MEDICAL COUNCIL OF WAR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 192, 9 May 1919, Page 3

MEDICAL COUNCIL OF WAR

TO-ORGANISE A "FLU". OFFENSIVE. . Many suggestions for keeping down the influenza scourge :were made-by distinguished doctors at a-conjoronce presided over by Sir.Malcolm Morris.at the London Institute of Hygiene recently. Sir St. Clair; Thomson, the "noso and throat specialist, said influenza was undoubtedly "splashed" upon.us by coughing and sneezing—even by laughing. Good manners ought to bo revived; and people who coughed without covering their mouths ougnt to bd prosecuted for indecency!; There was no reason to gargle the throat or wash the nosoj providing those. paits were healthy. He was entirely, opposed to the use of permanganate of potash,, as advised by the Local Government Board. The general principles agreed on by the conference were: — . . .-. ' "Vaccinatum will prevent dangorous complications. : " ; . "The-nose is the best filter. "• .•;' • ■•■''ljf x is. dangerous to breathe through thei iuouth.. .. .. ~ . ■'■.'.• '•Peoplo who cough-or eneezci lie ere to be avoided."

JDr. Carnegie Dickson, tht bacteriologist, strongly recommended vaccino

treatment as being especially valuable in preventing dangerous complications like pneumonia. This view was (shared b> most of the speakers, tlm contention being that if influenza is developed after vaccination it is milder in form, and the secondary infections do not appear., As to whether influenza was a "crowd" disease, Dr. Dickson.said that.two peoplo constituted a crowd if one were a "carrier" of the disease and the other were susceptible to it. ■ ..,.-..

Dr. Hector Mackenzie emphasised the need of warm clothing, good food, and plenty of sleep, ■ and ~ also recommended vaccination .to.' avoid the.' after-effects Ho urged the 'necessity • of -inoro - money being voted for research, quoting the action of tho Gorman chemical manufac-turers,-who haVe just voted ,£500,00© for medical, research. - Hβ was astounded at the lack ..of .nrop.er. attention to teeth hygiene in Britain, niauy of his hospital patients considering tho use of toothbrushes effeminate! Serious influenza cases should be isolated in spocial hospitals, and a larger stall of outdoor nurses should be made available to ; visit the sick in their homes. ' ■ '> '

Dr. D. C. Kirkhope, medical officer of health - for' ■Tottenham, "said' that the Local Government Board action ■ was inadequate, and that the War Office should bo pressed to release every available nurse .to-attend the sick in their own homes. The notification of influenzal pneumonia would involve extra work; it would not supply nurses, doctors, or accommodation. : It would merely eup. ply statistics. ' . .

Dr. Lowe pointed out that the best mask is the nose, the normal filter.

Sir Kingsley Wood, Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government Board, said one reason why so little was known of the disease was the neglect to foster a proper research movement in Britain. Money epent on research would be the best insurance premium against disaster.