THE CONTROL OF HEALTH 395 



essary for those who can afford their own ample yards, or can 

 quickly reach the country in automobiles; but for the vast 

 majority who have no other source of out-door relief, they are 

 indispensable. For many children they undoubtedly mean 

 the difference between living and not living. 



Medical Inspectors and the Control of Epidemics. 

 The real nature of communicable diseases, their symptoms, the 

 sources of infection, the method of treatment, the liability and 

 manner of spreading, and the seriousness of the disease to the 

 patient is known only by those well trained in the science of 

 medicine. Medical inspectors are given legal permission and 

 the assigned duty of keeping track of the public health. They 

 give the sick prompt attention and protect others from infec- 

 tion. Without them communicable diseases would be uncon- 

 trolled and without proper attention one case might easily 

 spread to thousands. It is the duty of every physician to 

 report cases of communicable disease to the public health 

 officers and to co-operate with them in every possible manner. 

 The people, in turn, should give their willing support to the 

 decisions of these men. 



COMMON EPIDEMICS AND THEIR PREVENTION. 



Influenza. The nature of this disease has been already 

 discussed. A person sick with influenza expels the infecting 

 organisms in minute droplets of mucus when sneezing, cough- 

 ing, laughing, or shouting. The fingers of a patient are 

 probably constantly infected. These minute droplets con- 

 taining the infecting organisms are inhaled by others and 

 infection may take place. 



An ordinary infection will produce illness in from one to 

 four days. The patient should be isolated and the case 



ported to the Board of Health. 



report 



