The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-01-22

weifare1 ievoted practically the entire
day yesterday TO taking up matters ir
connection with the influenza situa.
ton.
The view taken by Dr.. Levy is tina,
the appearance Of influenza in epidem.
ic form in Chicago and at at least si1
of the army training camps is indi
caixe that the disease will undoubt.
eddy spread over the entire country
and that it is none too soon to take
precautions.
The people should not be risled
by the statement from anyone. no mat.
ter how high in authority, that there Il
no cause for alarm If. 81 i'd Or. Levy
we accept one definition of the worc
alarm given in. Websters dictiona nv
sudden surprise with fear or terror
excited by apprehension OF danger.
then, Of course. there It no cause for
alarm, for nothing Is ever gained by
being surprised or by INDUCING ir
fear or terror. but a. second definition
OF alarm is a summons TO arms. az
on the approach of an enemy With
this definition of alarm the reopIs
should by all means take alarm We
de- wish to summons them TO arms or
the approach of what was last wear
proved to be a'worse enemy than thu
Germans.
There are a great many things"
continued DR.. Levy, which the
people can do and which they
should do. Prominent among
these are the following:
avoidance of crowds. 50 far
as possible, and particularly avoid
ing close contact with sny other
ir1fr-iH,taf -
not be entirely accomplished, but
should be carried out as well as
can be.
Common drinking cups should
by all means be avoided Do not
patronize any restaurant where
the dishes are not thoroughly
washed and scalded after each
use. 1t has been proved that fail
ures In this respect Is one of the
means of spreading the flu.
Persons having cough should
not go where others are. or If
this cannot be avoided, they
should never fail when coughing
|. or sneezing TO hold a handker-
chief to the mouth aud nose.
Everyone should do all that
/ IS possible to maintain the best
health by regular habits, plenty
of rest, nutritious food. noder-
ate amount of exercise in the omen
an avoidance of unnecessary ex-
posture TO cold or wet. and such
other means as are these DAYS
known to every Intelligent per-
SON"
DIR. Levy met the principals of III,
public schools OF Richmond yestcrda,
afternoon at 1850 and went over witt
them again the special bulletin which
which was issued by the department
OF public welfare last October in an
ucipauon of the danger of an infiu
enza epidemic. He has also ARRANGED
TO have an early meeting. probabl,
Friday night. of the medical profes
sion OF the city to discuss the entir,
situa ton.
DIR. Levy sends this letter 10 Tn,
Nirginian.
From newspaper accounts, there
seems TO be no question but that tn.
influenza outbreaks which have beer
reported IN number Of places AR,
epidemics of the same disease which
swept over the civilized world in thu
fall OF 1885, If this be true, it is Use
less 10 console ourselves by any state
ments from any authority that, there
is no cause for alarm because n.
cases have been somewhat mild or be
cause relatively few communities have
as SSI become fnVofFtd.tf
The time to act is now, and / an
therefore, addressing this communica
ton TO the editors Of. all our Rich
haond sdailies to ask their very heart
cooperation have already taker
q number of steps looking to the pro
lection of our city, but. as we wei
Know 1t would be too much to.expec
tnat Richmond can escape entirely /
the disease spreads over the -cnun
try. 80 "
Among the steps which I have to
day taken ares ~ =
n. Attending meeting of tn.
school principals to direct their at
tention again to the flu, bulletin issues
BY the department,cf public welfar,
last October and at that time take,
UP thoroughly, with the school au
thoritiea A copy OF this bulletin i
herewith enclosed.
IA circular letter TO ALI ,physi
Clans in tha city asking them to re
port promptly TO the health burea,
every case of flu in their practice.
Conference with some OF or
!, leading hospital authorities in Rich
mond looking to provision in advanc.
Tor hospital accommodations shout,
theS Virginia hospital prove insuffi
Gent. as 1t certainly viii in case of
real epidemic.
A special meeting of the medi
cal profession will be called, probabh
Tor Friday night. in order to bring f;.
lore the physicians of the city the sit
uationsa and to secure a complete under
standing with them and their adyic,
as 10 certain points. / have not We
been able to get in communication wit.
the president, OF the Richmont
academy of medicine and surgery I,
MAKE arrangements for the above. ~
~ ! wish. particularly to secur.
the proper kind of publicity through
Your corporation. The utmost frank
ness In dealing with the people is tn,
onIy course to be followed I would
suggest that IL We could have a specia
frame in each issue of each paper ii
which sonfe one lesson would be en-
phaticaily stressed this would, Fer
haps, be the best form of publicity
This would. of course. be furnished
1rfsla nays . 3asia ..seI, n a.. herewith GA
closing statement on the situatio,
which | will ask you to publish il
iuil and quite prominently in your mex
issuet
IS. I.woufd like to have your per
sonal views as to. whether YOU, o.
someone representing you, can attent
meeting at which all the newspa per
will be represented, TO talk over furthe