The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-12-28
EPIDEMIcs OF INFLUENZA.
There Have Been Good Many-Other
Troubles at the Same Time.

From the Baltimore American.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 24-Surgeon General
Hamilton says that the grip is a germ
disease, and is not dangerous, but every
person who has suffered with il knows that
il is intensely disagreeable.
The first epidemic on record, he says, APP
peared in 1910. 1t started at Malta and went
northwesterly to Sicily. thence to Spain,
italy, France, Great Britain, and from
there all over Europe. Ii was extremely
severe and scarcely missed an individual.
The weather preceding it was noted for its
long and continuous moisture, followed by
remarkable storms. This epidemic had
symptoms in addition 10 regular ones of
violent pdins over the eyes, delirium, gas
trodyma, and sometimes, from the seventh
to the eleventh day. syncOpe and snatching
of the muscles. There were several coinci-
dent phenomena in connection with the
epidemic, including swarms of locuSts in
1907, 1908, 1909, with destruction by cater
pillars in Germany, eruption of Hecla, and
earthquakes, and frequent and continued
rain.
The epidemic of 1907 took a westerly
course, going by way of Coustantinople to
Europe 1t also visited America. This
epidemic had an attendant fever, with
severe pain IN the side, which was relieved
in some instances by bleeding. Fogs accom-
panied the disease, while many deaths
occurred in England consequent upon the
wet weather preceding the harvest. A
comet and plague followed in 1861, four
years after the epidemic.
The third epidemic was in 1880. The
course was east and south to west and north.
aud ranged chiefly during the autumn sea-
son. This was noted for its bilious vomit-
ings and intense sleepiness. The weather
had been moist and rainy. There were
earthquakes, and remarkable meteors also
made their appearance. A plague among
insects accompanied this epidemic, and
measles aud smallpox followed it.
In 1854, in the midst OF wintery spring,
the fourth epidemic appeared in April.
The symptoms were almost identical with
the third, but during the summer fever
developed, which affected the brain and
caused nervous shocks.
The fifth epidemic occurred in 1915, after
heavy fogs and cold, moist weather. The
summer had been very warm. The symp-
toms of this epidemic were pleurItic fever,
with bilious disarrangemenr, and, like one
or two Of the other epidemics, il was fol-
lowed by smallpox
In ITO, two hundred years after the first
appearance, came the sixth epidemic. Like
the others, it followed moist weather. The
symptoms were continuous coughing, quick
pulse. and headaches.
Nineteen years after this, following a
rainy November in 1929, came the next cpl
demic.
The eighth was in 1882, during damp
| and chilly spring. 1t did not reach Scot
land until November, 1888, for the symp-
toms affecting the nose, lungs and bowels.
Again, in November, 1873, came the
ninth, which was simultaneous with the
eruption of Vesuvius. There was mucn
sickness. 1t affected the teeth, causing
| much toothache and rheumatic pains in the
patient.
The epidemic of 174S occurred in the
spring, while that of 175S commenced in
September, and was universal through Scot
land, but its course was irregular.
In 1862 began the next epidemic, COM
mencing in September, following severe
weather The symptoms were those of a
| harassing cough, pain under the breast
bone. 1t affected persons differently in
different places
June, 1867, began the next epidemic after
cold weather, while in 1775 the epidemic
prevailed during c wet autumn. The
patients during the epidemic suffered from
giddiness and pains in the loias and sides.
IL was followed by many cases of diarrhea.
The weather was noted for its sudden
| changes, accompanied with heavy fogs
| Dogs and horses had much sickness during
the prevalence of this epidemic.
Thesyear 1882 is noted, for perhaps, the
| most widely diffused recorded epidemic II
began at sea, between Malacca and Canton,
Travelled westward through Russia, Den
mark, Holland TO England, where it ap-
| peared In May. 1t was accompanied with
languor and a sensation of confusion OF
limbs, cheek bones aching, with pains in
| the chest and sides, sometimes accompanied
with delirIum. The summer preceding has
been dry, while the autumn was very rainy
| The spring was late, and diarrhea ant
hiliousness prevailed during the spring
| preceding the epidemic. The aurora
borealis and earthquakes, as well as heavy
fogs were peculiar phenomena accompany
| ing this epidemic.
The year 1881 came in with all sorts O
weather, and in June the epidemic devel
! oped. It came from China. The head wa
much affected. With this epidemic came
gradual transition TO cholera.
Three years later the same influenza de
velope6 in April In 1887 the disease brok,
out in Australia aud became an epidemi,
| again. This was the last one noted. Th
symptoms were weight and pain of the fore
head, with soreness of the breast bone am
running at the eyes.
Two Trains Wrecked.