Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1928-12-20
GUARD AGAINST
FLU COMPLICATION
DIR. Morris Fishbein, Editor of Medi-
cal Journal Says Present Sweep is
Minor Outbreak; Gives Timely
Advice

The present sweep of influenza
over the country is one of the monor
outbreaks which regularly occur be-
tween major epidemics, DR.. Morris
Fishbein, of Chicago, editor of the
Journal of the American Medical as
sociation, said in a statement issued
last Friday.
DR.. Sishbein discussed the prob
able causes of the spread of the in
fection and gave suggestions for
treatment.
"Epidemics of respiratory disease
similar to. influenza have occurred
at fairly regular intervals approxi-
mating 3 years since 1902, the most
severe epidemics being those of
1902, 1880, lat, 1889 and 1918,"
DR.. Fishbein said. Between these
major outbreaks there occur regul-
larly minor outbreaks such as that
of the present year. From 20 to SO
per cent of the population are at
tackled in all these epidemics, and in
most of them there are relatively
few deaths. The disease shows a
remarkable lack Of relationship to
weather conditions.
"The incubation period for infiu-
eDZa is very short-probably be-
tween "a and 48 hours. The onset
Of the disease is sudden; by the sec
ond or the fourth day the symptoms,
which include fever, headache, pain
in the back and legs and prostration
out of proportion to the severity of
the symptoms, have usually begun to
disappear.
''The chief danger of the condi-
ton are not so much from the dis
ease itself as from the secondary
complication, such as pneumonia, in
fectiOns of the sinuses and ears and
the nervous system in persons who
do not take the proper care of them
selves following Infection. The dis
ease, like most respiratory diseases,
does not produce immunity of any
important duration.
prevention of contact with other
infected human beings is the only
known method of certain protection
against infection.
Unfortunately, under modern
conditions Of civilization it is prac-
tically impossible for any human be-
ing to avoid contact with others for
any considerable period of time.
There was convincing proof during
the 1918 epidemic that the closing
of schools, theaters, churches, mov-
ing pictures shows or business estab-
lishments did not influence the
spread of the disease, and in large
communities little, if anything, is
gained by closing such places.
'The only possible scientific ad-
vice relative to the care of the dis
ease is essentially simple, since there
are no specific measures and since
the condition must be handled as the
various symptoms develop. The
person who is sick should 60 to bed
Immediately and should have the at
tention of a competent physician. 1t
is probably we'll that he be isolated
more or less in the home and that
measures be taken to provide that
he does not spread the disease by
coughing and sneezing, and that he
does not use the same towels, nap
kins, drinking cup and eating uten-
sils as other members of the family.
Certainly the sick person should
not be permitted to fodle or play
with children.
'Since the patient is likely to have
chill or to feel chilly, warm drinks,
such as hot tea or lemonade or
orangeade are comforting and sup
port his strength Hot water bags
at the feet are helpful. The patient
is not likely to express much hunger
or appetite during the first "a hours
of the disease, he should not be
forced to take food, but he should,
however, have plenty of water.
'After the severe symptoms have
subsidized, he should be given plenty
of food to restore his strength, since
the disease produces prostration.
The patient should be kept warm,
but sufficient fresh air and SUM-
light should be permitted to enter
the room. 1t is important that the
physician watch closely for the de-
velopment of symptoms of pneu-
monia, the most serious of the secon-
Diary complications. 1t is also i'm
portant that the patient does not at
tempt to get up too soon, since un-
due exposure in the weakened con-
dition lowers resistance and makes
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