The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-01-20

Of 1870 and 1941 affected almost
every section Of the United States.
The sharp rise in the incidence
Of this disease was recorded in
California during November and a
big increase in the number Of cases
DR.. Clendening will answer
questions of general interest
only, and then only through
his column.
was reported from the Pacific and
Mountain regions of the United
States and Canada for the week
ending in December. The regions
Of the southeast had a maximum of
cases about January 18th and in
the North Central regions, South
and East Central, in Canada. New
England and the Middle Atlantic
regions the highest incidence was
reported during the week ending
February LIST.
Epidemic Disease
This incidence, which is based on
public health reports, would clear
ly indicate an epidemic disease
which began in one part of the
country and spread gradually by
contact over the entire continent
in the course of about four months.
We must recognize it therefore as
a special epidemic disease; al
though | am myself considerably
puzzled to know just how to make
the diagnosis of an influenza cpl
demic or pandemic.
Influenza appears to be disease
which occurs in two forms. / had
experience with the severe form
which swept all over the world in
1917 and 1918 and 1919. This was
real influenza. The death rate was
very high. In between these severe
worldwide epidemics, the epidemi-
ologists tell US influenza appears
in a milder form, such as the cpl
demic of last winter, in which ex-
cept for complications thero was
no death rate at all.
Diagnosis
I still have some doubts as to
whether the sort of Epidemic we
had last winter or which we may
have again this winter is influenza.
So far as I can see, the diagnosis
is made on the basis of the fact
that a person has something that
is too severe to be a bad cold and
not severe enough to be pneumonia.
We are told that, in a carefully
observed epidemic, influenza has ar
onset with a fever Of 100 to 1922
F. Some temperatures went as
high as 104' F. The duration did
not exceed four days.
Headache, aching. of the joints
and the other characteristic symp-
toms of influenza were observed.
Weakness was common COM
plant. About one-ffth Of the cases
were hospitalized. Complications
developed in only about one per
cent of the cases and usually con-
sisted in infections of the middle
ear.
The treatment Of this form Of in
Auenza at present is largely the re-
lief of symptoms. In other words,
no specific serum has been used in
spite Of many reports that the
cause Of influenza has been dis
covered and an anti-toxin has been
made.
The sulfonamide drugs do not
appear to be of any value in the
condition; although l have no doubt
that if you get influenza you will
also get a sulfonamide drug, and
to tell the truth, it probably will
not do you any harm.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Mrs. A. Tt. Is it harmful
to take any of the various vitamin
tablets without the consent of a
physician? 2. What causes the
eyes to itch and burn after read
ing? have worn glasses without
apparent result and a physician
did not recommend them. Would it
be rundown condition? 3. What
causes itching particularly Of the
back as soon as the cold weather
begins, with no change in the
diet?"
Answer: There is apparently
no harm in the use Of vitamin tab
let's, even in enormous quantities,
except possibly Vitamin D. One
Of the reasons that vitamins have
gotten such a hold on the public
is that they do no harm-whether
or not they do any good.
2. In ninety-nine cases out Of
one hundred itching Of the eyes
is due to badly fitted glasses.
would advise you to go to an ocu-
list and be sure, to begin with,
that your eyes are all right.
3. Itching Of the skin that come.
on in cold weather is usually due
TO too much soap and too many
baths. The skin needs time be-
tween baths in the winter time.