The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-01-24

Prof Da Dosta on the Grip.
An exhaustive article on the grip
appears in the issue of the Philadelph-
10 Medical Neaos, of January 1S. It
IS from the pen of Professor j. M. Da
Costa, of jefferson Medical Colledge,
who is recognized by the entire medi-
cal profession as the most eminent writer
on diagnosis 10 the county. The Pro-
fessor treats the subject not historical.
ly, but clinically, introducing his sub
ject with few cases which illustrate
different types of the malady. He
says:
"This widespread malady, which has
committed such havoc an the continent
Of Europe, aud which has proven itself
here, in the last month, so destructive
to comfort and so perilous in its sec
ondary conse quence, is of uncertain
organ. It comes; it goes. 1t comes
without warning: it disappears, leaving
behind it sporadic cases, but speedily
loses all trace of its epidemic FORM
The Professor then gives the result of
his observations as follows 'In the
majority of instances the fever is mod
crate and lasts about three or four days
The fever is at its highest in from
twenty four to thirty six hours; then
it slowlylsubsides, and the temperature
may 90 below normal. Ia one case it
passed to SO and there was profuse
sweating, something like crisis TAX
ing place. During the period of high
est temperature, lasting thirty six or
possibly forty-eight hours, there is only
the ordinary variation of about one
degree between the morning and eve
ming temperatures. There is really a
slight continued fever, and not fever
with remlssions and exacerbations as
in malarial fever. As rule the tenn
perature does not exceed 1882; but, by
way of variety, / have in this epidemlc
encountered few cases in which the
tempture at the onset unexpectedly
shot up to 1862 and the next day went
down to about 1909 aud then the case
ran the ordinary course, terminating
in recovery 10 two of these cases
bloody sputum or pure blood was at
tirst expectOrated.
NERVOUS SYMPTOMS.
"One of the most singular features
of the recent epidemic is the prevail
ence of the nervous symptoms. As l
have stated, 1 have passed thro gh
other ep'demics of catarrhal fever, but
this one seems to be stamped by the
prominence of the nervous symptoms.
These are shown by the violent head
aches, the severe pain all over the
body, the pain in the spine travelling
downwards and also by what I have
seen in quite number of cases, hy-
pere ,thesis or general senstiveness of
the surface. This is something more
than what might be attributed to the
efforts of coughing. Then, too, in
some Of the cases, there is delirium
not simply the delirum of inanition,
as occurred in ohe of the cases before
you, but delirium with violent head
ache, this delirium sometimes taking
strange forms. In one case, that OF a
most refined lady, who when well
would hardly recognize an oath, when
she became delirious from an attack of
Influenza, swore at the doctor every
time he entered the room. | have
been told of instances in which patti
ents have lost their minds from the
violence of the headache and the de-
lirium. Besides the delirium, there
are in some cases commissions.
A FATAL CASE.
"About week ago was called to
see young man who, while in per
feet health, was seized with violent
headache, severe pain in the back,
pain in the limbs, slight catarrhal
symptoms, considerable congestion Of
the lungs, but no pneumonia. Almost
from the onset he had spasms in the
arms. The spasms were most marked
in the left arm, although the right was
also affected. He was very restless,
and slightly delirious, but not marked
ly 80. His temperature, almost from
the beginning, was 90. found him
with pupils somewhat dilated and head
slightly rigid, and the presence of
cerebro-spinal fever at once suggested
itself; but further investigation show
ed that this was not the case. There
was no eruption; the spasms were limi
ted to the arms, there was congestion
of the lungs; and, above all, there wa'
no fever, the temperature remaining
about 970. The only thing that gave
any relief from the spasms was chloral
Not Notwithstanding the fact that afro
pine and opium were used hypodermi
cally this patient gradually sank undel
the violence of the disease. Iknow o
one case in which paralysis Of th,
lower extremities has foil owed infuen
"a.
''wHAT Is CALLED PNEUMONIA
"The prostrated influence of tn
malady on the nervous system is also
shown by the fact that patients stag
ger on getting out of bed. This de
bility remains for long time and i
often associated with considerabl
sweating. The pains often remain
and do not necessarily pass away o.
the subsistence of the rather shor
fever. In some cases profuse and pei
sistent sweating is also very common
during convalescence, and the patier
looks anemic and miserable.
''The main complication of ord
nary catarrhal fever is, as you know
pneumonis, or what is called pneu
monia. Looking over the records @
boards of health of different cities,
will be found that the deaths fror
pneumonia have nearly doubled. Wba
is called pneumonia must, therefore
be set down as one of the chief con
plications. You notice that l sa
"what Is called pneumonia" A gres