Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-14
NEW THEORY OF GRIP
Based on the Oceans Low Tempera-
ture the Last Three Years.
ABSORBs THE HEAT OF THE BODY.
The Heart Is Overloaded and Congestion
of the Blood Follows.
NOVELTY THAT KNOCKS OUT TOTTEN

NOVELTY THAT KNOCKS OUT TOTEM
The following comes to The DISPATCH
from gentleman who is not altogether un-
known to readers of newspapers. His
theory as to the cause of the grip is given
for what it is worth. As a scientific novelty
Lieutenant Totten's notions as to the con-
junction of Jupiter and Venus are not much
ahead of it:
The grip, or, more properly, congestion
Of blood in the veins" results from the
workings of certain natural laws, which are
as yet but partially understood, affecting
life and health, climate and vegetation, to
an extent which is quite incredible to those
who are uninformed as to their subtle and
far-reaching effects.
In order to convey clear understanding
of the subject, it is necessary to explain
some of the laws of heat, espe-
cIally in connection with water
Heat is always passing from
the warmer to the colder body of matter in
proximity, whether it be earth, air, animal
or water. If the disparity in temperature
be slight the draft of heat from the warmer
to the colder body will be slight. If the
disparity of temperature be large the heat
pcurrent will be increased accordingly. Dis
tance is no bar to this law, and heat will
pass instantly from the warmer to the colder
body, and its current will continue until
equalization of temperature between the
two bodies is effected.
A Fact About Water.
Water has the capacity of Shedding more
heat in an insensible condition" than any
other natural substance. If the tempera-
ture of the water of the Atlantic Ocean I
should from any cause be lowered 100 from
its normal condition, it would reduce the
temperature of weight of iron equal to
the weight of the waters of the ocean 800
to restore the 100 of sensible heat to the
water. This illustration CONVEYS but
faint idea of the volume of heat that is
drawn from the adjacent continents when
the waters of the ocean and the Gulf
stream have been lowered in temperature
120 to $50, as has been the case for some
three years past
During the summer of 1888 the flow of
icebergs was almost continuous, and in Sep
tember OF. that year they still reached as far
south as the Gulf of st. Lawrence. In 1889
immense icebergs and fields of floating ice
kept flowing southwark to and beyond the
banks of Newfoundland till the summer was
past, which was quite unusual. In 1890 the
same condition continued, and as late as
the 18th of October the commander of an in
coming vessel reported passing an iceberg
near latitude $50 north, an event which, at
that late season of the year, aspronounced
Temperature of the Atlantic.
Judging from the few tests of the tenn
perature of the waters which fell under the
eye Of the writer the ocean was about 120,
and the Gulf stream about $50 below nor
mal in the fall OF 1890. May not this low |
of the waters lying between the
continents whose people have suffered so
terribly from the mysterious malady called
grip be the cause Of the disease?
When the temperature of the waters of
the ocean is below that of the continents on
either side, the heat currents must be con- {
stantly passing from the warmer substances ,
on the continents, including animated
bodies, to the colder waters of the ocean,
until the temperatures become equaliZed.
The greater the disparity of temperature, 1
the greater the draft of heat. Hence our
bodies being warmer than the air, earth, I
water, buildings and other surrounding mat |
ter, are drawn upon for proportionately
larger amount of heat; and 1t is this subtle !
draft upon our life force that causes SO large .
q number of our aged and intirm fellow
creatures to be gathered to their fathers.
None are exempt from danger, for the ,
strongest by exposure to this heat draft |
may be stricken down in an hour
Why the Body Keeps Warm.
Friction is the source of heat, and the
heat of our body is produced by the friction
of the bloed in Its channels in our systems
as it is driven through by the heart. If,
however, portion of this heat, which is re-
quired for the well-being of our bodies, be
drawn OFF by the laws before stated, the ,
heart fails, especially in old age and infrm-
lty, to supply this extraordinary draft and ,
the wants of our bodies at the same time,
and it is precisely these conditions that
cause the temperature of the blood to lower
which is followed by chills The heart, ma
lures heat force, is still doing its best, but
the blood thickens and it soon congests in
The veins, circulation ceases, which is called
heart failure" and the coldpess OF death
follows. This is the grip All its victims
diagnosed IS the grip, then heart failure,
oleuro pneumonia, paralysis, meningitis
md sudden pains, all springing in large
Measure from the same source, loss of heat .
rom the blood and resulting congestion. '
In demonstration of this fact thousand
acts could be stated. The winter of 1891
vas remarkable for its high temperature
nrougnOub tne united states, the mercury |
angling generally 10 to 30 degrees Fahren-
,eit above the temperature of the waters of c
he Atlantic to the eastward During ali ]
he winter and until the beginning of sum '
ner the grip manifested its power, a
Becoming More virulent
As the temperature went up, holding carni- ,,
al In the cities, towns and villages, and
nanifesting its death-dealing power in q :
till greater extent, in proportion to popu- r
alton, in the rural districts. Its victims in
he region lying north of 35 degrees north,
o the lakes, if they could be counted would
utnumber the victims of cholera, yellow
ever or any other plague that ever devas- il
ated our country. q
North of the lakes the winter was cold 7
nd severe. Billiards, snowfalls, ice and :.
ero weather prevailed, yet we had no ac- I
cunts of grip in Canada until late in the
pring, and late in July in ragged in Quebec p
| slip now before the writer, dated Mon q
real, July s, 1891, says: G
AT Plaster Cove and Melgan, dozens of =
eople have died, dozens are dying and T
lany have gone insane and to make the | II