Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-12-17
OF
FLU POSSIBLE
No Need for Hysteria,
Health Unit Head
Declares


Declaring that the influenza out
nreak need not cause hysteria in
reiyhborhoods where proper prevcn-
tatiye steps arc taken. Dir. Ernest W.
Prothro. head Of the Cameron coun-
ty health unit has laid down simple
rules that should be followed 70 PFC
vent contracting Of the disease.
relieving are "A few Of DIR. Pro-
thros suggestions:
This disease. like the other re-
~spiratory diseases. is transmitted by
direct contact such rs kissing. shak-
ing hands, sleeping together. and by
indirect contact such a. using COM
mon drinking devices. towels. PEN
CHS. eating from improperly cleaned
olthes, rubbing hands over desks.
improperly cleaned thcater seats. hy
aust from floors and sidewalks soil
ed by spit from infected persons,
from letters licked By sick patients
and other similar ways.
knowing the name Of transmits
sion VIII usually suggest way 81 pre-
Nention- These precautionary meas
ures have been carefully explained
70 teachers. pupils, theater managers
and food handlers. but despite this
there are cases Of gross careless
ness, so that IT IA the duty ~ each
family TO see for themselves whether
OF not the recognized system ~ ster-
hiSaticn - being carried out IN pla-
cea which they contact. III the nurse
81 the hospital and the dairyman in
The country can be taught steriliza-
tion, each housewife should be able
to learn enough to prevent repeti-
ton Of respiratory diseases IN the
home.
Some people still cling 10 [umi.
cation as a eure-sll. The health Of
ficlals warn against this, stating
that unless everything in a room Is
damp, f~umiestion Is worthless. They
recommend sterilization instead. ANY
OF the oils or lye. TIE chlorine prep
srations (R. X. o. X. Capitol Gallo
rineD or Thorough boiling, etc, Will
do the work.
1T was demonstrated in The over
sea section of the American army
that properly regulated places OF
amusement and other gatherings
need not be closed. so il is advised
that schools and other public gath
ering places should at this time be
extremely careful shout spacing or
pupils. sterilization and promiscuous
splitting. III they do these. they
should not have 10 close their bed
room. All who have coughs or other
symptoms should. Of course, be
barred from gatherings for their own
sake, "a we'll as for Others. since IN
fluenEa patients frequently die from
heart strain, SO should lie kept a.
quiet as possible.
These experts state that in milk
handling. in army prophylactic work
etc, that two hours time is the limit
before which sterilization must be
condemned. For all practical pur-
poses germ life may be DESTROYED by
steriliziug hands. throat and nose
/. and other exposed parts each two
hours with some non-irritating sub
stance such as table salt and chlo-
rine. liberstin. drugs. the silver
preparations and other properly pre-
pared antixeptic drugs.
They state hat germs Will sell
dom attack q body not irritated.
therefore. recommend that all had
teeth. tonsils ard such receiving sta
tons he removed Ut once. and that
other simple rules Of health be foi-
lowed out regularly. such Is proper
food three times 2 day. fresh air all
the time, sunshine. all one can get.
pure water mot an a~lcoholicl a.
least a half pint Per hour during
the day, and such other simple pre-
csuticrs as proper exercise. long
hours Of rest. etc