Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-30

came established-in some cases weeks be.
fore it was quite developed.
t'The influenza of 1881. though generally
i mild in its character, was almost universal,
for il seems to have prevailed in both hemis-
| pheres IN the same year. Accounts have
been received Of its appearance in India, az
well as in the United States Of America.
In many places it has been the precursor Of
the epidemic cholera. This epidemic of in
fuenza swept over the greater part Of En-
/ gland, Scotland and ireland iu the spring
and autumn. Late in the autumn it attacked
Paris, the South of Spain, Gibraltar and
Italy, with more severity than it did the
British Islands. At Rome it was said to
occasion great alarm.
THOUSANDS SUFFERING.
'sIn Berlin &c, 900 people were suffering at
| the same time, and at q later period $4,000
in Paris. Another severe epidemic Of this
| disease prevailed in Europe and the United
States in 1882, 1887 and another in 1S43. It
| has been estimated BY DIR. Graves that in
Dublin 1000 persons died of the influenza
| of 1887.
"Among the phenomena relating to the
weather, which seem to have had con-
| nection with influenza, either as pre-
cursor or attendant signs, we may
notice extraordinary vicissitudes, east
erly winds, thick or offensive
! fogs. Influenza is generally disease Of
either spring or autumn. The spring infu-
enza has sometimes occurred when the first
heat suddenly followed the winters cold,
and the autumnal when the cold moisture
and rain iogs of November have succeeded
to the heat Of dry summer, yet there has
not been q uniform connection between any
one sensible quality of the atmosphere, as to
heat or cold, rain or drought, wind or calm,
and the prevalence of this epidemic; for in
different places it has maintained itself un-
der the dominion of each of these states OF
the weather
''There are no particular phenomena in ma
ture that universally characterize the epi-
demic constitution which precedes, or that
which accompanies the influenza, and we
are led to conclude that the causes of this
epidemic, supposing them to take their rise
in atmospheric changes of q universal ma
ture, are far from being marked by Uniform
ity in the signs. At the same time we are
bound to admit that the sudden changes
from warm weather to cold, and from cold
weather to warm, with dampness, fogs and
easterly winds, have rarely been absent
from the list of natural indications.
1.-THE influenza, like every other epidemic
disease, has given occasion to medical OBJ
servers to entertain very opposite views on
the question of its contagious property.
Upon the whole, it would appear that some
general cause, If not originating, at least
subsisting in the atmosphere and depend
ing on its changes, progressive also in its
movements from place to place and from
country to country. gives rise to the disease,
but that it is probable that limited propa-
cation also takes place by personal inter
course, under the influence and during the
prevalence of the epidemic. Milder epi-
denies of influenza have appeared in this
country at irregular intervals since the last
above reported, but none have compared to
the one that occurred in 1885,"
HUNDREDS sNEEzIEc.
Hundreds of the residents of Allegheny
were sneezing yesterday, and all who were
f1icted were positive that they had la
grippe. Judging from the European dis
patches, it is no respecter of age or condition
in life, and on the Northside this fact has
been plainly and painfully demon
strated. Even the street Arabs,
while selling papers or blacking
boots, stop every once in awhile, look
heavenward and sneeze. The little boys
who read good books, and go to Sunday
school, are interrupted by Ia grippe while
men, the business men and the gentlemen of
leisure have it. The washwomen, the SER
wants and the ladies Of fashion have not
escaped. The clerks are very much an
Doyed, and claim they lose many customers,
Just because they have to turn around and
sneeze in the middle of an elaborate dis
course on the good qualities of an article.
The Rev. b. r. Cowl, pastor of the Union
avenue church, was unable to preach yester-
day. When seen at his residence, on San
dusky street, yesterday his eyes and nose
were almost crimson, and his general ap-
pearance was indicasive Of misery.
ALAS, POOR MAN.
"My back aches, my head aches, and
every bone in my body feels as if it had
been broken" was the way he described his
condition. 81 don't know where i got it."
he continues, "unless it was from my boy,
who had something like this last week. 1t
may be only bad cold, but it is the worst
attack ever had. There are many cases in
this neighborhood, and within the next
week expect to hear of many more"
DR.. Kirker was seen in his Office on North
Diamond street yesterday, and when asked
what he knew of the influenza said "There
are great many cases in Allegheny, and
from the way it is spreading believe there
will be double the present number by New
Years. Many physicians are inclined to
laugh it of, but have seen several patients
yesterday and to-day who were very i'll. We
treat it only as a severe cold. There is no
medical term for it, because It has never
been so universal before. 1t is not danger
Gus in itself, but the after effects are bad,
The victim feels depressed both in mind and
body. 1 know of a case where the patient
offno11u roaovorod fou dar,r huf he se
yet weak and debilitated.
BAD WEATHER FOR THE SICK.
1.-THE present weather is very bad for con-
valescent people and persons who have weak
constitutions. 1t is the kind of weather
which breeds the germs of disease and
makes such an epidemic possible as the one
they are now having in Europe. The vic
tim is attacked very suddenly. saw lady
the other day who was enjoying the best Of
health at 10 o'clock in the morning, and at
2 o'clock that afte rnoon was at her bed
side. There are also more cases of typhoid
fever in Allegheny than we have had for
years"
In this connection Dr. Edmundson said
yesterday that he feared an epidemic of
typhoid fever was imminent. Within the
past few days few cases of avery malig-
nant type have come under his notice, and
the remarkable weather is conducive to its
rapid propagation.
A visit to the Bureau of Health head
quarters yesterday revealed the fact that not
one case had been reported yesterday, not
even one of death from ordinary causes, al
though it was supposed by many that an
epidemic had struck the city.
Chief Brown, Of the Department of Pub
lie Safety, was asked what he would do If
the influenza test were applied to the fire. /
men to fill the ranks he replied: ''I would
put 100 men on tomorrow who are influenza.
proof waterproof and can give good nroof