The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-12-25
RUSSIAN INFLUENZA.
1t is Rapidly Spreading in the
City Of New York.
THE HISTORY OF THE EPIDEMIC.
An Official Account to the State Department
from ST. Petersburg-The Sequel to it
as Experienced in Vienna.
Especial to THE HrnA1D-Examiner Dispatch

Especial to THE HERALD-Examiner Dispatch
New YORK, Dec 2i.-That ''la grippe y
or violent influenza, is rapidly spreading in
this city is shown by the statements OF
physicians interviewed. Every one seen
confesses to having a large number of
cases, though many declined to go into par
ticulars. Several admitted that they knew
of from five to seven cases in a single fam
lily. All classes are attacked by the dis
ease, young and old are equally affected.
But though there is no doubt that it has
assumed an epidemic form the disease has
by no means reached the scope attained in
Europe 1.-THE last influenza epidemic in
this country" said DIR. William M. F.
Wright, twas in 1913. 1t was probably a
continuance of the one which originated in
China in 1880, and passing through Russia
finally developed in England in 1888, recur
ring in more severe form in 1916. 1t was
also experienced in a mild form in the
United States during 1886, but did not
attain any magnitude until 1913. In
fiuenza is an old-time disease. All the
old medical writers speak of it. During
the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries in
England it was known as ''pOse'' from the
heaviness. In France it received the name
la grippe about 1850. 1t was known before
that by many fanciful names. In Germany
it is called "blitz'' or lightning catarrh, be-
cause of its rapid development During
the seventeenth century the Italians first
gave the disease the name of influenza"
because of the supposed influence of the
stars, and it has retained that name ever
since. Hypocrates describes two of these
anIHpT1inC MO boyra r.aoOrdc of ppidaTnioc
in Greek and Roman armies. The first
authentic description of the disease was
written in the fourteenth century, and was
supposed to be entirely due to malign in
tiuences in the atmosphere brought
about by evil spirits, and subject
to electrical phenomena and earthquakes
Influenza is harmless disease, except for
the very aged or very young. With these
two classes the facilitating effect is very
severe, infants usually getting pulmonary
complaints from it. With middle aged or
youthful persons it is only very disagree
able while lasts. 1t usually begins with
severe headache, chill and general lassi-
tude, with pains throughout the body, or
what used to be called the bone-racking
fever. The temperature increases, with
tendencies to diarrh9a, followed by
laryngeal symptoms. hoarseness and dry
mouth. The paroxysms produce very little
ing to have whooping cough, then
the bronchial tubes are seriously affected
and the cough is attended by profuse
discharge of mucus. The disease seldom
lasts more than three days for then the
symptoms begin to subside and the patient
rapidly RECEIVERS"
u am of the opinion that influenza has
assumed an epidemic form In this city,"
said DR.. Alexander McLane, ''for it is
generated by germs and there is a great
deal of the disease about US. have seen
it another time begin in family by attack
ing five-year- old boy, following a boy of
seven fell i'll, then little sister two years
was the victim, and on the fourth morning
another child was attacked, followed next
day by fifth child. All these were in the
same family. The seventh day the waitress
was seized, the eighth the cook. This was
surely epidemic in narrow circle. Quin-
inc, warm baths, expectorants and quiet
are the remedies usually tried"