Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-12-29
prevention Rather Than
Cure Way to Avoid
Winter Epidemics

Keep away from persons who are
coughing: keep away from large
gatherings indoors If necessary to
VISIT friend or acquaintance who
mas, or mas recently had, an attack
VI tne grippe or influenza, do not
remain any longer than possible.
and while in the same room il is
wise to wear some protective gauze
OF mask over the nose and nostrils.
Ihe above rules are some of the
statements given out by Waterviile
physicians to the oKennebec Journal
Iast evening in brief interviews. For
some time 1t has been discussed
among citizens whether or not this
1all has been an unusually healthful
season and whether or not the mild
ness of the weather attributes to-
wards the prevailing conditions.
DR.. w. J. Young, Health Officer,
stated that in the public schools
there has been very little signs of
coughs and colds up to the present
time and that so far the number of
pupils absent from school on these
accounts have been a small margin
In comparison of last years records.
DR.. T.. w. Boyer, when questioned
as to whether he had noticed in
his practice, any difference in the
number. of grippe colds than that of
last year. stated that he had found
less up to date than for many previ-
GUS years. He said that he had found
that epidemics run in waves, that
the human body after having been
subject to these germs. such as in
fluenZa, grippe and others. is not so
susceptible to the same contagion as
before and that many times there
hn
have these diseases for a while and
later perhaps another epidemic will
break out which has it's runs. When
asked il he could give a few rules
for the prevention of colds the doc
tor made the statements that others
had. but impressed the rule of a we'll
ventilated room in the case of the
sick person. He also remarked that
care should be taken against UNI
necessary exposure in the damp or
cold weather.
DIR. Z. S. Merrill declared that he
had noticed quite decrease in the
number of grippe cases over that of
1922, and stated that what colds he
had had his attention called to, We're
of the mild nature and easily taken
care of. The doctor said that in
talking with physicians from diff
ferent parts of New England. he had
found that the same condition pre-
walls in all the New England states
as well as Maine. He did not at
tribute the decrease due to the fact
that the weather had been mild, but
rather that it is lack of an epidemic
travelling The doctor declared that
personally he should look for more
coughs and colds this fall than in
others. because of the rapid changes
in temperatures and the dust which
is very bad for the lungs.
He emphasized the care that should
be taken to avoid contact with those
who have coughs or slight colds and
suggested that it was a good idea
to take care of the body well. as an
epidemic is always apt to come.
1--WE cannot judge the winter by
the conditions that have existed this
fall, and we must be prepared for
the cold weatRre to come" declared
DR.. G. II. Hutchins, district health
officer for Kennebcc and Somerset
counties, when requested by one re-
porter last evening. He declared that
although it was impossible to say
just why the absence of sickness was
SO noticeable, coughs. colds and La
Grippe, was, without doubt, a cold
weather Illness. He said that 1t is
passed from one person to another by
means of the spray in the greath
and gave similar instructions for the
prevention as the other physicians
did.
DIR. T. w. Hardy when questioned.
declared that although his practice
along the lines of these diseases had
been very light owing to his special
work. that he had noticed a great
less complaints of the grippe nature
than in any winter previous. The
doctor referred the reporter to state
ments issued by Frederick T. Lord.
NJ. d.. of the hygiene department in
the Massachusetts board of health.
In discussing the theory as to the
cause of cold, DR.. Lord declared: .
THE cause of colds is thus far I'M
known. There is little to support the
still popular belief that they arise
in consequence of exposure in wet
weather, wet feet, sitting in wet
cloths or draughts, and rapid cool
ing of the body when overheated. The
great frequency of such exposures
without ill effects suggests merely a
chance relation. Nansen's experience
of freedom from colds among men,
bers of his expedition under exposure
to the extremely low temperature of
the far North, and the development
of colds and coughs among many of
the party when on their return they
landed at q thickly settled port sug-