Morning journal and courier., 1890-01-14
IA enrPrn 4 cRNrURx AGO.


The same Epidemic Ragged Then ~
NeW-The lnMuenxa Described BY an
Rminens Physacian OF the Time.
II II fact Of some interest that the pres
emit epidemic of influenza Is merely another
centennial celebration, like our Warrington
Inauguration centenary and the Paris expesi-
ton to commemorate the beginning Of the
French revolution. Just hundred years ago
the United States had severe attack Of ola
grippe" very much as now. DR.. Benjamin
Rush, one Of the signers Of the Declaration
Of Independence and 90 emipent in the prac-
tice Of medicine % to be styled the Syden-
ham of America. was inspired to write par
ticular account of the epidemic a. 1t came
under his observation in Philadelphia. A
his works are now antiquated and rarely dis
turbed In the dust of our libraries, some OF
his remarks may have the freshness of now
city.
DR.. Rush says the weather was cold and
without rain from the end of August until
October, 1859, when many members OF the
First Congress, that had met In New York,
complained on arriving In Philadelphia OF
colds, which they attributed to travelling BY
night In public stages. But the malady
spread 30 widely and rapidly that 1t was soon
recognized a. the influenza. The symptoms
were hoarseness. sore throat, chills, fever,
sense of WEAKNESS, headaches, universal
sneezing, (often mot less than fifty times in
dsy'1 pains In the breast, sides and limbs,
and distressing cough. The fever seldom
lasted more than three or four days, but the
cough and other troublesome symptoms some
times persisted two or three weeks. The dis
ease affected both sexes alike, but old people
and children most frequently escaped 1t. OF
the Ave and thirty maniacs in the Pennsylva-
MIA hospital only three fell sick. Persons
working In the open air, as sailors and long,
shoremen, had the malsdy much worse than
the tradesmen who worked within doors. A
company of surveyors In the eastern woods
Of Pennsylvania suffered severely. The In
dams around Niagara were affected with pc
culiar force and they ascribed their Irritating
cough to witchcrsft.
The epidemic was moot fatal on the sea-
shore Of the United States. Thousands of
people suffered In Philadelphia without being
confined to their houses, and DR.. Rush re-
lates that ga perpetual coughing was heard
In every street of the city. Buying aud SELL
ing were rendered tedious by the coughing
of the farmer and the citizen who met in
market places. It even rendered divine SER
Woe scarcely Ineligible in the churches. /"
With few exceptions the malady proved
fatal only to old people and to persons weak
ened by pulmonary COMPLAINTS but 1t car
ried off several hard drinkers. Most of the
deaths resulted from pneumonia. Man did
not have o monopoly of the influenza, for
horses, dogs and cats were observed to suffer
from it also, and . lady who was SO disturbed
ten drops of laudanum for several nights,
which perfectly composed him.
Six weeks the epidemic lasted aud from
New York and Philadelphia 1t spread in all
directions and pervaded every State In the
Union In the course of few months. It
made its way from the United States to the
West Indies and later to the Spanish settle
17S9-80 ressmbled the present one in being
very mild, and cold weather did not come
until February and March. The month of
April, 1870, was variable and rainy, and the
showers that fell on the night Of the 18th
were long remembered by the citizens of
Philadelphia In connection with the time of
Benjamin Franklins death.
In the last week of April the influenza
broke out again 10 Philadelphia, coming
from New England and ravaging the inter
mediate States on its way. Sneeztng was
less common than in the preceding fall,
but pain In the eyeballs seemed to be uni
versal sy mptom. The epidemic declined In
June, 1890, but convalescence from 1t was
slow, ''and general languor appeared to
pervade the citizens for several weeks after
1t left the city" In the winter of 1870 81
there was third epidemic of the influenza,
but this time 1t was fortunately not so gem
eral.'
DR.. kush remarks that ''the influenza
passes with the utmost rapidity through .
country and affects the greatest number of
people, In given time, of any disease in the
world"
1t certainly has not changed much for
the better in the last 100 years, and 1t 10 to
behopedthst our present epidemic will not 30
speedily come back for a second and third
visit % did that of 1769.90.