The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-10
BY BRUCE CAPTION YEA Service Staff COrresDOndent

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 Washington, Dec. 10-If the in- fluenza epidemic which has devel- oped in California is no worse than present reports to the United States Public Health Service indicate, the American people need not be alarmed about repition of the great 1918-19 epidemic.
 A great many cases of influenza have been reported in California, but-as far as the Public Health Service can learn-there have been very few deaths.
 If that holds true in later and more detailed reports, say the Public Health Service authorities, the 1918 variety of influenza probably is not present. For the 1918 epidemic car- ried many deaths with it. Epidemic influenza is about as mysterious riddle as medical science ever has to tangle with, but one thing seems to be known def initely-that there are two varieties, severe one like the 1918 visitation, and a relatively mild form which is nuisance and a pain, but which is seldom fatal.
 A month or two ago Puerto Rico had an epidemic of influenza-the mild form California, apparently, $ getting what Puerto Rico got. NO SURE CONTROL NOW
 Right at the moment, there Is no sure method of controlling influenza. Medical science is better off than it was in 1918 in just one respect-tke virus which causes the malady has been isolated, by several investiga- tors, and has been established m animals. Two types of influenza virus have been isolated so far. The relationship of these types is not yet known
 Chief work along this line has been done by the Rockefeller Foun- dation. Scientists there have suc- ceeded in making a vaccine which, apparantely, will give protection against one type of the disease-to animals. Whether it will also give protection to human beings is not yet definitely known, chiefly because opportunities to test it have been rare.
 Should another epidemic of the 1918 type of the disease make its ap. pearance, this vaccine could be test ed under conditions which would show exactly what degree of pro- lection it may give. If it should be proven that the vaccine is able to give immunity, science would then be able to control" influenza. Unless and until that or something similar happens, however, the simple fact is that medical men today are no better equipped to fight epidemic influenza than they were in 1918.
 For one thing, there is no simple, specific diagnostic test by which a physician can be dead sure he ac- tually has a case of influenza on his hands. There are a few laboratories in the country where such test can be made but the processs is long and difficult and is not available to the ordinary physician.
 For another thing, Public Service Health experts frankly admit they do not know how to control epidemic | influenza.
 Influenza is highly infectious in it's early stages; apparently it is transmitted from one person. to another in the air, probably in the minute droplets of moisture from the motth and nose. Yet the elaborate efforts to check the 1918 epidemic by isolating all sufferers, closing schools and theaters and churches and preventing public gatherings as much as possible seemed to do little or no good. For the influenza victim apparently can transmit the infection to some one else before he knows he has it himself. SULFANILAMIDE
 YET TO BE TESTED
 An indication that complete iso-