PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST INFLUENZA.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 17 September 1919, Page 4

PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST INFLUENZA.

Issued by Direction of the Hob. G. W. Russell, Minister of Public Health.

The following measures of personal protection against influenza, issued by the Local Government Board of; England and Wales, are considered to be extremely valuable in New Zeajand at the present time, and the Department takes the liberty of circulating same tor general information and guidance. T. H. A. VALINTINE, Chief Health Offim. Wellington, sth June, 1919. ' . - ft • Measures of Personal .Protection. Well-ventilated airy rooms promote well-being, and to that extent, .at any rate, are inimical to infection; draughts are due to unskilful ventilation and are harmful; all chilling of the body-sur-face should be prevented. Good nourishing food is desirable. A recent memorandum of the Boyal Col-

lege' of Physicians states that "aleoholic exccs3 invites disaster; within the limits of moderation each person will be wise to maintain unaltered whatever habit experience has proved to be most agreeable to his own health."

A simple throat-gargle for ordinary use is made by adding 20 drops of liquor sodie chlorinate to a tumbler of warm water. A solution of eommon table-salt, one teaspooaful to a pint of warm water, to which is added enough permanganate of potash to give the liquid a pink colour (1 part of peri manganate in 5000), is uaitable either ! as a gargle or for washing the nasal ■ passages. For the latter,* little of the J liquid may be poured into the hollow j palm of the hand or into a small shal- ' low receptacle like the lid of a small ! tin, and snuffed or drawn u» the nosI trils. Throat-gargling and nos«-washing, night and morning, or more frequently,

are recommended as preventive me* ! sures, though their importance should I not be over-rated. They may be employed with speeial advantage on re- ' turning home after exposure to infec- | tion in a crowd or close eontaet with an ' infected person. i On present knowledge the public is ( not advised to make a general use of lace-masks during a period of influenza ' prcvaluuce. Face - masks, however, s should bo used as much as possible by | those attending on the sick. A mask : to cover the nose, mouth, and chin may

be improvised out of three layers ef j butter-muslin, Bin by sin, provided at I the corners with tapes for fastening at ' the buck of the head; or about half a i yard of gauze may be,used for the same "purpose, folded as a triangular ban- ' dage. A sufficient number of faeeI masks must be available so that they can be frequently changed and washed. It is desirable at the same time to protect the eyes by wearing goggles or ■ glasses. " ■••*•-' | Since we are uncertain of the primary ' cause of influenza, no form of innooula- ! tion can be guaranteed to protect ; against the disease itself. But tho chief ■ dangers of influenza lie in its eomplicai tions, and it is probable that much can be done to mitigate the severity of tho • infection and to diminish its mortality by raising the resistance of the body against the chief secondary infecting agents. A standard vaccine has been j used for this purpose, in the Army, and in some districts supplies of thw vaccine are issued by the Medical Officers of Health for use in institutions, or to medical practitioners who apply for it. ' The vaccine docs not infallibly prevent i complications, but the its use ; have been encouraging. There need be no hesitation in accepting inoculation ) when it is administered under coinpeI tent medical advice.

Xo drug has yet been proved to have any specific influence as « preventive of influenza.

During infiuenr-a prevalence those ■who are able to ; do so . will diminish their chance of. contracting the disease by keeping away from all places ef public resort and all erewded aottveyanees. Other persons are in most eas.es at least, able to avoid seme beeasieas of forming part of a crowd or aseembly, without prejudice to their necessary occupations, and should' do eo. Staying at work after the flnt symptoms appear is bad for the patient and may be dangerous to others. Workers obviously ill should at onee be sent or taken home. Where influent* is prevalent no person should in any way be penalised for staying away f»m work, £>ona fide, for even a slight attack of influeZsa or any form of feverish cold. On the contrary, he'Oumii be expend and required so" to do. At the first feeling of illness or rise of temperature the patient should go to bed. keep warm, and seek medical treatment. " **

The early stages of e* attack ere the most infective, but infection may persist throughout the illness, and negregation should be maintained at least till the temperature is normal. If the patient cannot occupy a separate room, the head of his bed should, if possible. bo screened off from the rest of the

apartment. Relapses and complications are much less likely to occur if the patient goes to bed at once and remains there till all fever has gone for two or taree days; much harm may be done by getting about too early. Chill and over-exer-tioa during convalescence era fruitful of evil consequences. The virus Of inflnenaa is vety easily destroyed, and extensive measures of disinfection are not called for. - Expectoration should be received when possible in a glazed receptacle in «rhiea is a solution of chloride of lime or other disinfectant. Discarded bandkerehiefa should be immediately piaeed jus disinfectant or, if papefr"bur£L '■"** I The liability of the immediate it-

i tendants to infection may be- materially 1 diminished by avoiding inhalatacn ef the patient's breath, aid particularly when he is coughing, sneezing, or" talking. A handkerchitf or'orser fcewrta. should be. neia Tsefor# f&» »»atbj * ad

the head turned aside during coughing and sneezing. The risk of convcyanee j of infection by the fingers must be constantly remembered, and the hands should be washed at once after contact with the patient or with mucus from the nose or throat. Each case must be treated, as occasion demands, under the direction of the medical attendant. No drug has yet been proved to have any specific ! curative effect on influenza, though Isome may be useful in guiding its 'course and mitigating its symptoms. JThe patient's recovery should be fully established before he returns to work.