Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-01
Pulls Down and Completely Skaters Ner-
vous Systems and Plays Havoc
With Vital Force.
MAKING ITS WAY STEADILY WESTWARD
No Indications Of Abatement in the Present Epidemic In
Pittsburg.


has now apparently migrated to the
countries of the American Cont
nents. Under this illumination, the
disease has shown itself possessed
of some decidedly serious elements
To the unpracticed individual severe case
of the grip means prolonged fits Of sneezing,
pains in the head, back and limbs, and a
general feeling of lassitude, with complica-
tions of cold, bronchitis and other affections
which, altogether, render life miserable for
short time. The average individual
thinks most OF being forced TO lose few
days' pay and foot numerous little bills Of
physicians and druggists.
Insanity One of the Consequences
Recent developments have shown, how
ever, that severe cases of grip result in great
physical and mental depression, the latter
manifesting itself in melaucholia, anemia.
hysteromania and other forms of temporary
insanity. As a result the influence upon the
nervous force is so depressing that its effects
are apparent for weeks after the patient has
recovered from the first attack of the grip.
The vital forces are sapped leaving the
patient a victim of nervous debility and
possibly of imperfect mental powers.
The grip siege of 1890 left scores of Pitts
burg's populace minus certain vital quail
ity they previously possessed, carrying with
them the lasting marks of the strange iniec-
tion in racking nerves and impaired powers.
That the present epidemic will leave its
footprints behind in proportion to the Sc
vereness of its form over that of last year is
hardly to be doubted. Physicians all over
the two cities are quietly waiting for the
disease to break itself in order to watch
carefully the more blasting results of its
after effects.
Melancholia Frequent Result
DR.. c. c. Wiley, the well-known special
ist in nervous troubles, was asked yesterday
regarding the effect of the grip on the vital
forces. ut is certainly very serous," said he.
"Dr. Clouston whose writings occupy place
in every complete medical library, at a recent
meeting of the Royal Edinburgh Asylum. of
which he is superintendent spoke of the init
mate relationship between the epidemic of in
fuenza or grip of 1890 ana melancholia. Ac-
cording to him great lowering of human vi.
tality followed the ravages Of the disease, and
Europe has not yet recovered its nervous tone.
81 believe DR.. Cloustons stand is very well
taken. have had numerous cases where the
grip is nearly always followed by extreme
nervous exhaustion. Many patients have de-
veloped strange delusions while suffering from
an attack of the disease. noted one case in
particular in which there were marked cerebral
enema, or want of blood in the brain. In
several instances very decided maniacal symp-
toms we're manifest. 1 can call to mind one
man in particular. He was big, robust-look-
ing individual, but was so severely affected by
the grip that he developed hysteromania, more
commonly known as hysterical mania.
"W bile all diseases attended by elevation of
temperature tend to produce delirium, the
mental alteration in a severe case of the grip is
totally out of proportion to the amount usually
manifested. In many cases the nervous ex-
haustion and depression is greater on the third
day with the grip than usually manifested in a
case OF typhoid fever IL its second week. l
find that DIR. E. c. Spltzka, an eminent au-
thority on insanity who figured prominently
as an expert in the trial of Garfield's murderer,
cites several cases that came under his obser-
walton where meancholia and delusionS of
various kinds resulted from the grip.
Depressions Not Always Lasting.
"While these mental depresslons are often
decidedly marked in severe cases of the grip,
they are az rule not lasting. and no cases of
permanent insanity have resulted to my knowI-
edge. Its effects on the nervous system, how
ever, are very strong, and great depression of
the vital forces inevitably follows an epidemic
of this disease. My patients are as a rule suf-
ferers from impaired nervous systems. After
large number of very serious cases attributable
entirely to the grip, all of the patients having
suffered with more or less severe attacks. They
had seemingly recovered from the first effects
of the attack, but were unable entirely to over
come the exhaustion and debility that came
later"
DR.. Wiley's views on this question are backed
up by medical men generally. There is no
longer any doubt expressed by physicians as to
the genuineness of the malady which has
played such havoc in and about Pitrsburg dur
fr,frs > fntu aI-..
doubted the presence of anything more than
severe colds last year, but such doubts have
long ago given way to the conviction that the
grip. of which many were inclined to think
epidemic nature which annually carry of
hundreds of people.
The Grip on Its Way Westward.
The grip, like other diseases of its kind, is
decidedly migratory and the general opinion
among those who have watched its progress is
that it is steadily travelling westward. This ar
gument is upheld by the fact that the cpl
demic of last year seemed to center in New
York, Philadelphia and Boston and other East
ern cities Pittsburg got it in a milder form.
This year, however the Eastern cities are prac-
tically without any serious manifestations of
the grip, while Pittsburg. Chicago, Cincinnati
and other cities more centrally situated are be-
ing scourged. Medical men say 1t is very prob
able that the Western States and cities along
enZa next year.
To-day is moving day., and, as stated in
THE DISPATCH yesterday, many families find |
themselves seriously inconvenienced by sud |
den attacks of the grip when everything was |
ready for the change in homes. At least 100 |
orders for wagons from the various transfer |
companies about the city have been counter. |
manded as a result of sickness.
Moving day coming in the midst of the grin. |
this year. ought to afford an impetus to those |
who urge the putting of the day further into the
season. Ordinarily April j and thereabout is |
composed of pneumonia-sort of weather. and |
scores of deaths follow the annual fitting as a |
matter of course. This year the mortality |
consequent may run into the hundreds. 1t is |
true the excess may possibly be not appreci- |
able, but to even hope SO would be prepos- |
terous
Let real estate dealers and all friends of |
humanity date AprilI, 1891 as the beginning |
of crusade against an insensate custom,
scarce even beftting an agricultural commun- |
ity at present.
All day yesterday the streets were full of |
funeral corteges. The average of 20 under. |
takers in the two cities Yesterday was six |
funerals each. There is talk of raising the |
prices OF carriages, as those who own them |
know they can get anything they want for their |
hire.