OCR Text |
Show UNCLE SAM'S ADVICE m FLO U. S. Public Health Service Issues Official Health Bulletin ' cn Influenza. LATEST WORD ON SUBJECT. Epidemic Probably Not Spanish In Origin Germ Still Unknown People Peo-ple Should Guard Against "Di-opltt Infection" Surgeon General Bluo Make3 Authoritative Statement. Washington, D. C. (Special.) Although Al-though King Alfonso of Spain was one of tl-.c victims of the i 1 1 fl 1 1 1 1 z : 1 epidemic epi-demic in 1SIX! ami again this summer, Spanish authorities repudiate any claim to inlluenza as a "Spanish" disease. dis-ease. If the people of this country do not take care the epidemic will become be-come so widespread throughout the United States that soon we shall hear the disease called "American" Inllu-enza. Inllu-enza. In response to a request for definite Information concerning Spanish influenza, influ-enza, Surgeon General Rupert Bluo of the U. S. Public Health Service lias authorized the following ollicial interview: inter-view: What Is Spanish Influenza? Is It something new? Does it come from Spain? "The disease now occurring In this country and called 'Spanish Influenza' Influen-za' resembles a very contagious kind of 'cold,' accompanied by fever, pains Coughs and Sneezes Spread Diseases As Dangerous as Poison Gs Shells In the head, eyes, ears, back or other parts of the body and a feeling of severe se-vere sickness. In most of the cases the symptoms disappear after three or four days, the patient then rapidly recovering. recover-ing. Some of the patients, however, develop pneumonia, or Inflammation of the ear, or meningitis, and many of these complicated cases die. Whether this so-called 'Spanish' Influenza Is Identical with the epidemics of Influenza Influen-za of earlier years is not yet known. "Epidemics of Influenza have visited this country since 1G47. It is Interesting Interest-ing to know that this first epidemic was brought here from Valencia, Spain. Since that time there have been numerous epidemics of the disease. dis-ease. In 1SS9 and 1890 an epidemic of Influenza, starting somewhere In the Orient, spread first to Russia and thence over practically the entire civilized civ-ilized world. Three years later there was another flare-up of the disease. Both times the epidemic spread widely wide-ly over the United States. "Although the present epidemic Is called 'Spanish influenza,' there is no reason -"to believe that It originated in Spain. Some writers who have studied the question believe that the epidemic came from the Orient and they call attention at-tention to the fact that the Germans mention the disease as occurring along the eastern front In the summer, and fall of 1017." How can "Spanish influenza" be recognized? rec-ognized? "There Is as yet no certain way In which a single case of 'Spanish influenza' influ-enza' can be recognized. On the other oth-er hand, recognition Is easy where there is a group of cases. In contrast to the outbreaks of ordinary coughs and colds, which usually occur in the cold mouths, epidemics of Influenza may occur at any season of the year. Thus the present epidemic raged most Intensely in Europe in May, June and July. Moreover, in the case of ordinary ordi-nary colds, the general symptoms (fever, pain, depression) are by no means as severe or as sudden in their onset as they are In Influenza. Finally, Final-ly, ordinary colds do not spread through the community so rapidly or so extensively as does Influenza. "In most cases a person taken sick with Influenza feels sick rather suddenly. sud-denly. He feels weak, has pains In the eyes, ears, head or back, and may be sore all over. Many patients feel dizzy, some vomit. Most of the patients pa-tients complain of feeling chilly, and with this comes a fever In which the temperature rises to 100 to 101. In most cases the pulse remains relatively relative-ly slow. "In appearance one Is struck by the fact that the patient looks sick. His eyes and the Inner side of his eyelids may be slightly 'bloodshot,' or 'congested,' 'con-gested,' as the doctors say. There may be running from the nose, or there may he some cough. Those signs of a cold may not be marked; nevertheless never-theless the patient looks aud feels very sick. "In addition to the appearance and the symptoms -ns already described, examination of the patient's Mood may aid the physician in recognizing 'Spanish 'Span-ish influenza,' for It has been foun4 that In :-.: u:. -.... !h. numl-cr of 4 white cirr.!-.i-l.s U-.-s U-.'.V or no In- J create abeve ;J.. r.i.;:ii.J. H is possl- Me that h.hora Lory l::ves '..ntions J now .v',t. ::..il ;'nroiU'!i the National l:.-s.-:i:-i' lj'i:ik-;i ::! the I'nited ' Si.-'.t'-s !!.-'. t ic l.i'.hoi'atnry will fur- . nish a i:iiv certain way in which imli- ' vid;;;i! c-s of this dease can be , re.-o,!.i:.!." : Whrt is the course of the disease? Do people die of it? ' inlinarily, the fever lasts from three to four days and the patient re-covf-rs. I'.ut while the proportion of deaths In the present epidemic has generally hern low, in some places the outbreak litis been severe and deaths have been numerous. 