Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-01-03
THE rxrLuENzA.
DIR. shrady ON the Grippc--The Best
Methods or Prevention and Treat.
lncnt.


Methods OF Prevention and Treat.
incnt.
DR.. shrady, editor Of the New York
Medical Record, has prepared the follow
ing article ON the epidemic Of influenza,
which will appear In this weeks issue OF
that journal.
There Is now no doubt that influenza, or
what is popularity known as the grip"
has become epidemic In this city and 10
scattered broadcast over the country. II 10
also quite evident that its general char
acters correspond with these noted In con-
ssS9 nssS1 !. w Rus ss eF Fpnc. Ss
Fortunately II 10 Of such mild type that,
save for its invasion Of large districts and
for tho largo number Of persons attacked.
Il would scarcely be noticed In the category
OF ailments connected with tho usual ones
which occur during winter months, asso.
ciated with rapid and varied changes Of
temperature and humidity.
The type Of the present epidemic par.
takes more Of the febrile and nervous
variety than that of the purely catarrhal.
The Increased temperature IN the be.
pains In the head, back and lower ex-
tsemities, are the leading phenomena which
arc noted In the largo majority OF cases.
Only comparatively few instances are the
cory zal symptoms tho leading features
OF the seizure. This latter Is, perhaps,
generally accepted opinion concerning the
greatly exaggerated danger OF bronchitis
and pneumonia as necessary complications.
The prostration Is ofentimos extreme, but
by no means dangerous, and readily yields
to the usual remedies. The period Of Ill
ness il comparatively brief, and rarely Is
tho ordinarily robust patient confined to his
room more than two or three days, very
many, indeed, keeping up and about from
the beginning to the end Of the sick ness.
The reports Of the fatality Of the disease,
as might have been expected, have been
this remark apply 10 the alarming reports
of tho recent death rate In Paris. In point
of fact there Is no disease with such wide
prevalence which has such a comparatively
low mortality. In this country, at least,
there is yet to DO reported the first case OF
death which can be laid to the pure and
simple attack Of the disease. Even the
serious complications are so far as to
merely merit recognition alongside ofthose
which are constantly occurring with the
usual diseases of the season.
The after effects of the epidemic Will
doubtless be marked by feelings Of prostra-
tion, more or less continued, and a lower
ing Of the health tone. The previously ro-
bust will require stimulants and tonics for
variable periods. The contagousness of
the malady has not declared itself, thus
corresponding with the general character
OF tne OlSeuSe rs uOticou III pTeSiouS epi-
denies.
The treatment has been In accordance
with Indications and has necessarily
| varied. The remedies which have found
| most favor are laxatives, anodynes, anti.
| pyrotlcs and tonics. with stimulating ex-
pectorants For the headache antipyren
| and the bromides have held their reputa.
| ton, calomel and salines as the laxatives
have many advocates, while quinine In
tonic doses especially In the latter stages
has the confidence of the majority.
From present indications and from past
| history the epidemic is likely to soon pass
over, a few days moro settling the ques.
| ton of immunity from attack. With this
epidemic as with all others CT Its kind, tht
feeble and old have been the first tc
quccumb and the slowest to recover
slthough all classes Of cases have
auto generally suffered. There Is nc
better protection against an attack thar
tho maintenance Of good health by avoid
ance OF over-fatigue, of undue expo
sure, and of insufficient food and sleep
But even these conditions are not absolute
as safeguards, as no one living In an in
| vaded district can have his safety guaran.
teed. In all probability there will be very
few, indeed, who, after the epidemic shall
have passed away. will claim full i'm
munity from any Of its influences, or who
| will not be somewhat the worse for an en-
| tirely unsought OK perience.