Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-12-17
THE GRIP WAVE.
FEW CASES REPORTED IN WHEELING UP TO
DATE
A Disease That Appears to be Everywhere but Here
No Fatal Gases Reported One Physician
However, Believes the Epi-
demic is Coming

Everywhere but here. This seems 10
sign I'D the prevalence Of the grip stu
alton. Grip, together with all the bad
colds. aches and fevers that people call
0la grippe" or grip" or "grlppy'" or
"the la grippy," is raging everywhere
in America at the present time except
in this section. Nearly all the ex-
changes that reach the office de-
vote considerable space to the prev
alence of this unwelcome ailment.
So far it seems to have obtained but
very narrow foothold, but it has not been
able to cause such addition TO the uea'n
list that resulted from IL during iast
year, and the year before. In iact' tne
reporter in his rounds, yesterday, ala
not learn of as ingle fatal case attrlout-
able TO the grip. Hearing report
that the grip was quite prevalent,a REG
1sTER representative called on several
nbvscians Yesterday. A few stated
that there are quite number anected
with influenza, but whether or no IL Is
the genuine grip is matter OF dispute.
The condition OF the atmosphere mas
been apparently unfavorable to IL. Inc
air has been comparatively dry up TO
day or two ago. This is qulte at Varl-
ance with the condition OF the atmos-
phere last year when the grip was so
prevalent. When the air IS neaViiy
charged with moisture it efectuallyalos
in the spread Of the contaglon.
"The trouble is" said one physician,
"that every bad cold which causes
aches and pains is called the grip. We
had that kind OF cold before we heard
of Russian influenza and we treated them
with simple remedies and got well. AT
this time of year the people are always
brought down with severe colds. Peo-
pie should be careful to avoid the chill
which comes at such times. They are
not. They button up their coats on
days when the temperature Is railing
and the danger is less. l have no lear
of a great epidemic Of grip"
One physician who has large prac-
tice, on being interviewed, said: Inc
disease prevailing here just now to
limited extent is not the grip; II Is an
influenza. The prominent symptoms
are bronchial difficulty attended with
a sense of fulness in the troat. There
is but very slight expectoratlon with
some indications Of catarrh. In extreme
cases this is attended with purging In
the intestines, and, sometimes, with
vomiting. This lasts only for two or
three days but is sometimes followed oy
pneumonia. There seems TO be no way
to prevent the disease except by being
careful not to take cold. AS to treat
ment, 1 think it is we'll to act on gen.
eral principles. Upon convalescing,
person should be careful not TO go out
from the house until fully recovered, as
by so doing, he may bring on relapse
which will prove dangerous. l think
there is no special danger from the dis
ease except from the pneumonia which
follows it,"
Another well-known physician was OF
the opinion that the present trouble was
nothing more than common cold, and
there were quite a number OF these.
None Of the physicians were aware OF
many cases of grip in the city. One
physician in North Wheeling stated
that he had one or two cases In mild
form, but was of the opinion that the
city was on the verge of an epidemic in
this line.
Said another physicians: Everything
that looked like bad cold was called
the grip last year and he supposed the
same would be true this year. at must
be treated on general principles, he
said. "The general health should be
kept in as good a condition as possible,
because people whose general health is
good recover much more quickly than
those who are not prepared, and they
are less liable to the complications which
frequently result from the disease. The
night air is bad for persons who are on
the edge of the grip and plenty of rest
is needed"