'When death occurs oc-curs It is usually the result of a complication." com-plication." What causjs the disease and how Is It spread? 'T.acterinlotrists who have studied Influenza In-fluenza epidemics In the past have found in many of the enscs a very Small rod-shaped germ called, after Its discoverer. I'feifTer'-, bacillus. In other cases of apparently the same kind of disease there were found pneumoeocci, the germs of lobar pneumonia. Still others have heen caused by streptococci, strepto-cocci, and by others germs with long names. "Xo matter what particular kind of germ causes the epidemic, it Is now believed that Influenza is always spread from person to person, the germs being carried Willi the air along with the very small droplets of mucus, expelled by coughing or sneezing, forceful talking, and the like by one who already has the germs of the disease. dis-ease. They may also be carried about in the air in the form of dust coming from dried mucus, from coughing and sneezing, or from careless people who spit on the floor and on the sidewalk. As In most other catching diseases, a person who has only a mild attack of the disease himself may give a very severe attack to others." What should be done by those who catch the disease? "It is very important that every person per-son who becomes sick with Influenza should go home at once and go to bed. This will help keep away dangerous complications and will, at the same time, keep the patient from scattering the disease far and wide. It is highly desirable that no one be allowed to sleep in the same room with the patient. pa-tient. In fact, no one but the nurse should be allowed in the room. "If there is cough and sputum or running of the eyes and nose, care should be taken that all such discharges dis-charges are collected on bits of gauze or rag or. paper napkins and burned. If the patient complains of fever and headache, he should be given water to drink, a cold compress to the forehead and a light sponge. Only such medicine medi-cine should be given as is prescribed by the doctor. It is foolish to ask the druggist to prescribe and may be dangerous dan-gerous to take the so-called 'safe, sure and harmless' remedies advertised by patent medicine manufacturers. "If the palient is so situated that he can be attended only by some one who must also look after others in t lie family, fam-ily, it is advisable that such attendant wear a wrapper, apron or gown over the ordinary house clothes-while In the sick room and slip this off when leaving leav-ing to look after the others. "Nurses and attendants will do well to guard against breathing in dangerous danger-ous disease germs by wearing a simple fold of gauze or mask while near the " patient." Will a person who has had Influenza before catch the disease again? "It is well known that an attack of measles or scarlet fever or smnflpox usually protects a person against another an-other attack of the same disease. This appears not to he true of 'Spanish influenza.' in-fluenza.' According to newspaper reports re-ports the King of Spain suffered an attack of influenza during the epi-' epi-' demic thirty years ago, and was again stricken during the recent outbreak in Spain." How can one guard against Influenza? Influ-enza? "In guarding against disease of all kinds, it is important that the body be kept strong and able to light off disease dis-ease germs. This can be done by having hav-ing a proper proportion of work, play and rest, by keeping the body well clothed, and by eating sufficient wholesome whole-some and properly selected food. In connection with diet, It is well to remember re-member that milk is one of the best all-around foods obtainable for adults as well as children. So far as a disease dis-ease like Influenza is concerned, health authorities everywhere recognize the very close relation between its spread and overcrowded homes. While It is not always possible, especially In times like the present, to avoid such overcrowding, people should consider the health danger and make every effort to reduce the home overcrowding overcrowd-ing to a minimum. The value of fresh air through open windows cannot be over emphasized. "When crowding Is unavoidable, as In street cars, care should be taken t keep the face so turned as not to Inhale In-hale directly the air breathed out by another person. "It is especially Important to beware be-ware of the person who coughs or sneezes without covering his month and nose. It also follows that on should keep out of crowds and stufify places as much as possible, keep homes, offices and workshops well aired, spend some time out of doors each day, walk, to work If at all practicable prac-ticable in short, make every possible effort to breathe as much pure air IP possible. "In all health matters follow the vice of your doctor ar,d obey the reg lations of your local and state heaiA officers." "Cover up each cougti and sneet If you don't you'll spread disea |