Ware the Influenza Germ!

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 44, 10 May 1935, Page 52

Ware the Influenza Germ!

N the autumn and spring there is usually an epidemic of influenza which may be mild or very severe in. character. Undoubtedly some people are far more susceptible than others, .and they go down at the first exposure to infection. This weakness may be due to a poor state of. health or to a@ catarrhal condition of the nose, throat or chest, which affords a com-. fortable home for the influenca germ. Healthy individuals may also harbour the. germ, but their resistance is sufficient to withstand its attack, Fresh foodstuffs also appear to defend us against infections, .probably by keeping our blood pure and healthy. An experienced doctor who worked amongst Army and civil patients during the inflwenza epidemic of 1918 used to put his. faith in. raw apples. He was such a busy man that his household. was run.on the French fashion of coffee, roll and butter in. his room at 8.30 aa, At 11 am. he sat down to a good lunch of bacon and fried potatoes and liwer. -Then out he dashed and.was

whirled’ away in his speedy car, maunehing a large apple. This apple consumption went on at intervals between visiting houses where four and five and siz people were down with serious influenza or its sequel, pneumonia, After @ light but very nourishing dinner ut 5.80 p.m. he tackled an evening's work where the patients were queued up right along the pavement and all round ‘the house. Though over 60 years of age he never contracted. influenza or cold or clrill through the most trying period, when he worked steadily for 16 hours a day. A. safe rule is to go to bed directly the warning symptoms of headache and backache appear. Pains .in the limbs. and *hrough the eyes are almost diag! vstic of influenza. Even though. the attack. subsides in a few days it is unwise to get up to6- soon. At least a week of convalescence is necessary before returning to work, as a relapse finds the victim’s resistance much weaker. . If influenza is ushered in with gastritis care must be taken to prevent collapse, Tt is wiser to get the doctor’ in time than ta wait , for serious developments. ° ,