Show m UNCLE SAM ADVICE ON FL FlU iU S S. S Public Publio Health Service Issues Official Health Bulletin on Influenza t r LATEST WORD ON SUBJECT I j Ij Epidemic Probably Not Spanish In Origin Origin Germ Germ erm Still Unknown Unknown Peo Peo People pie Should Guard Against Droplet Infection Surgeon Surgeon General Ulue Blue i Makes Authoritative Statement i Washington D. D C. C C. Al Special Al Although though King Alfonso of Spain was one of the victims of the Influenza epidemic epi demic In lS 1593 3 and again ngan this summer Spanish authorities repudiate any claim to influenza as a Spanish dis ease If It the people of this country do donot do donot not take care the epidemic will be be- come so widespread throughout t tile the thoi United States that soon we shall shaH hear hear the disease called American enza In response to a request for tor definite Information concerning Spanish Influenza Influenza influenza enza enza Surgeon General Rupert Blue of the tho U. U S. S Public Health Service Ice has authorized the following official Interview interview inter Inter- view What Is Sp Spanish Influenza Is It something new Does It come from Spain The uThe disease now occurring In this country and call called ell Spanish Influenza za resembles a very contagious kind of at cold accompanied by fever pains Coughs and Sneezes Spread Diseases f m ii t J Aa As D Dangerous as Poison Polson G Gs Shells Shelb In the head bead eyes ears back or other parts of at the body bully and a feeling of ot se- se were Tere sickness In most of the cases the symptoms disappear after three or four tour days the patient then rapidly recover recover- ing Some of the patients however develop pneumonia or Inflammation of ot the ear ear or meningitis and many of these complicated cases die Whether this so called so-called called Spanish Influenza is Identical with the epidemics of Influenza za of ot earlier years Is not yet et known Epidemics of ot In Influenza ha have hae e visited this country since 1047 10 It Is InterestIng InterestIng interesting Interest- Interest Ing to know v that this first epidemic was was brought here from Valencia Spain Since that time there have Deen numerous epidemics of ot the tho dis dis- ease In 1889 1859 and lS O an epidemic I of at In Influenza starting somewhere in th the Orient spread first to Russia Russa and thence over o practically the entire world Three years ears later there was another up flare-up of at the tho disease Both oth times the epidemic spread wIde ly over the United States Although the present epidemic I Is ly called Spanish Influenza there is n no na reason to believe that it originated ili hi Spain Some writers who have studied the question believe that the tho epidemic came from the from the Orient and they call attention at at- to the fact tact that the Germans mention the disease as occurring along the h e eastern front In the summer and ana an rail ran or of mi 1911 How can Spanish Influenza a be bo rec recognized recd There Is as yet no certain way In which a n single case of at Spanish Influenza influenza enza nIn can cnn be recognized On the other other other oth oth- er hand recognition Is easy where there is a grou group of ot cases In contrast contras to 10 the outbreaks of ot ordinary cough coughs and colds which usually occur In tho the cold months epidemics of at Influenza may occur at any season of the year Thus the present epidemic raged most Intensely In Europe In May Juno Junc and July Moreover cr In the case of ot ordinary nary colds the general symptoms fever pain depression are by no nn means as severe ere or as sudden In their onset as ns they are In Influenza Final ly ordinary colds do not spread through the community so rapidly o oso orso or orso so extensively as does Influenza I In most cases a person taken sick with Influenza feels sick rather suddenly sud sud- denly lenly He lIe feels weak has pains In the eyes yes ears head or back and may be besore besore besore sore all over Many patients feel teel dizzy some vomit Most of ot the pa pa- complain of at feeling chilly and with this comes a fever te In which the temperature rises to to In Inmost Inmost most cases the pulse remains relative relative- relatively ly slow In appearance one Is struck by the tact fact that the patient looks sick His eyes and the Inner side of at eyelids may Play be slightly bloodshot or congested con Bested ested as the doctors say There may be running from the nose or there may be some cough These signs of ot a cold may not be marl marked cd nevertheless never never- the patient looks and feels very sick In addition to the appearance and the symptoms as already described examination of ot the patients patient's blood may lid aid tho the physician In recognizing Span lah lei in Influenza for It t. t has hils been found t. t tit l In tills tills disease disease the number of of at white corpuscles shows little or no Increase in increase increase In- In crease above the normal It Is possible possible possible ble that the laboratory Investigations now being made through the National Research Council and antI the United States Hygienic Laboratory will fur fur- furnish nish a more certain wa way In which Individual Individual Indi Indi- vidual cases of ot this disease can be recognized What Is the course of the disease Do people die of it Ordinarily the fever lasts from three to four foul days and the patient re re- re- re covers