Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-09
T HE GRIP is n e re.
Several Fatal Gases Have Already Been
Reported

The grip is here" said Mr. Moore Of the
health department 20 q Star reporter. Mr..
Moore has been connected with the depart
ment for many years. and during all this
time he has had charge Of the statistical
branch of the service. In this work he has
to make a study Of the different diseases.
every death certificate handed In passing
through his hands.
THE influence of the disease" he added,
lis here. and il has already shown itself In
fatal form in two cases. During the past
few days 1 have conversed with several
reputable physicians upon the subject Of the
disease, and from them ] learned that
many OF their patients are suffering all the
symptoms of the grip. While the influences
Of the disease is here. Il is. OF course. i'm
possible to say TO what extent it will pre-
vail"
Mr.. Moore said he thought II would bs
we'll for persons TO be careful this damp
weather and use the necessary preventa-
tives. Most cases Of grip he said. result
from colds. and the contracting OF colds
should by ell means be avoided IL possible.
In this connection Mr.. Moore suggested
remedy which, II taken during the earlier
stages of the disease, he says will surely
avoid severe attack. He mentioned salicy-
ate Of Quinine. cordeia and morphine, but
the doses, he said, should not be large.
IF taken in time. taken when the chill
first appears" he said, lit will kin the dis
ease"
In Old and Young.
During his experience he said he had MOTTO
ed that IN cases of old persons the disease af-
fects the brain and kidneys. while with the
young bronchitis generally results. In case
Of middle aged persons. pneumonia gener-
ally follows the attack.
The First Death.
Last week there was one death from the
grip. the first fatal case this winter. The
victim was Mr. Maurice Colbert, an aged
man, who died five days after the disease
had taken hold of him. This week the Rev.
Mr.. Wade died after an illness Of only q
few days. Then there were five deaths from
bronchitis and four from pneumonia This.
Mr.. Moore says. shows an increase enough
to, at least, make the diseases noticeable at
this time.
Its First Appearance.
The disease first appeared here in the VIM
ter of 1890 and 1891. the first fatal case hav-
ing been reported on the last day Of the first
year mentioned. The deaths during this pc
Rod reached 1O9 The next appearance was
In March. and the visitation of the disease
lasted three months, carrying of le2 per-
sons. During the several visits of the d.
sease $50 deaths have been recorded.
Working Indirectly.
Health Officer Hammett in his annual re-
port for 1891, said:
"A noticeable phase OF the epidemic was
it's tendency to superinduce other diseases
of severe and fatal character. and thus To
greatly increase the death rate. Directly Il
caused apparently only eighteen deaths. but.
commencing in the usual form. II terminate
ed in lung and brain maladies which added
100 I'm 1890 and l62 in 1891 TO the death list.
III of which were by pneumonia alone.
Diagrams representing the course OF this
epidemic in the fatal cases in the years
ls90-'9l have been prepared, giving seoua-
lac therefrom in detail. together with the
average number OF days during the last III
ness under that head"
Its History.
Concerning the disease. h. said in his re-
port:
This influenza appeared in London in
1889. Its course was from east TO west.
Beginning in Russia IN Octobe-, 1889. IL adj
vanced into Germany and thence into France
In November following. and crossing the
seas, broke out in the large cities Of this
country In the winter OF 1890 Whether
carried by the wind or following lines OF
travel crowded with human beings has been
a matter OF difference OF opinion. Undoubt-
edly contact with the sick and articles OF
apparel. especially wool. worn by them wee
exciting causes in most cases. The medical
profession of this city unite in pronouncing
il a nervous disorder. resulting probably
from mic-obc invasion OF the laryngeal and
pulmonary tissues in the first Instance.
Medical authorities -ay that there Is every
reason to believe that like all zymotic d.
seases, influenza has \ specific organism
and requires special soil TO- its growth.
without which Il cannot exist Hence in
view of the possibility of its return with
the thaws and dense fog OF winter, IL may
be well to remember that ciea nlipess and
absolute dryness. with absolute regularity
Of life. are the safest and sCgest protection
a