Medicine: Influenza Alarm

One day last week Professor Roscoe Raymond Hyde of Johns Hopkins heard that Puerto Rico is suffering from an epidemic of influenza (10,000cases; no deaths). Next day he heard that the region around Hagerstown, Md. also is suffering from an epidemic of influenza (1,000 cases; no deaths). Those epidemics Professor Hyde feared might denote the beginning of a pandemic such as devastated the U. S. in 1918. Immediately he sent for a dozen ferrets on which to test the virulency of the germs which were causing the Hagerstown trouble. When Professor Hyde expresses fear, wise men take heed. He is head of the department of immunology in Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene & Public Health, a specialist on the spread of respiratory diseases. Last week he solemnly declared:

“I certainly have no wish to appear an alarmist, hut I think the people should be told that this epidemic might become a serious thing. It appears that as influenza is passed from person to person, it becomes more and more deadly. . . . Since it appears that it increases in virulence as it travels, it should be brought home to every sufferer of the disease that for the community good, as well as for their own good, they should take every precaution to prevent its spread.

“By that I mean that every sufferer should call in a capable physician to treat him. After a few days, the victim usually feels much better, compared with the way he felt while ill, and wants to go back to work and mingle with people. That is the danger period. He is still capable of transmitting the disease, and he is in danger of a serious relapse. He should remain in bed, or just lounge around the house, until his physician assures him he is fully cured.”