A GERM HUNT

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 136, 6 December 1919, Page 8

A GERM HUNT

TO KILL INFLUENZA

BACTERIOLOGICAL CAMPAIGN.

Four men prominent in the medical profession in the United States agreed at a conference in New York to combine their efforts in the study of the so-called influenza bacillus, the filterable viruses and tho pneumococci, as possible factors in colds and influenza leading to pneumonia.

In making this announcement the U.S. Health Commissioner, Dr. Royal S. Copeland, said nothing very positive is known regarding the influenza germ, and hope is felt that the vaccine employed by the Health Department may help prevent fatalities from pneumonia. The conference marks the beginning of a. Federal, State, and municipal effort to prevent the threatened recurrent epidemic of influenza.

Tho question of a vaccine that- will be of maximum efficiency is interesting medical authorities throughout the world. Tho Department of Health has prepared a vaccine containing germs of various types of pneumonia and the several .forms of streptococci, a 6 well as the influenza bacillus itself. In some cases, Dr. Copeland said, this will give immunity against tho fatal complications of influenza, and as there is little reaction from its use the persons vaccinated can go about their ordinary business. The Department is prepared to give this vaccine to physicians, .and to administer it at Board of Health clinics. ,

"It must be a-dmitted that the uso of vaccines is largely experimental," said Dr. Cbpeland. "I would not think it right to speak with a degree of certainty regarding their value. I do desire to give the public the frankest possible statement regarding tho possible. value of the vaccines, so that every person may determine whether it should be.employed.

"Before any vaccine or serum can be presented to tho public with any degree of enthusiasm, the causative germ responsible for the disease must be discovered. The scientific world is most at sea as Tegards the particular germ responsible. Several vaccines were recommended last year, and the Department of Health prepared some of these.

'The 'results of vaccination apparently have shown some benefits. ■ There have been fewer cases of pneumonia among vaccinated persons than among the un-vaccin-ated. Influenza, in itself, is not fatal in most instances. Tho serious thing about it is that it prepares tho way for a secondary infection with tho germ of pneumonia. Probably more than 90 por cent, of the deaths reported from influenza last year resulted from pneumonia."

A rigorous daily inspection of all school children is being made, and the teachers are being instructed that they "--y recognise symptoms.