New-York tribune., 1891-12-27
EHE GRIP STILL SPREADING.
MOST CASES NOT SERIOUS, HOWEVER

WHAT PHYHUASs SAY OF THE DISEASE, ITS
PREVENTION kSn CURE.
The leading doctors of the city aud those having the
largest family practice confirm the reports OF the oD-
servatons Of the Board Of Health that there are great
many OF the grip in the city Mt present, ana '"
the number has Increased during the week Just past
AL however unite In declaring that the present
visitation Is much fnder than The preceding ones o
recent years New-York so far seems 10 be especially
favored with immunity from any epidemic oil ho'uie
seriously to hinder the business Of the city reports
from various parts Of Maine and Newiiampshire III
dicate more malignant type OF grip nne In tre coal
regions near Carbondale Penn. many cases tha1
have resulted fatally reported, whlle the lre'shu
business of the Chicago Burlington and Quincy Rail
road In Iowa seriously hampered by the sickness OF
about 10 per cent Of the employees from the grip
AS rule the doctors prefer not to say anVth'hs
for publication and II Is Only TO secure an Intelligent
understanding Of the epidemic, and prevent " pos
sble In this way public calamity by the exercise OF
precautions that they can be ihdnced 10
give the result OF their experience. without
exception they insist that many attacks can
be avered entirely by the exercise Of ordinary COM
mon-sence in advocating heedisSs exposure, sudden
changs of temperature from heated rooms to cold or
damp air. and they advise temperance and discre
ton in all things and suitable clothing with plenty OF
nourshing food, We as freedom from nnxiety an"
q strict adherence TO regular habits.
At Bellevue Hospital Dr. Pulley reported SIX cases
In his ward and said that he did not have more tha
four at any time last week. Zone case ne salu
"was discharged cured the next day after II was admit
ted but the majority of cases remain about hve days
They come here complaining OF bad cold and pain
IN the chest Some Of these develop into the
grip, but they do not complain Of that themselves
We give them little medicine IL any, and few days
rest with nourishing food works wonderful cures None
OF tho under my observation should be followed
by any complications. TIL" attacks are extremely MI"
In form should say'
In another ward OF the hospital DR.. Knight said sit
happens that there not many cases Of the grip in
nv ward there the average last week. This
may be due partly TO the fact that they have not been
admitted because the ward filled with cases of
different character. little qunine Is about all that
necessary for the ordinary giip Yes. there is
great deal OF pulmonary trouble In the hospital now.
seven cases Of pneumonia and several OF bronchitis
under my charge this week. None Of them are at all
serious in their character. but there certainly is
prevalence of pulmonary diseases"
Dr. Lewis A. Sayre. Of No. 2s5 Fifth-ave., sad :
"Of course my practice is largely surgical but grip
pneumonia and bronchitis seem far this winter 20
have been unusually mild in form. There is how aud
then a Of the true Asiac grip. but there is
great deal more OF catarrh and influenza. Both OF
these, by the way, to be assigned due in large
measure TO the unclcan condition of our streets and
the particles Of dust and dirt foating in the atmos
recall he dreadful stencil In broadway ord Thirdave
where the SOIL permeated with gases and foul water
for years Is thrown up 10 assail the nostrs Of every
passer-by with is germ-laden o1ors. The troubles OF
two years ago were certainly aggravated by the dis
graceful condition of the streets. and think that the
marked improvement for the better in the of the
streets Will be followed by nOticeably smaller per
centage Of cases of the influenza.
"Nay l say word Of advice in regard TO q1acB
drugstore and the patent medicine preparations
warranted to prevent attack OF the gIipl They
the bane OF the earth. which they have flooded with
their advertisements. One drugstore in every five IS
already stocked with preparation Of its own or Of
some Quack, said 10 ect speedy and certain pre-
venatve TO la grippe and these preparations, with
out exception. useless, and the cOntr"ry arc
active agents for harm. Regularity of habits, not
dosing, is the proper precauton in Zines when there
Is danger OF an epidemic Which is hardly to be an
tcipateh from present Indications"
DR.. Rnfus p Lincoln OF No. 30 West Thirty frs'st.,
said "The virllence fthc poison that causes the
Gip is not sufficiently great cause pneumonia
directly Pneumonia Is. II course. generally con-
ceded to be incident TO attack of l1e so-colled
grip, but the type Of il that we are now having
should no give rise 70 serious cases IF pneumonia,
with even ordinary attention and nursing There
are great many of the Influenza prevalent dne
partly to colds The one disnctively characteristic
feature of the c1p is the physicl prOstrau1 m and
pain, which Is ont Of all proportion TO the part
affected by The germ The Intense pain in the back.
resulting from a oca! irritation in the nasal passages
In many instances. is remarkable
The presen; trouble with 'qic grip seems t. be the
last OF the epidemic wave which has gradually be-
come smaller and will soon wear Itself ont. Iron-
chtis has probably bcen on The Increase during the
last rhree weeks. and in some Of tine cases I have
seen the whole tract TO be more or less
involved In another type there appears 20 be very
little trouble In the mucous tIao- but pronounced
fever; these cases are t) be noted as the exception
and less prone no run into pneumonia In the fever
cases the temperature is about lOl degrees TO 1O2
degrees, though it may 90 much higher Last year
] had a case where the temperature ran up to 1O3
degrees and n rule the temperature was higher las'
year. This year only OF grip in nv obserya
Gon has been the cause II pneumonia. DO l think
that the un0l tiled and hckle weather of the las'
week has hsd any effect IN Increasing the number OF
cases OF grip7 No. only in 80 far as the resulting
depression of the spirits and system may have
invsed attacks"
DR.. Alfred L. Loomis. Of NJ. 10 West Thirty fourth
st.. said be had not noticed much grip recently in his
practice. except in his own family, which had been
troubled. Ie added thai there were great many
cases Of catarrh and colds, but not severe
enough 10 call for any special comment. If there
Is grip it can't be OF serious nature and surely need
not warrant any grave fears I've said.
DR.. c. Carroll Ice. Of No. 20 Madson-ave said that
he had seen about twenty cases accompanied by n
little bronchial trouble. but The patients had all re
covered within week. Part )f my patients have
gone TO Lakewood, at their own suggestion and
my advice. 10 secure change OF air. The
prompt recovery IS matter OF nOte and so the cpl
demic, il there be one now, can't be regarded In a
serious light. have been called into consultation
whore have seen grip In complication with pnel-
mona, but only one OF these resulted fatally.
The present mode OF treatment Is eficacious.S
DIR. Andrew II. smith. OF No. 2" East Forty second
st. said there numerous attacks Of the grip and
tAsy bad been Increasing during the hast three weeks.
But bear OF no fatal cases" he said. "where the
patient has been in good health previously and you
win nnd that most OF the doctors will tell you that
there Is little real danger Of widespread epidemic
from what can BE- observed thus far There is no