The morning call., 1890-09-01
EP1DEM1os ALL AROUND Us.

There appears to be an unpleasant colo
cation of disease germs in various foreign
countries which are widely separated from
each other. Cholera is raging in Japan
with extraordinary virulence. If the news
paper stories are to be believed the NOR
tality is quite exceptional. In France
new form of influenza. or la grippe, is said
to have broken out. Unlike the last visi-
tation, it is quite frequently fatal. 1t has
features which resemble the symptoms of
typhoid; it is accompanied by high fever,
an abnormal temperature, blisters on the
tongue and acute Inflammation of the
throat. A similar malady is said to have
appeared at Berlin and ST. Petersburg,
where whole regiments have been attacked.
Cases OF true Asiatic cholera are reported
from England.
Thus far the public health in this coun-
try has been unusually good this year.
There have been no outbreaks of yellow
fever at the South, nor have the accus-
toned stories of sporadic cases Of cholera
in the Eastern States appeared in the pa
pers La grippe has left us, not, however,
without marking its path with scars. A
number of its victims even now complain
that they have not recovered their former
sound health. But fatal cases were few
and far between. Altogether, the death
rate among the people at large this sum-
mer must have been rather below than
above the average. 1t has been decidedly
below it in most parts of this State. We
shall best show our appreciation of the
blessing by carefully watching the progress
of disease in regions which have not been
so blessed. 1t is in spells of serene weather
that a judicious sailor will look out for
storms.
So far as cholera is concerned, there is of
course always danger that the disease
germs may come here from Japan. II Is
true that, in all former epidemics. the dis
ease has Travelled from East to West, and
not from West to East; but this popularity
appears to have been due rather to accident
than TO any known law. For four or five
years, persons who may not unfairly be
called eranks have predicted a general cpl
demic Of cholera on the curious ground that
the disease appears at intervals which seem
TO be regulated by specific formula. For
instance, the first epidemic of cholera in this
country broke out in 1882, and lasted with
diminishing severity till 1885; then, after a
lapse of thirteen years, the second epidemic
broke out in 1889; the third, after lapse
of six years, occurred in 1884, the fourth,
after lapse of twelve years, took place in
1866 the fifth and last, after lapse of seven
years, in 1878. The theory Of these philoso-
pliers was that the next visitation might be
expected in 1887 or soon after As it did not
come. faith in the theory of perodicity was
shaken; though there are people who still
adhere to 1t.
The accounts of the new disease in France
lead to conjecture that it is nothing more
than fresh outbreak Of epidemic cerebro-
spinal meningitis, which has always been
more or less connected with influenza. This
disease has been epidemic on several occa-
sions in France, and there have been three
periods when it became epidemic in this
countryside, 1913 and 1860. Its Greek
name when translated means inflammation
of the membranes of the brain and of the
spinal cord. 1t may arise from variety of
causes-injuries to the brain or spine, cold,
alcoholic excuses or oyerwork. Any ten
sion or strain upon the brain or spinal cord
NAV end in meningitis; but on the occasions
when it became epidemic science was always
unable to account for its appearance.
If this should prove to be the maiady
which is now terrifying the Parisians, 1t may
he we'll to consider whether 1T is not allied 10
the fashionable disease of The day In TINS
conntry-neryous depression. Doctors tell
ms that they are treating an extraordinary
number of persons ~ nervous depression'