Article November 23, 1918 Issue

From the Press

[The Inquirer, Philadelphia, Pa.]

From an editorial which appeared in these columns recently we reprint this extract: "Panic is the worst thing that can happen to an individual or a community. Panic is exaggerated fear, and fear is the most deadly word in any language. The fear of influenza is creating a panic, an unreasonable panic that will be promoted, we suspect, by the drastic commands of the authorities. Let a person become excited over the daily reports of new cases; let him brood over them; let him shake his head in dismay and with every little ache or pain that may be harmless in itself give himself over to dismal imaginings, and he is providing a fertile field for attack. His mind fears it, becomes receptive to it, invites it."

We wish that we could find space for all of the commendations that the editorial in question has called forth. Not all medical men have been caught up in the panic by any means. A physician of North Logan Square, Dr. Thomas E. Eldridge, is convinced that if the editorial could be placed in the hands of every afflicted one, "it would do more to stop the spread and ravages of the epidemic than all the treatments and medicine combined." Says he: "Within the last ten days I have seen scores of women and many men who were suffering from influenza fear and not a symptom of the real disease, and I know many other physicians who have similar experiences."

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