The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-05-17
GRIP AND ITS REMEDY.

Persons who are suffering from the grip
and its neveT-ending cOus equences may de-
rive consolation from the fact that others
are worse of than they. Over one hundred
members Of the British Parliament, includ-
ing some Of the most active politicians Of the
day. are laid up with the disease It's raw
ages are such that it is seriously proposed to
remove the Parliament from London and to
recUnYene it at Oxford, as used to be done
in The old days when the plague ragged in
England.
This second visitation of the malady has
reused a new controversy. Homeopathic
physicians claim that they lose no patients
from the grip. while among the followers of
the old school a number Of deaths have oc-
CURED. They aScribe the difference TO the
use of the new patent medicine known as
antipyTinP, which is largely prescribed by
the alIOpaths, and never by the hOmeopaths.
Antipyrine is a chemical compound, pro-
duced from coal tar. 1t was invented by
a German physician, who patented it as a
proprietary medicine, and sold his rights to
druggists in several countries. 1t has the
remarkable property OF reducing the tenn
perature by checking the action of the
heart, so that in cases Of sharp fever or
headache its administration affords imme-
diaIe relief. Hence ne temptation to use it
in cases of severe fever accompanied by con-
gestion Of the blood vessels OF the head is
strong; so strong that persons who have
once been relieved by it are apt TO use it on
a return Of the pain, without consulting a
physician. But il is obvious that. like
choral, cocaine and chloroform. powerful
drug Of this nature. producing partial
g,1 altrsi E Lee
feebles the whole system. 1t lowers the ac-
ton of the heart at the expense of the gen
eral vitality, and does not in the slightest de-
gree strike at the cause of the disease. Thus
it is said by homeOpaJhs that the gain ac-
cOmpliShed by reducing the temperature by
the use OF autipyrine is more than counter
balanced by the loss Of strength which its adj
ministraii0n is sure to involve; they seem
to think that while the first effects of the
drug in cases Of grip are beneficial, it leaves
the system unable to struggle against the
march of the disease, aud death may ensue
from reduced vitality in the patient
1t goes without saying that the progress
Of chemistry will discover new remedial
agents, which in the hands of skilful ply
sIcianS VIII tend TO check the ravages of
disease. Coal tar, which has revolutionized
the dyeing industry, is quite likely to add
valuable contributions 20 the phaTmacOpeia.
But new drugs are two-edged tools in lay
hands. Many lives are lost every year by
the employment of morpha by persons who
are ignorant of its power; the opium tiend
is a familiar character in the police courts
Large numbers OF women destroy their con-
situations by yielding to the Seductions of
chlOral There IS reason to fear that anti
pyrine may be classed among the medicine s
which in ignorant hands kill as often as
they cure. A physician, with a full knOwl-
edge of the condition Of his patient, may
give twenty grains in a case of intolerable
headache and general fever; but a much
smaller dose, administered by one who is
not aware Of the state Of the patients or
gans generally, might be followed By fatal
results.
All these new medicines, antipyrne, CO.
caire, phenacetine, antfebrine and the
rest, are worthy Of careful study by the
faculty, and may, in judicious hands, effect
cures when the older drugs fail. The most
valuable medicines used by the hOmeopathS
-arsenicum, nux yOmica, phosphorus &C
Onite and belladonna-are all violent poi
sons, and would almost certainly cause
death in allOpathic doses. In homeopathic
doses they are believed to be of infinite
value. So with these new compounds
which the progress OF chemistry is bringing
to light. They will all probably be found
to have their uses. The hOmeOpaths have
not discovered a way Of administering anti
pyrine according to the tenets of their
school.
The moral of the pending controversy is
simply that if a man who conducts his own
lawsuit has fool for a client, ne vino under
takes 10 doctor himself with new drugs has
a suicide for patient. In eases of grip. as
in other diseases. the rational treatment is
to send for a doctor