The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-01-01
No Way of Telling If Another
Wave Due In 1921.
MANY DEATHS UNNECESSARY
One and Quarter Million Per
sons Die In q. 8. Yearly.
Hundred Thousand of These
Could Have Been Saved.

Washington, d. c., Jan. 1.-'There
is absolutely no way of definitely fore
telling whether this winter will wit
ness any recurrence of influenza in
epidemic FORM" said Surgeon Gen.
II. S. Cumming. of the United States
public health service
"As result, however, OF very care
full analysis OF the epidemiology of
influenza, especially as the result of
intensive studies in homes where in
fluenza occurred in 1913 and 1919;
it may be stated that an attack of in
fluenza appears to confer a definite
immunity to subsequent attacks; an
immunity lasting for several years.
'Inasmuch as the epidemic of 1918
and 1919 affected so very large a pro-
portion of the population, there would
seem to be reasonable grounds for be-
lieving that even should flu become
prevalent here and there, 1t would not
assume the epidemic proportions of
the past two years, nor would it rage
in such severe form.
Could Prevent Many Deaths.
1T is unfortunate that the public
becomes so intensely interested in
spectacular epidemic outbreaks of dis
ease and is so little moved by the daily
occurrence of many preventable
the one and one-quarter million
deaths occurring in the United States
annually, at least 100000 could easily
be prevented by the application OF
available medical knowledge.
For example one of the diseases
which becomes prevalent about this
time of the year is diphtheria. This
disease is responsible for about 49,
900 deaths in the United States annu-
ally. Practically every one of these
deaths could be prevented, for not
only have we an effective anti-toxin
for treating the disease when 1t oc-
ours but what is still more important,
we are now able by means of simple
skin test to determine which children
are susceptible to diphtheria, and, this
ascertained, we can effectively immu-
ize them so as to protect them
against the disease.
Typhoid Far Too Large.
1.-THE 10000 or more deaths from ty-
phoid fever that occur annually in the
United States could also be largely
prevented il communities everywhere
would make certain that their water
and milk supplies were protected, and
if simple precautions were taken in
homes where typhoid fever occurs. 1t
is encouraging to know that smallpox
has been so well controlled that at
present the average deaths from 1t IN
the United States number only 400
deaths are entirely unnecessary. for
vaccination has long shown itself an
effective means of control"
In almost every community in the
country the wastage in infant lives is
still enormous, especially when con-
trasted with that in New Zealand, for
example where the death rate Is only
So per thousand births in the first
year of life as against 100 in the
United States.
Commenting on this, Surgeon Cen
eral Cumming said: THE expense of
life saving thru the prevention and
control of disease by well-directed
health measures is very small indeed
when contrasted with the saving
effected. I would strongly urge the
people of this country to recognize the
fact that expenditures in this direction
constitute the most profitable form of
investment. Effective measures OF
health conservation constitute a most
urgent need Of this reconstruction
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