St. Paul daily globe., 1895-12-24
1T Is NOW RAGING IN EUROPE,
AND MAY BE EXPECTED
HERE.
BAD WEATHER THE CAUSE.
THE DISEASE NOW ATTACKS
EVEN HORSES, CATTLE AND
- '.'- DOGS.
MIeRoBE THEORY ACCEPTED
Curious Cure in the Case of One
Patient Afflicted With Hys-
terra.


takes its course westward. This be-
ing the case, it is'very likely that we
shall soon have another epidemic
of the disease. News is received
every day by the cable that the in
f1uenza has spread all over Europe
and is still spreading. Berlin has
been especially unfortunate, and
there have been recorded in that
capital as many as 500 cases in one
day. A great number of these proved
fatal.
From Germany, which was visit
ed by the epidemic last month for
the second time this year, the dis
ease spread to the north and west.
It's ravages were severely felt in
Norway anu sweden, which coun-
tries have had very bad weather.
In England also the citizens have
had a second experience this year
with the grip. The cable reports that
many people of noble birth have been
afflicted, which shows that the NAL
ady is no respector of persons. In
this regard the grip differs from
cholera, which confines it's attention
chiefly to the very poor, except in
some particular instances which can
be accounted for. The reason for
this is that the cholera germ breeds
and thrives in filth, whereas the mi
crobe of influenza, if the microbe the
ory be adopted, requires nothing
but dark, disagreeable state of
weather in order to develop to con-
dition of irritating robustness. For
it must be remembered that the
healthier the microbe the less
healthy the individual who is acting
as it's host.
The history of grip epidemics has
shown that the malady may be ex-
pected to arrive here a few weeks
after it's appearance in Europe. On
the occasion when the grip first be-
came prominent, and was recognized
as a malignant and contagious dis
ease, it's course could be readily
traced clear around the earth. This
was in 1885, The weather during
the winter of 1SS9-'9O was remarkably
damp and disagreeable, and these
conditions accompanied the disease
closely on it's globe-trotting eXpedi-
ton. 1t was not until the epidemic
reached Central Africa that it showed
any sign of letting up, and even
then it died hard.
BAD WEATHER THE CAUSE.
The weather during November has
been particularly favorable to the
development of the grip microbes.
All of the necessary conditions have
prevailed. Warm and cold days have
alternated in most confusing and
unexpected manner. There has been
a great deal of rain and dampness,
and the wind has, on the cold days,
been of singularly penetrating
character. 1t is difficult for a per-
son who is subject to the disease to
protect himself against such a for
midable combination. The results
are sure to appear, and we have had
sufficient experience to know just
what they will be. There will be
shivering, "a sneeZing, a coughing,
and, above all, a feeling of utter mis-
cry and nervous prostration.
1t was not until about five years
ago that the grip was recognized in
this country as a disease deserving
an especial title in the list of ills
that aff1ict mankind. Many declared
that it was only bad cold, or a
form of pneumonia. But it has since
been shown that the grip is malady
all by itself. While it is true that it
resembles bad cold in many re-
spects, attacking the mucous men,
branes of the nose, throat and
bronchial tubes. this is merely an in
cident and not the main feature.
The grip is, in fact, according to a
well-respected authority on throat
troubles, "to be regarded as a gener-
al or constitutional disease, of which
bronchitis is the local manifestation.
Like all epidemic diseases, this has
doubtless a special cause, and this
cause is undoubtedly the atmos-
phere."