Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-03
THE GRIP GIVING Up,
Nearly Everybody Having Had an
Attack, There Is Now Little Left
for 1t to Feed Upon.
MUCH SMALLER SALES OF DRUGS.
Interesting Talks With Physicians and
Druggists Who Have Made the
Disease Study.
NO ONE PRESCRIPTION RECOMMENDED.
The Death Roll Is Still Very Heavy, and Has Cutie
Numbtr Of sad csses

The opinion prevails among many physi.
clans and druggists that the backbone of the
grip is al last broken. They base it upon
the fact that the number OF calls for attend.
ance and the filling of prescriptions is abat.
ing. Last Saturday the grip is believed to
nave been at its height, and as the days
have rolled by since, there has been slacken-
ing of the grip of the dread disease.
There are two causes given for this. One
is that the disease has practically run its
course and is gradually lifting its heavy
pail from over Pittsburg, and the other is
that nearly all of those who are subject to
its attack have suffered from its effects. But
both of these propositions being true, the
disease still has a terrible hold upon the
people of this and surrounding cities.
Hard Work of the Doctors.
In the excitement over the spread of the
grip one feature has been almost lost sight
of, and that is the terrific amount of work
that has been and is imposed upon the ply
sicians. 1t is safe to say that no set of men
has ever worked harder. 1t has been day
and night work. and fortunate was he who
was able to secure few hours rest without
his sleep being disturbed BY ring of his
doorbell. followed bv a call to suffering hu
| manity. No matter the weather or the
hour, 90 be must, and 60 he did. To illus
trate this point: One of the best-known
physicians in Pittsburg day or so ago
used up three horses within "a hours, and
when he finally reached home, at l o'clock
in the morning. he iell fainting to the floor.
In Nh f,p, od bo hod uicif
persons, and il was beyond human endur-
ance.
While the wear and tear in all cases was
not as severe as in this instance, still there
is many doctor in town who will be glad
when the grip has passed, aud he will have
an opportunity to take a well-earned rest
There are some who think that physician
could not attend to SO many cases and do
each one justice. but as the reputation of the
physicians here ranks very high it is safe to
say that their high sense of duty has carried
them through and that they have been con-
scientious in their work.
No One Prescription VIII Answer.
There are people who have a cure for any
disease that may show itself, and who do not
take into consideration the many phases that
anv particular complaint may enter upon.
The fallacy of this was brought out in a
number of talks that were had with physi-
clans and druggists upon the efficacy of the
appended telegram from DR.. Granville of Lon
don, Eng, which was printed in yesterdays
DISPATCH. Incidentally, these talks also
brought out many other points that of in
terest. not only To those who are suffering from
the grip, but to those who. have never had it.
and who fear that their time has not vet come.
Altogether, they should give encouragement
to all.
The telegram referred to was addressed to
Vital StatIstican Tomlinson of Chicago, and
was brought forth by The reports of the terrible
ravages CT the epidemic in that city, and reads
as follows:
"Dr Mortimer Granville begs physicians of
Chicago 10 trv grains camphnr in 20 minimS
tincture of iodine and drachm of glycerme.
with syrup. frequently, for influenza. Strong
meat juice is also recommended; no antipy-
Tine."
Dr. Hoffman,, of Penn avenue, read it over
carefully, smiled and handed 1t to another
physician who was in the room. The second
doctor laughed.
"But, Doctor" queried the reporter. what
do you think of it? Is it any good? Do you
think 1t worth while trying Dr. Granville's
prescription
1t Would Help the 0culists.
DIR. Holman replied: THAT prescription If
taken by people suffering from the grip would
give the oculists of Pitisburg more work than
they could possibly attend to. The thing is
absurd. There are no two cases alike, and
anyhow, hardly think there is a physician in
Pittsburg who would prescribe such mixture
for patients suffering from the grip" Speak
ing further, Dr. Hofmann said the disease was
undoubtedly abating. In his practice he found
but few new cases, and some of those were
where the people had been sick before. He be-
lieved that all who were subject to the grip had
passed through it. Though the weather OF yes
terday was bad. he did not think that 1t would |
have any appreciable effect upon the disease
Still, few bright days were needed to wipe tho |
whole thing out of existence. The doctor has |
been so busy for the past few weeks, he says, |
that he has not even haa time to look at the |
newspapers. |
A Smithfeld street druggist, who declines to |
allow the of his name and who tells good |
story as well as puts up good prescriptions, was
also Shown the suggestion of the London ply |
sician. He read il carefully several times, and |
remarked: The theory of that prescription |
is germicide. The question in my mind is |
whether it would be of any use at all. If it |
could be applied directly to the germs then 1t |
would, in all likelihood, be good enough. But |
then, you know, the effects would be hard to |
tell. You remember that when the grip first |
appeared in France the physicians recon- |
mended the smoking of gum camphor. Now, |
just how Dr. Granville means that prescription |
to be applied he does not say, and venture to |
saw there is not a physician here who would |
give it to patient"
ondlltr safes VI DFuSs.
Putting the prescription aside as a matter |
not worth talking about. the druggist ex.
pressed the opinion that the grip was on the |
wane. 1t was shown in the decreased demand |
for grip medicine. The whole trouble is that |
the grip proper does hot make people sick |
enough to stay in the house. They think they
can venture out, and the result in many cases
is pneumonia. Then again they will insist upon |
doctoring themselves A great, big, fine-lOok-
ing fellow came IN here the other day and |
asked me to help him out of his trouble. He
said he had been taking whisky and auinine for
a week, and he wanted something to help him
get over the effects of the whisky.
"How absurd that il" exclaimed DR.. Charles
S. Shaw. after he had read the Granville pre-
Then, in reply to question, he
said that there was doubt the grip was
losing ground. He believed that it had prac-
tlcally run its course. This was shown by the
few new cases that were being
OF course, he remarked, that state
ment does not affect the fact that there is a
terrible amount of sickness in the city. The
doctor said that all that was needed to wipe
out the disease were few days of bright warm
weather,
Peculiarities of the Disease.
Going back to prescriptions the doctor was
emphatic in his statement that no one pre-
scrption would do in all or even in many cases.
In some lit was necessary to treat the cold, in
others palms, and again in others headaches.
He contended that it was not new disease,
but under different names had beeu known fO-
ages. In his opinion the grip had reached Its
height last week and was now declining
DR.. A. d. johnson, of Allegheny-You
may rest assured that the grip is dropping.
The signs are all about us. There are COM
paratively few new cases being reported, al
though the number of sufferers in Allegheny
has not materially decreased. The weather, |