The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1890-01-04
RussIAN lNFLuENzA.


A Timely Article From the Medical News
of Philadelphia How to Apprehcnd,
Avoid and Treat the Malady which IL
Becoming Epidemic Throughout tho
Country.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 2a--The Medical
News Of this city publishes an article
on influenza = ia grippe = by Prof.
Robert 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 10 be- the first victims Il is here a
question Of bodily condition, not Of the sex.
The large numbers simultaneously attacked
attracts general attention, and those most
imprcssionable 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 series ut
light chills and feeling Of heat Herewith
Sometimes malalse Of general kind Is eN-
pcrienced, but, like the attack itself, It Is
short IN duration, lasting but n few hours
With the first access of the nasal and fau.
cil irritation comes the chillness which Ia
followed by some fevcrishness, with moro
pronounced malaise and, IN general, tho
headache, weakness ana soreness OF the
me mbcrs, especially Of the larger joints
q
denies there Is considerable weakness. even
marked depressions of the Vital powers. Tho
pulse becomes small and weak, the mind
gloomy and restlessness cnsucs. when a
fatal termination is to occur as a rule an
extension downward into the tracheu ana
bronchi talxcs place.
Although catarrhal and croupous pnou.
monia are said to he ''complications,n they
should be regarded as occasional conditions
and when present are, properly speaking,
constituted parts OF the malady. The chief
Importance of uroupous and catarrhal pneu-
monia is that the development Of these, ont
OF AN existing eatarrh Of the bronch Is FREE
qnently a cause of death.
The rapidlty with which the disease super.
venes-its preliminary development being
hours, and its whole duration but a matter
of three or four days-is remarkable. Re.
lapses are common, usually each sue
cecding seizure being mildcr but not a few
pass by easy transition into chronic bron-
chitis, emphysema asthma. etc
Obviously catarrhal process, extensive
and severe, may contribute Immensely To
chronic disease OF the middle car, eustachian
tube, nose and throat, and thus permanently
damage the parts.
The best manner Of securing immunity Is
by the inhalation Of sulphurons acid gas
daily, when the approach of tho epidemic
renders il necessary, and by taking five
grains Of salicylate Of cinchondine three
times day and by so living as to avoid taxi
ing cold.
When the attack has begun 1t seems to
me desirable to give or grains OF calomel
at night, inhale some sulphnrous acid gas
and have the patient sit N room where
steam continuing eucalyptol can be inhaled
in large quantities The Insulation of res.
orcin, aud dnsting over the entire area OF tho
affected parts as far as practicable, Is also
recommended. The internal romcdy most
desirable is atropine In solution--l grain to
ounce of water-dose being from / to 8
drops, the minimum being for little children
(after first dentition). The tincturc of bella
donna may be used, from one TO ton drops
twice a day. As this medicament is both
prompt and prolonged in action, II should
be given not more than twice day, unless
the dose be much smaller than is advised
above.
salicylatc of cinchonldne and quinne
should be given as a prophylactc remedy,
II there be reason to suppose that such
power Is really exerted by it
My own conviction Is that rs a prophy.
Tactic the combination OF clnchonidlne with
salicyllo acid is preferable to quinne. For
the depression and melancholy it Is proba.
Bile that atropine will do better. For tho
distressing headache, joint pains and wake
fulness, antipyrin, acetanilid, pheuaeetin
and other germicides and untseptics Will,
no doubt, be found useful.