The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-03-16
ARE WE TO HAVE AN EPIDEMIC

The weather for the past few months
has certainly been extraordinary. We
have had spring in the midst of winter.
Who can solve the reasons tor this state
of things? What great planatory cause
is there tor it? Abr. 7. C. Duncan Of
Chicago claims that we are on the eve
of some dreadful epidemic, like the
Black Death OF the middle ages. We
quote from his essay:
DR.. Woodwards.writes: ave are, without
doubt, on the eve Of an extensive epidemic OF
unusual severity and fatality. Everything
it."
DR.. Southwond Smith, late medical adviser
to the General Board of Health for Great Brit
tain, says, in speaking Ofepidemics: among
the premonitory indications Of their approach
will be found disturbance of the regular and
condition Of the atmosphere; an inversion OF
the seasons summer in winter and winter In
inner; long continued drought, f0llowa! by
protracted rainfall causing rivers to overflow
and seed to rot in the earth; cloud mist and
fog, favoring excessive dampness, which pene-
trates everything These conditions favor the
generation Of locusts, caterpillers, Ties and
frogs. which cover the face Of the earth. As a
SEQUENCE Of these follow death and famine,
closing the long series Of calamities. Such in
| all ages and countries have been the recognized
portents and precursors of coming year Of
| pestilence. y
Other facts are:
l. An increased pressure of the atmosphere.
| greatest at the worst period of the epidemic.
| 9. An increased density Of the atmosphere,
not arising from an increase Of wstery vapor.
/ g. The quantity OF water in the air was
l-20th less than the average, at the same time
tina. the mean weigh. Of cubic foot OF air was
two grains above the average.
| An unusual alienation OF heat and cold, yet
the heat predominasing to such an extent that
| in localities it rose as much from two degrees
to eight degrees above the average.
These facts were suggestive when the rise or
excess OF temperature occurred at night; and
the night temperature WAS always highest when
the mortality was the greatest.
rH4 DISEASE WARNING.
All epidemics give distinct and unmissak-
able warnings of their approach. Thu Sc warn
ings consist Of two events:
/. The sudden outbreak and general spread
OF some milder epidemic; and
3. The transformation OF ordinary diseases
into diseases Of new type, more OF less re-
sembling the character Of the epidemic
Il is q singular fact that both in the rAiddlt
ages and in modern times the lesser epidemic
which has generally preceded and preannounc-
ed the coming OF the greater IS influenza. This
lesser epidemic OF influence spread from EAs
70 West. So il has been since the attacks d
influenza have followed IN east storm rather
than western one, - WAS usual heretofore
! This fact, think points to the direction y,
may expect the coming greater epidemic.
As was reported in the United States Medi
cal Investigator Of Feb. 10, 1876 and cor
. roborated 81 other members Of the profession
: have noted An unusual depression Of the ner
vous system. witha marked tendency to in
. fsmation Of the mucous surfaces and especial,
Of the whole glandular system. never met =
many cases Of indurati0n and inflammation o
the glands of the neck, groin, throat, trachea
bowels to-: in fact Of all parts Of the body, &C
!. companied with fever and marked pros1a
: ton.
:. There is also tendency to boils, carbunc!es
: and erupsons of the skin, which indicates tbs
: the lymphasic system IS being seriously de
ranged. These rs you know are symptom
characteristic Of the plague.
! Infiueaxa is ushered in by = sudden chang
Of the temperature and = strong east vino
This is true Of the continental epidemics of hi
:. disease, and also Of the resent attacks IN til
/. country, although | have known it TO b ,1sl
: cred in by > northwest wind.
i The truth Is, | infer that indienxs Is due to
= volume of upper air suddenly forcing its VA
= to the surface. This upper air Is heavil
l. charged with large amount Of ezcne, which
g without douhs the real agent in giving rise
= the influenza. But how does that account {,
!. the following and graver epidemic, It will
: readily seen tha; the atmospheric pressure An
- density will b. greatly increased. But in q
e ditsion this heavy volume Of cold aiT mn