Huntsville gazette., 1890-01-04
RUSSIAN INFLUENZA.

timely Article From the Medical News
soI Phiiadelphia-How to Apprehend,
Avoid and Treat the Malady which is
Becoming Epidemic Throughout the
Country.
PHILADELPHIA. Dec. 29.-The Medical
News of this city publishes an article
on influenza - ia grippe" - by Prof.
Robsrs bartholomew, of Jefferson Med
ical college. After giving an historical
sketch of the disease, its pathology
and morbid anatomy, the author says:
Influenza comes suddenly; goes as quick
ly. The least robust, at any age, and women
seem to be the first victims. 1t is here a
question of bodily condition, not of the sex.
The large numbers simultaneously attacked
attracts general attention, and those most
impressionable are seized, the onset being
facilitated by any depressing emotion like
fear or illness. There is no rigor, properly,
to be thus designated, but rather a series OF
light chlls and feeling of heat Herewith.
Sometimes malaise of a general kind is ex-
perienced, but, like the attack itself, it is
short in duration, lasting but few hours.
With the first access of the nasal and fau-
cial irritation comes the chilliness, which is
followed by some feverishness, with more
pronounced malaise and, in general, the
headache, weakness and soreness of the
me mbers, especially of the larger joints.
With the progress of the case in some epi-
denies there is considerable weakness, even
marked depressions of the vital powers. The
pulse becomes small and weak, the mind
gloomy and restlessness ensues. When a
fatal termination is to occur, as rule, an
extension downward into the trachea and
brOnch takes place.
Although catarrhal and croupous pneu-
monia are said to be complications" they
should be regarded as occasional conditions,
ana when present are, properly speaking,
constituted parts of the malady. The chief
Importance of croupous and catarrhal pneu-
mona is that the development of these, out
of an existing catarrh of the bronchi, is fire.
quently cause of death.
The rapdity with which the disease super
venes-its preliminary development being
hours, and its whole duration but matter
of three or four days-is remarkable Re
lapseS are common, usually each sue
ceeding seizure being milder, but not few
pass by easy transition into chronic bron-
chits, emphysema, asthma, etc.
Obviously a catarrhal process, extensive
and severe, may contribute immensely to
chronic disease of the middle ear, eustachian
tube, nose and throat, and thus permanently
damage the parts.
The best manner of securing immunity is
by the inhalation of suphurous acid gas
daily, when the approach of the epidemic
renders it necessary, and by taking five
grains of salicylate of cinchonidine three
times day and by so living as to avoid tax
ing cold.
When the attack has begun it seems to
me desirable to give or grains of calomel
at night, inhale some sulphurous acid gas
and have tie patient sit in a room whore
steamcontaining eucalyptol can be inhaled
in large quantities. The Insulation of res
orcin, and dusting over the entire area of the
affected parts as far as practicable, is also
recommended. The internal remedy most
desirable is atropine in solution-1 grain to
ounce. of water-dose being from l to 5
drops, the minimum being for little children
(after first dentition). The tincture of bella :
donna may be used, from one to ten drops
twice a day. As this medicament is both
prompt and prolonged in action, it should
be given not more than twice a day, unless
the dose be much smaller than is advised
above.
Salicylate of cinchonidne and quinine
should be given as prophylactic remedy,
if there be reason to suppose that such
power is really exerted by it.
My own conviction is that as prophy
Tactic the combination of cinchonidine with
salcylic acid is preferable to quinne. For
the depression and melancholy it is proba-
BILE that atropine will do better. For the
distressing headache, joint pains and wake
fulness, antipyrin, acetanild, phenacetin
and other germcdes and antiseptics will,
no doubt, be found useful.