The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1893-12-12

1e..a5.sss-sa VI In some places its at
sssS2:sy RI tack is of a ferocious
character and there are
as many as four and five persons of one
family suffering from it. The Boards of
Health can do nothing 1t rests altogether
with the people. Cleanliness, good, warm
clothing, regular habits and good food were
the recommendations given reporter by
physician. Live well, live correctly, avoid
exposure and keep clean is all that can be
recommended to prevent the disease from
taking hold.
Once the grippe secure a footing it is
as likely to attack one person as another.
The rich and the poor, the clean and the
dirty the half starved and the well nourished
are all alike liable to be victims. But in the
case Of the well fed, healthy person. the course
Of the disease is likely to be short; its power
is more successfully combatted by vigor of
constitution than by all the medicines in the
world.
The true cause and character of grippe are
not well known and understood, although a
great deal more is known about it then when
it made its appearance in this country in 1889
The birthplace of the world wide wave of in
huenza that reached the United States in
that year was in Russia, where the people
were suffering from the effects of an ex.
ceptionally wet season. Much of their
grain lay unharvested and rotting on the
ground, the air was laden with dampness and
disease germs, and the mortality was fright
ful. The force of the disease during that
visitation seemed to be expended mostly
upon old persons Women were much less
affected than men, and children were almost
entirely exempt During the grippes second
visit here the little ones seemed to be specially
marked as victims, and last year the women
and other persons who by reason Of living
largely indoors had escaped during the two
previous years, were seriously affected.
Grippe germs are undoubtedly carried from
place to place in the air, in clothing and in
other ways that will readily suggest them.
selves, and usually make their way along
lines of travel and commerce. 1t is believed
that the germs sometimes lie dormant during
the summer and are developed by the recur-
renee of proper conditions.
Exactly what are the conditions most
fayo able to the development Of grippe is not
fully understood as yet but it is safe to say
that cold, damp weather is very favorable to
it, Persons who are consumptively inclined
should exercise special care.
The best recommendation to make to any
one who finds that grippe has fastened itself
upon him is to call in a good physician at
once. 1t is not good thing to fool with.
Though to many it appears very much like a
hard cold it may, at any time, develop the
most serious complications, and, in unskillful
hands, entirely unnecessary danger may
ensue.
Down to the present time this year no ro.
ports of great prevalence of grip have been
received from the old world. Last year it
ragged with considerable virulence, but its
ravages were confined mostly to the aristo.
cratic classes. This fact appears to be against
the theory that cleanliness and good living
are especially valuable as preventive circum-
stances, though it does not perhaps initiate
against the statement that irregular habits
and devotion to stimulants have a tendency
to predispose the system in its favor.