Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-12
LA GRIPPE.
A Better Namc for Tits symptoms. iss
Cure--By a Richmond Physician.
tFor tho D,spatch.1

Having treated more than a hundred
cases OF the grippe since it reached tnis
city, beg leave 10 offer afew observations
IN regard 10 it with the idea that II may
make It's appearance in some parts OF our
state heretofore exempt and may aid my
medical brethren in It's treatment. j will
also make some suggestions to those OF our
citizens in the country out of the reach OF
doctors.
As the name of disease should in some
sort indicate its nature the proper
pane OF Ia grippe in my opinion IL cefe-
bro-spinal neuralgia. Cerebro-spinal me-
ningistis is Inflammation of the brain
and spinal chord, but the affection OF
which am speaking is On irritation, ana
not an inflammation. 1t has fever. put ~
Is from irritation and is transient IN cna-
racter and leaves no trace of inflammation
behind it except in some organs where
congestion or low inflammation already
exists. Its assault is tirst upon the brain,
indicated by headache and disorders OF the
special senses, as the eye, nose, and ear
have seen five cases of pain and disorder
OF this latter organ. The head symptoms IN
pronounced cases is always first and most
marked. The patient may often go TO oed
perfectly well and is aroused at midnight
with an intense headache. first in the tenn
pies, then on top. and finally on the back
OF the neck. Then the throat chest. abdo-
men. and finally the legs down to the toes.
In these. especially the three smaller ones,
there is o tingling sensation. Sometimes
tho pain is IN the heels. Often there IS
also intense pain over the eyes and Just
above the nose between tho eyes. These
neuralgia pains are not constant-they
come and 90. This is the first stage, and
in it there is often hot skin and fever. but
not usually above 102 degrees. This first
stage may last twenty-four or fOrty-eight
hours. II is preceded and followed often
by chilliness and feebleness of mus
cies for days. While in bed the
patient may feel perfectly well, but
on getting up he walks with diff
Guilty. Sometimes this debility continues
a week. When there is any. special weak
ness in the system, especially in the lungs,
cough and quite severe bronchitis may
come on. Rheumatism is aggravated by
it. Infants and old people are almost al:
ways exempt. Only about 5 per cent. OF
my cases were colored persons. The above
is an account of the most severe form.
Below this there is every variety in degree
10 mere nervous twitchings in back and
limbs and flying pains in temple and top
Of head. Sometimes the disease returns IN
full force after an absence of several days.
II the throat is examined when com
planned of. instead of being red and con-
gested il is rather pale, showing that the
trouble IL nervous and not infammatory.
1t seems IA if O blow had been struck upon
the head and been communicated down
the back to the limbs, acting first on one
nerve and then another, proceeding from
the spine 10 the intestines. The heart 10
not under this set of nerves and seems 70
escape attack The treatment which !
shall now mention. and which have found
10 be all that l could desire. seems
- 80, 10 t,t AIat tb. lfanoan
nervous. Pain Is the most distressing ns
| it is the most prominent symptom. l have
seen patients who had suffered from all
| sorts OF headache and who say they never
| had such headache as this. With relief
Of pain follows promptly relief Of all other
| distressing symptoms, including fever.
| The journals speak Of q great many RENT
| dies, but find that none of them speak or
relieving the patient in q few hours, but
require two or three days. Doctors here
who have spoken TO me seem sat
| isfed to relieve the patient in
twelve or eighteen hours. / think the
| large majority of cases can be relieved IN
| two hours-sOme in one hour. The recipe
! below is for dOci0rs. ! think anon-medical
man Is very unwise who will take medicine
| about which he really knows nothing. II
a doctor cannot be had. why then one
must do the best he can. My lecipe Is
| this:
Tx. Hyoscy, gr. w.;
| ne. Suhrms or. ~ 20 vi;
Anupyrine, gr. xx. % XIV;
TT Cap. or pills No 4.
| Sy Take two, aud II not relieved In two hours
take two more.
Generally. the first dose relieves the pa
| tlont in an hour or less. SO that but one
! dose is taken. Some, finding relief from
| the first dose insist upon taking the second
| lest the pain should return. Though thus
promptly relieved from pain, the patient is
| not we'll. but is comfortable. i have been
surprised sometimes to find the patient
with very good appetite as soon as the
main is relieved. This also goes to show
! that there has been no Inflammation or se-
| rious impairment OF any organ. Morphine
| orlaudanum might relieve tho pain, but the
after effects are so bad that fear TO use
| them.
All persons who have weak lungs OF
nerves. or who are broken in health should
be exceedingly prudent after an attack OF
| this disease. | have seen serious trouble
! follow in such cases, combining the patient
/ TO the bed two weeks or more. l thinB
warm, dry weather is favorable and cold
and damp inclined to aggravate the dis
/ ease. When no doctor can be got and the
patient has q good constitution, active pur-
| cation with hot foOt-hath. and abstinence
| from food and stimulants, with rest in bed
warmly covered, will bring relief in a few
| DAYS. AEDICUs.