The record-union., 1891-03-13
La GRIPPE.
It Has Become an Epidemic Through
out the State.
dow Pneumonia and Scarlet Fever are
Contracted-TEe Spread Of
Diphtheria.

Influenza or la grippe has, since the
last report, developed into widespread
epidemic. equaiing, if not exceeding, that
which prevailed during the winter of
1SsG-90. That it spreads by atmospheric
influence may be inferred from its rapid
diffusion from place to place without any
known intermediate Intervention of con-
tagion by external media.
The present epidemic, according to the
State Board of Health's report, may be
characterized by it's sudden onset. The
intensity of its initiatory symptoms, the
premonitory chill, the fever, headache,
backache, pains in the bones and muscles
that more nearly resemble Dengaae. or
backbone fever, than any other disease we
can remember. Another feature peculiar
to the present epidemic is the frequency
with which cases occur in which the cough
is almost entirely absent, and others IL
which pneumonia OF low type is almost
certain to be developed. The debility ac-
companying the disease is invariably
present and must be treated by stimulants
liberally given. The origin of the disease
being unknown, the power of the sani-
tartan over it is exceedingly limited, and
consists chiefly in advising the avoidance
of all depressing influences that might
deteriorate the healthy constitution or inn
pair its strength.
GOOD ADVICE To HEED.
Diphtheria and Group were reported as
present during last month in almost
every portion of the State. The spread OF
this disease might be materially lessened
if the public could be taught to look upon
it as it does upon smallpox, and take the
same precautions in isolating its victims
as it does those Of the more loathsome
disease, which, while disagreeable to wait
upon, is not half so deadly in its results
as the diphtheritic poison. Another
point upon which it might be well to in
form the public is, that where an infec-
tious or contagious disease occurs in d
home, and the washing of the patients
bedding or clothing is sent away to be
washed without first having them thor
oughly disinfected, and the washer
woman or any OF her family thereby be-
come infected, they can recover damages
in a court of law, if not previously not-
fed or warned that the clothing is in
fected. A few successful suits of this
kind would engender caution and a re-
alization of the fact that public protection
must be afforded against infectious dis
ease.
HOW SCARLET FEVER IS CONTRACTED.
In this disease, as in smallpox, the
poison is given off from the bodies of the
Sick, and as there is no mode of protec-
ton corresponding with vaccination, the
obvious means, therefore, of avoiding
contagion is to keep out Of reach ofthe in
fection by the sick, or Of articles infected
by them. The difficulty of doing
this can be estimated when we learn of
the persistence of the vitality of the
poison. 1t is communicable during the
whole of the illness and convalescence OF
the patient. Infected clothing that has
been packed away for months may COM
municate the disease, and the instances
are numerous where the infection has
been carried long distances from the sick
by healthy persons who have recently
come in contact with scarlet fever. All
these facts point to the most rigid eXclu-
sion of susceptible children from every
possible source of infection.
THE DREAD DISEASE, PNEUMONIA.
Pneumonia prevailed everywhere in
the State, and in many places it partook
OF an epidemic character. An instance
was reported where the father, mother,
brother and two sisters of a family took
the disease, one after the other, and both
parents died. This disease alone caused
one hundred and sixty deaths during
February.
Bronchitis was prevalent to an alarm
ing extent, but the type was not of a seri-
Gus character.
In Stockton, measles was epidemic,
and Doctor Ruggles notes that he does
not even remember of hearing of so large
mortality in February.
Typhoid fever had the remarkable
small mortality of seven attributed TO it..
Six OF these deaths were in San Francisco
and one in Napa. The State Board of
Health thinks that the limited death rate
from this disease may perhaps be at
tributed to the cleansing of foul sewers
and filthy places by the copious rains
which visited the State during the month.