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(b) Good ventilation in working and sleeping rooms
(keep windows open day and night).
(c) Warm clothing.
(d) Gargling from a tumbler of warm water to which
has been added enough permanganate of potash to
give the liquid a pink colour.
(e) Vaccination.- A vaccine against influenza has been
prepared by the Ministry of Health and is available
for general use in the same way as the War
Office have provided similar vaccine for the troops.
It is issued to Medical Officers of Health for
distribution free of charge among medical practitioners
within their districts, and any person
who wishes to be vaccinated should apply to his
private medical attendant. The purpose of the
vaccine is prevention, and therefore to obtain its
value it should be used before an epidemic occurs.
It cannot be guaranteed that the vaccine will
necessarily protect from attack, but there is reason
to expect that if an attack occurs vaccination will
do much to lessen the risk of complications.
Influenza is dangerous mostly because of what may
follow it.
Cure.
In the event of an attack of influenza, the patient is
advised to adopt the following measures with a view to
securing a speedy return to convalescence and avoidance
of complications:-
(a) At the first feeling of illness or immediately on
a rise of temperature the patient should leave his
work, go home and go to bed; he should keep
warm and should send for the doctor.
(b) On convalescence, the patient should avoid
meeting-places and places of entertainment for at
least one week after his temperature has become
normal.
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