But while the proportion of deaths In the present epidemic has generally been low In some places the out outbreak reak has been severe and deaths have ha been numerous When death occurs occurs occurs oc oc- oc- oc curs It Is s usually the result of ot a n corn com What causes the disease and how Is IsIt Isit It spread Bacteriologists who have studied influenza In Influenza Influenza In- In epidemics In the past have found fount In many of ot the cases a very Small rod shaped rod germ called after Its discoverer bacillus In other cases of oC apparently the same kind of or disease there were found the germs of ot lobar pneumonia Still others hn have ve been Jeen co caused used by streptococci streptococci streptococci cocci an and by others germs with long names No Xo matter what particular kind of ot germ causes the epidemic It is now believed ed that Influenza is always spread from person to person the tho germs d with the air along with the ver very small droplets of oC mucus expelled by coughing or sneezing forceful talking and the like by one who already has hus the germs of at the dis dis- ease They hey may also be carried about In the air ar In n the thc form of dust coming from dried mucus from coughing and sneezing or from careless people who spit on the thc floor and on the sidewalk sidewall As In most other catching diseases a n person who has only a n mild attack of or orthe 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 person person per 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 samo time keep the patient from scattering the disease far and wide It is highly desirable that no one be allowed to I I i sleep in the same room with the pa pa- tient In fact tact no one but the nurse should be allowed in the room If It there Is cough and sputum or running of the eyes and nose care should be taken that all such discharges discharges dis dis- charges are arc collected on bits of gauze or rag ral or paper napkins and burned If It the patient complains of ot 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 cino should be given as Is prescribed by the doctor It Is foolish to ask the druggist to prescribe and may be dangerous dangerous dangerous dan dan- to take the so-called so safe sure and harmless harmless' remedies advertised by patent medicine manufacturers If It the patient Is so situated that he can be attended only by some one who must also look after others In the family family fam fam- U ily It is advisable that such attendant wear a wrapper apron or gown over O the ordinary house clothes while In the sick room and slip this ol off art when leaving leaving leav lea ing to look after the others Nurses and attendants will do well to guard against breathing In dangerous danger danser- ous disease germs by wearing a simple fold told of oC gauze or mask while near the patient Will a person who has had Influenza before catch the disease e again It Is well known that an on attack of measles or scarlet fever or smallpox usually protects a person against another an nn- other attack of at tho the same disease This appears not to be true of ot Spanish in- in According to newspaper re- re the King of ot Spain suffered an attack of ot Influenza during the epidemic epi epi- epidemic demic thirty years ago and was again stricken during the recent outbreak in Spain How can one guard against influenza Influenza Influenza enza In guarding against disease of ot all kinds It Is Important that the tho body be kept stron strong and able to fight off air dis dis- disease disease ease germs lerms This can be done by havIng having hav hav- Ing a proper proportion of ot work worle play pIny and rest by keeping the body well clothed and by eating sufficient wholesome wholesome wholesome whole whole- some and properly selected food In connection with diet It Is well to remember remember remember re re- re- re member that milk mUk Is one ona of ot the best around all-around foods obtainable for adults as well as children So far as a disease disease dis dis- ease like Influenza Is concerned health authorities everywhere recognize the tho very close relation between Its spread and overcrowded o homes While it is not always alwa's possible especially In times Umes like the present to avoid such overcrowding people should consider the health danger and make every effort to reduce the home overcrowding overcrowd overcrowd- ing to a minimum The value of ot fresh tresh air through open windows cannot be over emphasized When crowding Is una unavoidable voidable as asIn asIn asin In street cars caro care should be taken to keep the face so BO turned as not to In Inhale Inhale In- In Inhale hale directly the air breathed out by another person It is especially Important to beware beware beware be be- ware of ot the person who coughs or sneezes without covering his mouth I and nose It also follows that one should keep out of ot crowds and stuffy places as much as possible keep homes offices and workshops well aired alred spend some time out of at doors each day walk to work if at all practicable In in short make every possible effort to breathe as much pure air ar as ns possible In all health matters follow the advice advice advice ad- ad ad ad- vice of ot your our doctor and obey the re regulations regu regu- u. u lations of ot your local and state health officers Cover up each cough and sneeze v vI I If y you u do dont don't t you'll Ip spread ead diseases disease |