The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-26
THAT HORRIBLE GRIP.
TT HAS PAID MANY VISITS no RICH
MOsD PEOPLE OF LATE.
There Are about Eighteen Hundred Cases
Sow In the Cify-whst the Doctors
Have to Say About the Maladx

La grippe" which. by the way, is but
the fashionable French name for the
nerye-destI Dying influenza OF past days.
Is with us again, and most Of Richmond's
physicians are Of the opinion that it is
here TO stay.
It's now fashionable TO have it, but II
also attacks those with whom fashion
does not cut any figure, and nobody takes
kindly to the Idea Of A second attack.
Nearly every physician one meets now
IS very busy, and they all say that la
giippe alone is responsible for the amount
Of sickness prevalent DR.. r. Bruce
Slower Of east Franklin street, has had
two separate attacks-one three years
ago. which has stuck by him Ike
brother since, and a more severe attack
which occurred recently; hence he II an
authority on the symptoms which an
ncunce its approach.
Came From the North.
II think the disease Is a germ disease"
said the Doctor yesterday. ION this point
.he medical profession has so set its opin-
ion permaI emily. The germ floats IN the
atmosphere, and Is driven hitler and
thither until IL lights upon a vulnerable
point in the human system. 1t has been
probably noted by physicians and the pub
lie generally that the present epidemic
appeared just after the late snOw-storm,
the germs undoubtedly being driven South
by the wind from the North. where the
disease has been prominently apparent for
several months past. II attacks some per-
sons very suddenly. and in many different
forms. Neuralgia and rheumatic pains
almost invariably give warning OF its
s...ae Il. ~
we're on the nervous system. and il is no.
ticcable that the results Of an attack on
a person over fifty years OF age. whose
nervous system is frail. are usually very
severe. Those who are young and have
strong nervous organizations usually re-
cover very quickly. II people would only
80 10 bed when attacked the evil results
which often follow even very slight at
tacks could be avoided The most notice
able thing about the disease Is that Il
usually brings any other affection of
ores system to the front. / have suffered
from la grippe and its results so much
myself recently that il is easily seen how
the point OF undue exposure during an at
tack should be carefully avoided. The
disease does not appear TO be Of as severe
a nature as the first epidemic"
Il ghteen Hundred Cases.
DrS. Isaiah Nhltc, christopher JOmp-
kns. William +. Fdrrar, and nearly every
other physician in the city have more
cases than they can attend TO. None Of
the physicians seen COuld give any idea
of the number Of cases which have APP
pCarcd. but there are certainly 30 less
than eighteen hundred cases now here.
DR.. w w. Parker has given consider
able thought to the causes Of the malady,
and his opinion agrees with that Of Or.
Slower. except that he believes IL almost
Invariably is a neuralgia OF the brain and
spinal marrow. He mentioned several
ludicrous but painful effects, one OF
which was a case whore tho pain began
in the Train and shot ont down the spinal
column through the toes. He also COM
mcnted on the fact that fever Is rarely
noticeable I'm an attack. the temperature
St ldom rising above 102 degrees. When
fever does appear. h says that pneumonia
or ether diseases are usually found 10
exist.
As no specific cure has been discovered,
the hes. thing for one 10 DO ia 20 90 TO
bed and stay there until the racking pains
disappear II the attack Is only slight,
there is all the more reason 10 be careful
Those who use tobacco DO not seem 10
be as liable TO the disease, and conse-
ouerty the large majority OF the cases
are among women and children. it is not
contagious. 50 there Is no need for fear
on this score.