Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-31
GRIPS FIRST VICTIM,
Just One Clear Case Result.
ing Fatally Has Been
Officially Reported.
IF THERE Is AN EPIDEMIC
It Will Be in a Milder Form Than
on Previous Occasions.
PREVENTION THE PROPER THING.
A 10 Per Cent Increase in the Death Rate
All Over the Country,
IF THERE is An EPIDEMIC
PREVENTION THE PROPER THING.
A 10 Per Cent Increase in the Death Rate
All Over the Country.
PITTSBURG AS GOOD A PLACE AS ANY

Grip has sent its advance guard into Pitts
burg and claimed one victim. The first
case of death to be reported this season as
the direct result of the Russian enemy at
tack was that of lydia Ann Wise, of tine
Southsite. Her physician was DIR, John
Milton Duff The woman was "a years old.
Her case was similar TO the attacks of grip
last winter and the year previous.
In speaking of the outlook for a grip epi-
demic this winter, DR. j. Guy McCandless,
the Bureau Of Health Physician, said that
he expected a milder form than last year.
Continuing the same argument he gave
The very desirable opinion that in year or
more grip will be unknown. "La Grippe"
he said, sis carried by germs in the air 1t
is not contagious, but is epidemic. Its frs:
appearance was in the winter Of 1890 The
following year the attack was more severe.
and this winter l think il will be mildcr.
Ny reason for thinking this is that cpl
denies carried bv the air usually ran three
years in locality and then disappear. 1t
was that way with the cholera in Pitts
burg, and we have every reason to expect
that grip will follow the rule.
a
There is no ground for hope that we
will escape it this winter. 1t has been
raging in Europe for some time and has
already appeared in Eastsrn cities The
epidemic has hitherto travelled eastward,
and according to schedule, will be due here
shortly. In my private practice l have
had several mild forms of influenza, which
showed MANY OF the symptoms of grip. Other
nhvSicianS have had similar experiences
The death OF Mrs. Wise neeed not be looked
upon with alarm. II is the first death from
grip reported this season, however, and nat
Urallv Will he taken as a warning to pre-
pare for an epidemic.
u have been examining the death rates
all over the country and find this year will
he at least 10 per cent above the normal
There viii be that much increase in Pitts
burg. and probably more at other places.
We have been remarkably free from other
enidemics during the year. so that the in
crease in the death rate can be attributed
10 nothing but the grip OF course.
there has been q great many cases of diph-
liberia lately, but not more than there
usually is Of scarlet or typhoid fever
other wears. Grip is seldom fatal itself but
there are 50 many other diseases liable to
follow that it becomes one of the most dam
CerO1S epldcIn-cS.
: Popular Remedy Disapproved.
"The best preventative is TO have the
system in good condition. The use of
quinine and whisky is dangerous and should
never be taken without physician orders.
Quiniue is neither curative or preventa-
tive and ifthe system is in a certain condi-
zion II is likely to do a great deal of harm.
The important precaution for Pittshurg to
take now is TO see that all the vital organs
are in good condition. commencing with the
stomach. more than likely it Will be found
that this organ has been somewhat over
taxed, and if SO the most of the others
viii be more or less sluggish. The
remedy Is easy Reduce the quantity of
food, and take only what is necessary to
maintain health and strength. Chilling of
the feet is another danger which cannot be
too strongly emphasized, for it is one of-the
influences that most frequently invite the
occurrence Of IA grippe. we'll as all other
acute diseases of the air passages.
Another physician stated that grip ap-
pears in three different varietieS-the neu-
rotic, the catarrhal and the gastric.
In the first. " he continued, "the svmp-
toms are mainly nervous, and include Sc
we're pains, neuralic in character, in the
head chest, back and limbs with extreme
nervousness and sometimes delirium In
involved, with symptoms characteristic of
inflammation, as sneezng, discharge from
the nose, sore throat, hoarseness. cough and
all the symptoms ola bad cold. In the gastric
form. the mosT prominent symptoms are ref
cradle TO the stomach and associate organs.
The following is a good treatment: "Put
one teaSpGauful of powdered camphor into
pitcherfui OF boiling water Over tins place
a cone made Of thick paper or paSteboard,
and hold the nose or mouth to the small
opening. Breath the varor :or five minutes,
and repeat every three or four hours Mntil
relieved
Treatmen: for Severe Cases.
IF the deeDer air passages are affected.
and there is rightness of the chest and cough,
the patient should apply large and
strong mustard plasterS to the front of
his chest twice daily, morning and night;
and after they have drawn well. substitute
for them a towel wrunC out of hot water
which shouid be covered by a drv towel.
and this IN turn bv several folds of flannel
A good cough medicine is the syrup of wild
cherry bark. The dose is one teaspoonful
every tour or i've hours This is about all
the dosing the sufferer from la grippe is jus
tilted in doing on his own responsibility.
His strength should be kept up with milk,
either alone or combined with raw eggs.
strong beef teas, or rather nourishing
liquids. In mild and uncomplicated cases
the treatment advised in the foregoing will
very generally suffice, but the wise course
always is to send for physician.
The County Medical Association will
hold its regular quarterly meeting next
TUESDAY, and will probably discuss what
treatments are best for la grippe. 1t has
been proposed that circular be sent out
recommending what steps to take in the
first stages of the disease, but this will
hardly be done on account of some of the
nhvsicians thinking it would be unprofes-
sIonal