The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-20
FREAKS OF THE GRIP.
vansrlzsble Ways in Which This Dis.
ease AFFECTS It's Victims.
From The PhiadelDhia Press.

ord although l have not the permission Of
.sa MUSICIANS TO give the names of these
Da,ients thus strangely afflicted. they were
ailIing that should describe the details.
One OF these cases is that of a young
Imam whose father is distinguished
sT0ng the leaders Of New York thought,
- whose husband is q man OK wide intiu-
anca and much wealth. She was taken
sbout ten days ago with that prostration
Thich indicates the coming of the grip,
81 in day or two the disease was fully
developed. She suffered exoruciating pain.
II seemed as though every nerve IN her
bodv was exposed and touched by hot irons.
m relieve this suffering opiates were given
and when the disease had run so far thR5 pain
IS benumbed there followed a remark
sble reaction. The sense of feeling, in fact
all Of the senses, were a. completely over
come as is the case in sleep. A part of the
brain was active, as was evident from her
nrftering talk to herself. The will, judg-
rent. the reasoning faculties were all be-
numbed, 80 to speak, and the young woman
was almost literally in the condition of one
Who dreams. There was this difference
she could not be awakened as the dreamer
can. The physicians declared that this
condition would continue until nature had
restored strength to the exhausted nerve
centers. and be assured her family that she
was not suffering and was really on the
road to recovery. In his opinion this trance
like condition may last week longer.
Another case quite as remarkable as this
was reported to one OF our medical faculties
Yesterday, and, strangely enough, the pa
Tient is himself physician of considerable
local repute. He was seized with distress
ing symptoms while on visit to a patient
a few days ago, and Immediately sum
moned physician to diagnose bis case.
The remedies for grip were indicated by
this diagnosis, and they were given without
avail, The patient suffered such pain as
caused him at times almost to faint. His
body seemed to be composed of nerves laid
bare, Opiates were given TO relieve the
pain, and when in the course Of the disease
these symptoms had passed away, the pa
tient relapsed into state of trance. He has
no feeling there is no Int in his eyes; he
does not hear nor taste. He occasionally
talks a little, and there are indications that
be dreams not unpleasant dreams, as is the
case with the young woman above de-
scribed. He will probably lie in this state
Of trance for SONIC days to come, and when
nature has done its work will gradually re-
gain his faculties and his senses.
Other cases are reported-so many, in
fact, that it is now suggested even by care
full medical men that this trance-like dispO-
sition is one Of the lator manifestations of
this mysterious disease. The explanation
which is given is that the frances are caused
by the poisoning of the blood, which is one
Of the most dangerous results Of the grip.
The first manifestation of this poison is in
attack upon the nerve ceuters, all of them.
II the attack was confined to the nerves in
one locRlity-as, for instance, those of the
face or the sciatic nerve-medical treatment
could be applied with probable good re-
suits. But it is impossible to give such
treatment when the entire nervous system
has hoa hrAuObf npHnr Ahn hap in
fuence of this poison. The only treatment
possible then, is that which deadens the
pam by the use OF opiates, and when such
suffering has passed away in the course of
the sease to allow nature, aided by such
science as medicine has at command, to be-
gin its restorative work. When the poison
Is entirely eliminated from the system then
its trance-life influence is gone.
Hysteria in violent forms has been noted
az one of the results of grip, but until re-
Gently no such pronounced trance-like cases
as seems now to be the tendency. In one
OF the earlier epidemics of grip young
woman was brought to this city for treat
nent for violent bysteria. One of our
ablest alienists, a physician who is also
noted for possessing common sense, was
called in. He studied the case with great
thoroughness, and was of the opinion that
grip had caused such weakening Of the
woman's will power as could only be reme-
died by mental treatment. One evening
the young woman began to shout and cry
and laugh in alternating paroxysms of
great violence. The physician was sent for,
and, instead of going himself, prepared a
prescription which be directed the attendant
10 give the young woman once every hour
until the violence was subdued. Early the
next morning he called and found the pa
uent still very hYsterical. He asked the
nurse If the prescription had been given as
he directed, and when told that it had, he
said, IN a very loud voice. "Then there is
nothing more for me to do but to go away
and let her de-" He went from the room
but loltered in the library, and a few mo-
Inents later was summoned by the nurse
who said; Doctor, when you left the room
she quieted down for the first time and
asked me if you meant what you said.
tod her that you did, and did not know
out she would collapse. Instead Of that she
got up, and seems to be herselfn
AS l expected" said the doctor, and
When he saw the young woman he per-
celved that this mental treatment no had
given mad effected a cure. It needed that
rather than medicine to restore her perfect
mental health, and she has never been i'll a
day since then. The prescription which the
OocJor put up contained nothing but sugar
ana water, and when he spoke of the case
alterward, be pronounced it one of the
mysteries OF the grip.
another case recently reported is that of
very estlmable woman, an actress of fine
repute, who developed violent hvsteria as a
consequence of the grip. Medicines avoiled
hothlng, and her case was 80 remarkable
IlaI she was taken to one OF the weather.
hospitals for special treatment. There her
case puzzled the physicians, and it was at
!ast agreed that violent shock might prove
tue proper remedy. A very famous phYsi-
ciah o, the city undertook to administer the
ShocK. and when the woman was screaming
ne injected into her mouth wish considera-
ne violence stream of ice-cold water. She
stopped, gasped, looked wildly about her
moment, and an Instant later was herself.
excepting that she seemed to wonder where
sne was and what was the matter with her.
one recovered rapidly, and is now playing.
tlhe OF the ablest railway managers Of the
city on Sunday last, having beeu to Easter
oor wee, in the morning was taken with q
E4olens mt OF coughing, and seemed likely
~ suanRle before physicians could reach
MN There was a spasnodic contraction
VI Sue lerynx, and for time his life was in
great danger. When this trouble was over
t VoLne and diagnosis made, it was found
sua1 ne had the grip. and its first attack
HHS with this awful suddenness and danger.
one OF the ablest OF the young lawyers of
rms ms city on Monday last bought tickets
Ior Florida, where he was to go
upoh legal business. On his way home
from the ticket office he was
seized with peculiar sensation, iudescrib-