Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1895-01-14
NEW DISEASE Is EPIDEMIC.
Ma'ady Closely Resembling La Grippe AZ
fcctinc Many Chicago People.

Several of Chicago's prominent physi-
clans believe that a new disease, closely
allied to la grippe, yet differing essen
TALLY from that .nalady. has become
epidemic in the city. This new trouble
first manfests itself in a soreness in the
throat generally accompanied by a
hacking cough and nasal affection some
what resembling Catarrh. In many in
stances the disease rapidly assumes the
form of pneumonia, while in others. es-
pcciallN in cases of children, 1t assumes
q diphtheric form. While attributing
much of the prevalence Of the disease to
the bad weather of late, the doctors say
that does not account for the origin of
the trouble. as it first made its appear
ance during the fine weather which pre-
vailed UP till Christmas.
Like la grippe. the secondary stages of
the new disease are more dangerous
than the first& The patient usually re-
covers partially from the first attack of
sore throat to find himself with a
troublesome cough and a feeling of gen
eral debility, often accompanied by rack
ing pains in the head and back. Taking
little cold while in this condition puts
the victim back to bed for long siege
of pneumonia or a well-developed case of
Influenza
Speaking of the new disease, a promi-
nent physician said to Times reporter:
The disease is a species of influenza
which appears in this country for the
first time this winter OF itself the dis
order is not particularly serious but is
very likely to develop into pneumonia of
the worst type, The new epidemic is
marked by some peculiar symptoms.
The patient al first believes that he has
nothing but Il severe cold, and after
day or two suddenly finds himself vo-
lently i'll. There is high fever. almost
catarrhal form of sore throat, headache
and the secretions of the kidneys are
very materially nterfered with. The
fever is of a peculiar 'jerky' form. fire.
quently with two or three variations of
from half degree to a degree and half
within an hour. The disorder leaves the
patient Frustrated. Often he is for days
very weak, feeling, perhaps. perfectly
well while resting, but attacked with
dizziness and weakness at any attempt
to rise.
There is one radical difference in the
treatment of the disease and that of the
regular grip 1t is very dangerous in
these cases to give antpyretics because
of the varying blood pressure. Phys-
clans have found it necessary to be eX-
tremely careful in giving coal tar prep
arations, as the rreEulaIity in the cir
culation renders such remedies dan-
Serous.
People recovering from this latest
importation should guard carefully
against a relapse and avoid any expos
ure, as among the results of the malady
are the worst forms of lung. kidney and
heart trouble. 1t is surprising how near
ly universal the disease has become in
the last few weeks. Whole families are
experiencing it, sometimes all together
and in other cases the members becom-
ing i'll one after the other in rapid sue
cession. 1t is having almost as unds-
puted sway as did the grip and those
who escape may deem themselves unus-
ually fortunate"
Other physicians express the belief
that the new epidemic" is a form of
diphtheria, which they say is quite
prevalent in the city now and c!te the
fact that it attacks children oTtener
than adults as proof of that theory
All argue however, that there is a great
deal Of sickness just now of a nature
akin to la grippe,