INFVLUENZA LESSONS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10272, 6 May 1919, Page 3

INFVLUENZA LESSONS

FROM AMERICA

GREATEST SAFEKrUARD IS AVOIDANCE OF FAX IC. AlodiVah men in Chicago, at their own Medical Society, and in conjunction with the American Public Health Association, 1 discussed pneumonic influenza, its causes, its development, and its cunn They seemed to bo satisfied that, there was no accredited cure by drugs, and that until one was discovered it would bo better to allow nature a pretty free'hand. 'One of them, Dr C. S. Kelson, writing in' the ‘•lllinois State Register," rc.narKpd very significantly—and the oujcrvation has more than a Chicago application:"If the laws of our State are (inch that ono man, who has had little, if any, experience as a practical physician, can lay down health rules that a multitude of physicians equal, if not superior, ability say arc pernicious, it is time our laws were revised. The rules governing our recent and present influenza epidemic are fair samples. The unnecessary publicity given tlris disease through the liberal ii.-c of printers’ ink, widen seems to be the principal asset of the present Director of. Public Health—the .scare headlines in the newspapers —have had the effects of which any practising physician'can testify. ... ‘•The greatest safeguard is the avoidance of panic. Some of the rules are amusing: ‘Don’t get excited,’ ‘Keep Cool,’ etc. Equivalent to a man getting up in a crowded theatre and yelling ‘Fire!’ and then lolling his audience not to got excited. Closing of public schools, theatres, churches, business places, etc., has been an absolute failure. We have had epidemics of influenza many tunes before—minus panic health rules and publicity—which ran their course, the same as this one must, with less serious results than we axe having this time.” VALUE OF MASKS. “As far as the Board of Health is concerned,, San Francisco will continue to wear its masks 1 until the influenza epidemic has been stamped out beyond Abe probability of a recurrence,” says the San Francisco ‘'Chronicle” of February 17 th. “T‘bo board refused unanimously last night to recommend to the Mayor repeal of the mask ordinance adopted two weeks ago. It will meet again oh Monday..to decide whether .conditions at that time will warrant removal of the city’s barrier of gauze. Dr William C. Hassler (city 'health officer) re-ported-to the board that the masks, in eleven days, had reduced very considerably the number of now cases each day.

“ ‘lf there is another epidemic,’ added Dr Hassler, ‘orders should be issued to close the theatres, churches, ballrooms in hotels, and other places of congregation. These have been the persistent violators of , the ordinance during the present epidemic'. 1 ” , ■ ■ Tho “Chronicle” also publishes the following tabic showing tho number of cases and deaths without the masking system . and the number with the masking system. Without masks: January 15, 510 new cases, ■' 60.-;'deaths ; January-■ 16th., 53S new cases, 42 deaths; January 17th, 519 new cases. 39 deaths; January 18th, 412 new cases! 25 deaths; January 19th' 400 new cases, Id deaths. With masks; January 20th, 366 new cases, 40 deaths; January 21st, 183 new cases, 22 deaths; January 22nd, 164 new cases, 15 deaths; January 23rd, 118 new cases, 11 deaths; January 24th, 85 new oases, 20 deaths; January 25th, 35 n?w cases, 10 death; January 26th, 12 new cases, 4 deaths: January 27th, 51 new cases, 13 deaths: January 28th, .41 new cases,' 9 -deaths ; January 30th, 31 new cases, 8 deaths; [January 30th,-39 new cases, 4 deaths.