the epidemic subsidies. All
public funerals where the person has
lied of influenza or other infectious
)r contagious disease are forbidden
and all public funerals from any
,ause at present had better not be
1eld. All dances and gatherings not
absolutely necessary to be held
should be discontinued as before
notified.
F. NJ LEITCH,
City Health Officer.
Don't Lose Your Head.
That DR.. Leitch and Mayor Gibson
ire right. in their stand, or that the
tand they have taken is endorsed by
men prominet in the medical world, is |
hown from the following editorial |
rom the Fort Sheridan Recall, pub |
ished at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, |
which warns people against becoming |
lnduly excited about the disease. The I
follows.
"The flu is back! Newspapers, ru-
nor all the means of spreading infor-
nation, are dinning the cry in our
ars. At Fort Sheridan, thank Hea-
EN-, the panic is not evident Here
t least, calm measures are being ta-
.en to care for those few who have
AIKEN the disease, and to prevent
theirs from taking it. And no one is
worrying themselves sick over the
ossibility of getting sick.
We were assured by the most COM
etent medical authorities that the
pidemic would be here this year. AS
ing ago as last February, the army
ledical authorities in the surgeon
eneraPs office told us that the flu
1ould be with us again. The public
7as warned; but the public, with it's