Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-05
LA GRIPPE ARRIVES.
The Bureau of Health Says the Uni
Versal Sneeze is Here.
PHYSICIANS CHAT BREEzILY OFT.
Weather Favorable to La Grippe Predicted
by Sergeant Stewart.
THE CITY IN FINE SANITARY SHAPE

'fThe doctors are as far off on infuenza, as
we are on the weather." said the signal SER
vice magnate yesterday. This learned OBJ
servation on the part of Pittsburg's weather
man is not far removed from the truth.
There seems to be great diversity of opinion
among the physicians as to the character of
the disease, and a fine point is drawn be-
tween the difference of high feverish cold,
and the dreaded "La Grippe" The line.ot
demarcation is so fine that it may result
in medical broil. One doctor absolutely
asserts that influenza has reached the.clty,
while another scouts the idea entirely, say
ing that people suffering with feverish colds
magnify it into the very fashionable dis
ease. However, there seems to be unanimity
of opinion among the medical profession as
to the great prevalency of colds, and some of
the doctors who deny the influenza racket,
go so far as to admit that colds may be in
fictitious. The average cold this winter
seems to be of graVer order than usually
occurs during the winter season.
The drugstores of the city, despite the
various opinions of the medical fraternity
as to the prevalency of influenza, are doing
a rushing business in that drug which is in
variably administered to patient who suf-
fers from ia grippe" Quinine seems to be
the popular medicine for curing the dis
ease. One druggist, James Kerr, on Smith
field street. avers that within the past three
weeks his sales on this article alone have
been 30 per cent greater than any other
winter. This druggist naturally would
prefe. to see influenza remain in the city,
for it certainly booms the drug trade. Mr..
Kerr's sales are duplicated in almost every
drugstore in the city, so that an immediate
raise in the price of quinine is easily possi-
BILE.
DIR. BURGHER SAYS IT'S HERE.
Yesterday tour was made of the various
physicians and druggists OF the city to OBJ
tain their opinion Of la Grippe" DR.. J.
c. Burgher, of Penn avenue, was seen. He
said:
have no hestancy in saying that influenza
has reached the City. myself have Just got
over a mild attack of the disease. The disease
attacks a patient suddenly and without any
warning Its general symptoms are much the
same as a cold: Aching in the bones frontal |
headaches, sneezing, together with high tenn
perature.
attribute the disease to atmospheric and |
electrical conditions. But l am not prepared |
to state that it is bactarea or living germ in |
the air. The disease is neither infectious nor |
contagious, but 1t is caught by people who are |
in an unhealthy condition. The disease affects |
a great many people at the same time who live |
in the same localities. Some years ago infu- |
enza ragged in the country; it was known then |
by the Tyler grip. People who contracted the |
Tyler grip never want to get another attack of |
it. 1t was exactly similar in its char |
acHn,, actsT to the prevalent disease now
time speak of all the patients in the Massa-
chusetts hospital took influenza the same |
hour. The doctors say who were attendants |
at the hospital that the place was an ocean Of
IvAT lIwv Su vnnk FaA 81
yet when it is complicated with other diseases
the result to patient may be death. Very |
influenza may be the forerunner of
lung trouble such as pneumonia and bron-
chitis. do not think that ia grippe" will |
spread over the whole city in the shape of
general epidemic and no fear need be enter
tanned by the populace that it will cause death.
THE HEALTH OFFICER TALKS.
The Bureau of Health was visited, and 7
the official in charge said:
We do not classify influenza as an infectious
disease, though 1t is of an infectious character.
Therefore we do not receive any report of any
case which would occur in the city. Neverthe-
less influenza exists here, but not in an epi-
demic form. Very often a high feverish cold
is mistaken for ia grippe" During the year
one-half of the cases reported as typhoid
fever were nothing more than high, feYerish
colds. There was nothing approximating the
number of typhoid fever cases as reported at
the Burean of Health. Pittsburg has been
free from epidemics the past ten
years. The city is in splendid sanitary condi-
tion. No epidemic can arise in Pittsburg
which is caused through bad sewerage or
with any other in the Union. The death rate
this fall has been very small, and is a demon
'tration Of my words.
Though we are not likely to have an epi-
1emic of any virulent disease, there is influenza
IN the city; it may spread or it may only touch
certain localities DR.. McCann asserts that
here is no influenza in the country. 1 think
be is wrong, If we put any weight on the opIn-
ons OF the ablest Eastern physicians.
THE CITY's HEALTH GOOD.
''The general health of the city is right
rood. Though the weather is against the
health of community, little sickness has
been caused by it. The old proverb, "a
green Christmas makes fat graveyard has
not been verified up to the. present, and I
hink the outlook is excellent. If our
streets are not opened up no evil effects will
ollow this remarkably mild winter"
Mr.. 0. D. Stewart, the weather man,
aid:
There is every promise Of continuation of
he mild weather l do not think it is the
,ause of the influenza. however. If the State
,f Pennsylvania State Bureau of Health would |
.dopt the same system that they do in Michi-
'an they would be better able to define the
dTlOuo ulScdScs. Al local signal |
ervices furnish complete statistics of the
weather. to the State authorities: they compare
hem to the disease reports which they keep
alb on, and then they are better able to draw
cientifc conclusions as to disease.
Mr.. John F. Allen, Superintendent of the
Detective Agency, is just recov- {
ring from what appears to have been a
evere attack of the influenza. He was able
o appear at his Office yesterday, the first
inn. for nearly n week
He said l.: II cannot tell how 1 felt, ex-
ept that had pains all over my body, and
Tas hot and cold at the same time. / !
bought would sneeze the top of my head
f." He is still suffering from a sore
hroat, lack of appetite and general lassi- {
ude.