SEPTEMBER 20, 1918] 
sired by the government. The problem is a new 
one and calls for inventiveness and adaptability as 
well as that spirit of cooperation which the colleges 
have already so abundantly shown. 
THE EPIDEMIC OF SPANISH INFLUENZA 
Tw an effort to prevent an epidemic of Span- 
ish influenza throughout the United States, 
Surgeon-General Blue of the Public Health 
Service has provided a list of methods for the 
control of the disease. From a telegraphic sur- 
yey made by General Blue it was discovered 
that the disease had broken out in six United 
States seaport towns, Fort Morgan, near Mo- 
bile, Ala.; Newport News, Philadelphia, New 
York, Boston, New London and New Orleans. 
Dr. Blue’s bulletin of information on the 
disease issued primarily for physicians, con- 
tains information as follows: 
Infectious Agent—The bacillus 
Pfeiffer. 
Sources of Infection—The secretions from the 
nose, throat and respiratory passages of cases or of 
carriers. 
Ineubation Period—One to four days; generally 
two. 
Mode of Transmission—By direct contact or in- 
direct contact through the use of handkerchiefs, 
common towels, cups, mess gear or other objects 
contaminated with fresh secretions. Droplet in- 
fection plays an important part. 
Period of Communicability—As long as the per- 
son harbors the causative organism in the respira- 
tory tract. 
Methods of Control—The infected individual 
and his environment. 
Recognition of the Disease—By clinical manifes- 
tations and bacteriological findings. 
Isolation—Bed isolation of infected individuals 
during the course of the disease. Screens between 
beds are to be recommended. 
Immunization—Vaccines are used with only par- 
tial suecess. 
Quarantine—None; impracticable. 
Concurrent Disinfection—The discharges from 
the mouth, throat, nose and other respiratory pas- 
sages. 
Terminal Disinfection—Thorough cleansing, air- 
ing and sunning. The causative organism is short- 
lived outside tlie host. 
General Measures—The attendant of the case 
should wear a gauze mask. During epidemics per- 
influenza of 
SCIENCE 
289 
sons should avoid crowded assemblages, street cars 
and the like. Education as regards the danger of 
promiscuous coughing and spitting. Patients, be- 
cause of the tendency to the development of 
broncho-pneumonia, should be treated in well-venti- 
lated, warm rooms. 
SAN FRANCISCO JOINT COUNCIL OF NA- 
TIONAL ENGINEERING SOCIETIES 
Five national engineering societies which 
have San Francisco sections on September 4 
organized what is to be known as the Joint 
Council of the Engineering Societies of San 
Francisco. The societies represented are the 
American Society of Civil Engineers, the 
American Institute of Electrical Engineers, 
the American Society of Mechanical Engi- 
neers, the American Institute of Mining En- 
gineers and the American Chemical Society. 
Four representatives from each of these so- 
cieties, making twenty men in all, form the 
joint council, which in turn is officered by an 
executive committee of five. The members of 
this executive committee are: C. D. Marx, 
chairman; E. C. Jones and E. C. Hutchinson, 
vice-chairman; N. A. Bowers, secretary-treas- 
urer, and E. O. Shreve, assistant secretary. 
We learn from the Electrical World that 
this organization is the outcome of several 
meetings of the secretaries of the five societies 
involved at which plans for more effective in- 
ter-society cooperation have been worked out. 
Some of the expected advantages are a closer 
touch among members of the several associa- 
tions, putting the several employment bureaus 
together in one central office, joint meetings 
to discuss subjects of common interest, co- 
operation for the sake of economy as in mail- 
ing notices, consolidating headquarters at the 
Engineers’ Club, ete. 
In a paper on this subject read at a recent 
joint meeting it was pointed out that mem-_ 
bership in a national engineering society has 
always carried with it a certain amount of 
prestige. Here in the Far West we have been 
content with little besides that as a return 
for our annual dues. In recent years local 
sections have taken on new importance, and it 
is not now uncommon to find the man who 
believes he can get more real benefit from his 
