The sun., 1889-12-29
EPIDEMIC AND DANGEROUS.
10000 VIEW 1ohKERs SAID TO BB SUI
....r EBRIHG IRON LHTLUEEGl.


from Diseases That HHay ne IaduesA b
the Prevailing D1sordsr-Ths Deatori
Hesitate 60 Call Ht ths Grip. but th'
Fatients Don't-No Action Yet by th,
Not 20 Neglect Their CoIds-A warninr
Also Against Overeautioa In Dress.
Within the last two weeks there has Bwep'
over this town wave Of physical sffiction. II
all the cara restaurants, cafea. and other placel
OF nsstinR the main subject Of conversation II
the all-pervadine sicknesa Men and women
alike have been affected Age and previous
condition Of health seem to make no differ,
ence The most cautious appear to be as like
ly to sucoumb rs the most Indifferent The
physlcians no longer deny tho presence OF an
epidemic, although they still differ as to Its ma
ture. They admit that influenza 10 widespread,
but speak with caution about It's resemblance
TO the Russian grip that has spread over Eu-
rope. It is difficult TO find person nowadays
who has not cold himself or some friend or
relative who IL laid UP with one. Even the
doctors are suffering. DR.. Cyrus Edison Of the
Board Of Health was unable to report for duty
yesterday, and remained sbed all day. Physi-
ciAns are inclined to be cautious In making
statements on the cause and nature OF the cpl
demio, but few have talked frankly. One
Of these 10 DR.. ERbert Guernsey, who was
prominently before the public only recently In
the quarrel between Dr. Schley Of the New
York County Homeopathic Medical Society
and the Wards Island Hospital medical stsff
"Thore 10 no question" said DR.. Guernsey.
about the fact that there has been very
large inareese OF sickness within the last week.
am treating thirty cases OF influenza. The
diseaso "a very much like that now epidemic
in Europe. although 1t is not 80 strong here.
II is tho same disease that has been epidemic
a., trrrv laao for fha
or fifty years. In 1887 It came to this country
from Russia, and was known as the Tyler grip.
It was moro serious then than II Is now. 1t is
practically the Same thing as the Southern
denRue. Tho symptoms differ in different
oases There are usually great muscular pains,
and sometimes high fever. which comes on
suddenly and raises the temperature OF the
body to 106'. but usually does not last long.
II taken in time. tho influenza ought to be
cured In two or three days. In some cases
there Is severe catarrh and watering OF tho
eyes with pains at the base OF the skull and
In the head. but In others tho head pains and
catarrh are entirely absent The muscular
pain Is the most noticeable. and the general
Indications are entirely different from those OF
an ordinary cold In my opinion the trouble
is due to atmospheric conditions. 1t is very
probable that there is too much ozone or that
there Is On electrified condition OF the air. DR..
Draper Of the Meteorological Department In
Central Park says that when tine temperature
Ia the autumn months is between 450 and 50'
there Is great deal Of ozone In the air. Ex-
periments in the laboratory show that when
there is too much ozone in the atmosphere
there Is dryness in the throat and nasal pas
sagss. and this may induce bronchitis aud
pneumonia. 1t is possible that the influenza
may have bad results. should NOT be sur
\
typhoid fever should supervene. The epidemic
In Russia is very fatal. 1 received yesterday
letter from the Secretary OF our Legation at
St Petersburg which stated that there were
number OF fatal cases there. All the members
OF my own family are down with 1t, and In my
opinion the disease is likely to increase in the
immediate future unless there is great
change In the atmospheric conditions. All
classes are affected by it."
Dr. Alfred l. Loomis was overwhelmed with
work when Sun reporter called upon him
yesterday His reception loom was crowded
with patients the majority OF whom we're ap-
parently victims Of the prevailing trouble.
1t is true" said Dr.. Loomis. e. that there
has been q great deal OF this sickness in the
city. but. 80 far as my observation goes, all
within the last few days. l had not observed
any before then. I don't SEQ how physicians
can tell what the sickness Is due to. Undoubt-
edly the trouble Ia atmospheric from the fact
that 1t Is 30 widespread"
One OF the gentlemen connected with the
Medical Record advanced the theory that the
sickness now 30 prevalent was due entirely to
the warm weather and the overcautiousness
Some people seem to think" he said. that
they must PIT put on p 6enyy fnnes and warm
seems to govern them. The result Is that in |
Who have bundled themselves % Hp % have 'pero per-
spired freely and then have exposed them |
sSsS and IN ,S have caught severe colds
Of weather that we have been experiencing. 1t |
has been diricuIt to dress entirely according
settled winter weather than TO bundle UP. with
slightest, exposure when one is persnIrlng Is
very likely TO produce cold unless immediate
%"rS o taken ak Haf SpS thing that
The outdoor department OF the New York
Hospital has probably, more patients than that
vas 50 crowded When reporter s Called SesteT oGo
day that he made his way with difficulty to the
bronchitis in the morning. DR.. Embree. who Ia
In charge, said that while the number Of cases
ones Dr. Embree tSouESt tGaS Sre eases msa
cold were moro likely to be found among rich
people. for the reason that they were the most
said that he had not noticed SO many cases OF
Influenza but that all the victims he had seen
bad suffered greatly from pains in the back.
He thought It very yrobable that the preva-
ence OF the disorder was more largely due to
than to other causes.
Aphysician In the Board OF Health said that
while there was undoubtedly good deal OF
5ickpesB there appeared to be no danger OF
and tho matter bad not therefore.
been ofdcially brought to the attention Of the
Board. There was undoubtedly, he said, a
great deal Of influenza in the city. but he did
not think it much more severe than the infiu-
Dnza that has been experienced here for many
Years. He thought 1t possible that pneumonia
and bronchitis might supervene. but he was
lutte certain that typhoid lever would not, and
also gave no credence to the theory that the
nfuepza was bSt a foTerunner OF ehOl-
Jersey City. which has been suffering
lutte certain that the fever could not have
been result OF the influenza except IN so far
rs the influenza lowered the vitality and made
he system more liable to disease OF all kinds.
pneumonfa, he said might very easily result
rhe Board OF Health will not act at present
and only semi-ofiieiaily advises people not to
n saying thar the chief danger OF the Influenza
s. Its weakening effect which makes the victim
liable to-, other. and moro complicated dis
,fders. Some Of DR.. Guernsey's patients had
unusual symptoms which had TO ba yery cara |