The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-05-05
HEALTH HINTS
For Old and Young.
BY FELIX L. OSWALD. NJ. D.
CHATTER CXXXIX.
GRIPPE PHENOMENA.

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one case, the liver or the stomach in another
Similar after-effects seem frequently to follow
an attack of that mysterious disorder known
as the Russian grippe, or contagious lung
fever.
"Influenza" (another synonym of the
grippe), says French physician, I" is WORD
nowadays applied to almost any form Of ca
tarrh There are people who talk about having
caught a fit of influenza if thoy are troubled
with a common cold in the head. 1t would
make some of them stare if they should hap
pen to make the personal acquaintance Of the
genuine article"
The first stage of the grippe indeed, some.
what resembles a bad cold but may generally
DO distinguished by one characteristic symp.
tom, viz, the strange lassitude, a feeling oil
general WEAKNESS which in some cases may
oblige the patient to keep his bed after the
second day. Even children in the most active
period of their teens, complain of tired feel
ing, varying from a slight apathy to drowsi'
ness that makes it difficult for them to keep
their eyes open. Then come the catarrh symp-
toms sore throat pain in the lungs, cough,
and frequent approximations, repeated for days
at ever-shorter intervals as If the entire pull
monary apparatus had become congested with
ulcers. The fever, which more or less attends
every severe catarrh, may rise to an alarming
hight, with pulse at triple speed and confusion
of mind amounting to delirium. Robust adults
may fight those symptoms down, but complain
of ominous aches of the head, resembling the
sudden throbbing pains preceding stroke OF
apoplexy.
The patients appetite may have failed be-
fore the affection reaches its crisis, and the
mistaken kindness of forcing food on the sick
is apt to result in ugly fits of collie. The suf-
ferer at the same time complains Of chils, con-
tinuing under any amount of additional bed
clothing, and ] remember a case where both
symptoms became so aggravated that the at
tending physician sent for an alcoholic solu-
ton of cantharides. But while the messeng ger
was still on the way the patients mother be-
thought herself OF plan that had answered
in a similar case. A pet terrier, that had often
shared its little masters bed on cold nights,
was wrapped up in clean, warm sheet and
huddIed up alongside of the shivering young
ster's stomach. Both then went to sleep, and
when the boy woke up, two hours after, his
chils as well as his collie had permanently sub
sided.
There used to be an old belief that catarrh
lasts nine days, though 10 would in plurality
of cases come nearer the truth. and the grip
rarely runs its course in less than four weeks.
The catarrh symptoms proper may seem to
abate before the end of the second week, but
expectoration continues and the feeling of ex-
haustion may not reach its maximum before
the third week. In aggravated cases the patient
Though now past the crisis of his lung, fever
becomes so weak that he cannot rise from his
chair without holding on to table or the arm
of an attendant, and if feeling of momentary
Improvement should tempt him to leave the
house, his imprudence may avenge itself by a
fit Of what physicians call a spinal deiquium-
cramp in the lower part Of the back bone
brings attempts at lOcomotion to a sudden stop,
the patient doubles up as if in fit of gastric
spasms and is glad to drag himself homo by
laying hold of fences and wayside trees. The
suddenness of these seizures may alarm incl
dental witnesses stout man walking along
with heavy basket or sachel will all at once
drop his burden and stagger to the next lamp
post as if a rife ball had taken the spring out
OF him." as hunters describe the effect of shot
through the spine.
One attack of that sort however unprece.
denied is likely to be followed by others. and
should be taken as warning against all pre-
disposing fatigues. The patient should keep
his arm chair, relieving the pressure on his
spine by supporting part of his weight on his
feet and elbows, and just before retiring apply
some warm ointment; hot mutton tallow will
serve the purpose quite az well as expensive
lniments. The thrObbing pains in the spinal
column will become less perceptible In the
course Of two or three days, and in the mean
time the patient should give Nature chance
by combining himself to light but nutritious
and digestble diet, such as boiled rico with a
little butter and sugar, sage SOUP or oatmeal
cruel with milk and a sprinkling of boiled
currants. "Stimulants" so called, entirely
miss their purpose in such cases. For a couple
Of hours the effect of the drug may sim uate
feeling Of returned vigor, but the ensuing re-
action leaves the patient weaker and more de-
spondent than before.
A still more serious complication may arise
if the virus of the grippe should attack the
brain. Delirium results in about four out of
10 cases, and in one of those four the mental
will take the form Of alarming Wis
ions followed by detection that may tempt to
suicide. In the course of the last three weeks
it was, indeed, not easy to take up a metropoli-
tan newspaper without coming across an &C
count of some grippe victim, who, in a fit of
mental alteration had tried actually con-
trived, to take his own life The absence of
such extreme symptoms as incoherent speech
or outbreaks of violence may deceive the pa
tents friends in regard to the seriousness of
his condition. The sufferer may appear rather
rctceDt and abstain from superfuous complaints,
rs IN Characteristic case reported from a town
IN the lower Mississippi Valley, where young
man IN comfortable circumstances committed
suicide week after his apparent recovery from
az attack of Influenza Tho natient, after the
usual lung-iegcr hid been confined to his bed on
account otfar-gouc exhaustion till spell Of cool
weather seemed TO brace him up little. He
sropcd his way about the house, but during
relapse Of snltry heat subsidized into an arm
chair, jjstless and gloomy, but with word Of
thanks Tor all who administered TO his Incl
dental wants. lie never complained though
be now ana then pnt his hand TO his temple Ia
q way that suggested q twinge OF headache.
So Wouldn't YOU like u5 to carry you down in
tho garden" asked his physician one sunny
morning. The patient sighed. Whats the
use; Pm near the end IF my tether," said he
at last, when the doctor repeated his question.
g Why, what's the matter? Do you mean to
say that you feel any worse to- day." But the
sick man had relapsed into his moody silence
Two days after he was found dead in stone
paved yard directly under his third story bed
room. His fall from that hight was at first
escribed to some unlucky accident, but closer
search Of his room revealed number of little
farewell presents folded up neatly, with vari-
Gus Inscriptions: "To Willie" ITO Cousin
Charley" To Little Loo" etc. Barring the
detecting effects of his malady he could have
had no imaginable cause for suicide, as his in
come considerably exceeded his modest wants,
and he was not known to have an enemy in the
world. Another week. or at latest month,
might have restored him to perfect health, but
the temporary vail that couded his mind
made him view all things through q medium
OF gloom and probably made life appear an in
tolcrabe burden. The interaction of body and
mind presents no stranger facts, but very SINH
lar symptoms have been observed among the
OF typhoid fever and the abuse of
certain drugs-quinine, for instance. and bella
donna. Like typhoid fever, contagious infiu
enza is undoubtedly germ disease, and the
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