The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-02-11
INFLUENZA AND QUARANTINE

lives. and it has again appeared, the
doctors and the scientists and every
one else is puzzled and does not know
Just what is best to be done to cheek
the spread and stamp out the dread
disease. The physicians and eminent
men are widely different in opinion
as to quarantine, and just what the
quarantine should cover. We heard q
man say the other day he would like
to see congress pass an act to close
all places of business and everything
for a period of two or three weeks
and do so as soon as the people were
given notice to lay in asufflclent
suppiss of rations to last for the
period of the quarantine land that
no one be permitted to leave thell
premises during that time, excepting
physicians and nurses we suppose.
We notice that the medical society
in Columbia held meeting the other
day, not to criticize the board OF
health, but the situation being rather
serious it was thought the medical
fraternity would be in position to ad'
wise and take counsel as to what was
best to be done. There was such di-
vergence of opinion among the doc
tors that the meeting adjourned
without taking any action at all. On
a vote it was the opinion that the
children were better off at school
than at home. On another vote it was
the opinion that the churches should
not be closed. No vote was taken as
to the closing Of the picture s'!ows.
and the meeting adjourned without
making any recommendations.
It seems that the attack comes sud-
denly and without any premonition,
and no one seems to know whence
comes the germ or what the germ IS
if it be a germ that is floating
around. Fortunately so far while
there SENS to be number of cases
all over the country there have not
been as many pneumonia cases fol-
lowing and the attacks have not been
so serious this time as year ago. AT
the time of the meeting of the doc
tors in Columbia the health officer
stated that 237 cases had been re-
ported at that time. A gentleman
who came from Columbia on Sunday
afternoon said there were more than
400 cases in the city.
Certainly our quarantine seems to
be of little avail. Maybe we started
too late. Some one remarked that we
should close the non-essentials such
as the picture shows and the poo
rooms and the schools and the
churches. Somehow we do not feel
that these are any more non-essential
that some other places, when we con-
slider the ehalth of the community. In
fact, we think a picture show or a
church or school is just as essential
as a store or bank or any other in
stitution. But if the closing will help
to prevent the spread of the disease
then we say close any place that
would help to check the spread by be-
ing closed. But so long as people
travel in the stuffy trains and crowd
in other places, if crowding helps to
spread, the closing of these Vother
places is not going to do very much
good. But every good citizen is will
ing and anxious to cooperate in any
measure what will be beneficial in
the present crisis.
DR.. Copeland health commissioner
of the city of New York says:
e. Zone who has constant and un-
controllable inclination to cough OF
sneeze should not remain in crowd:
ed public place. Unless the face is
covered with the handkerchief
coughing or sneezing is dangerous to
every neighbor reached by the spray
"Well IRONS will be benefited by
the diver ION of the theatre; sick per.
sons should be at home-for theil
own good and for the public good.
"Fear is a great factor in lower
ing resistance. Go about your affair:
calmly and unafraid.
AS to the schools DR.. Copeland
says:
Il :. l..