ABSTRACT
The pandemic winch has just swept round the earth has been without precedent. There have been more deadly epidemics, but they have been more circumscribed; there have been epidemics almost as widespread, but they have been less deadly. Floods, famines, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions have all written their stories in terms of human destruction almost too terrible for comprehension, yet never before has there been a catastrophe at once so sudden, so devastating and so universal. The astonishing thing about the pandemic was the complete mystery which surrounded it. The pandemic calls attention not only to the fact that there is an interchange of mouth germs wherever people meet, but it illustrates how frequently respiratory infections may occur to which little or no attention is given. The steps which should be taken to suppress the disease if it breaks out afresh are such as seem best for the maintenance of general health and protection from respiratory infections as a class.
