The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1897-03-05
Ihepemorrat-S Star
HISTORY OF la GRlPPE'

Galveston News.
Speaking Of the prevalence in Texas
of Ia grippe, DR.. S. W. Johnson OF
Corsicana. Texas, said:
La grippe is not a new disease
The history OF it, under different
alne dates back beyond even the
Christian era. 1t was not till the
fourteenth century, however, that the
records became numerous and precise.
''In the fourteenth century SIX cpl
denies are recorded, in the fifteenth
seven. in the sixteenth eleven, the
seventeenth sixteen, the eighteenth
eighteen and in the nineteenth eleven
up to the present time.
1T has been given a great many
popular names. In Russia 1t has been
called Chinese catarrh,' in Germany
and Italy the Russian disease, III
France Italian fever etc.
"Thc terms influenza and la grippe
are generally applied to it in mcdical
writings. The former name was given
first in Italy in the seventeenth cen
tury because it IA attributed to the
Influence OF the stars. The FRENCH
first called it la grippe in l143, from
the Polish word 'grypka.'
Like the names given to many
other diseases the terms do not cX-
press much Of the exact nature OF the
affection. II is an infectious disease,
due to a specific virus OF the greatest
Effectiveness. 1t is believed by some
medical authorities to be contagious
as well as infectious, and there are
some very strong proofs to bear out
this theory. The difference between
the terms Infection and contagion as
anplied TO certain diseases is not al
ways very plain, The true germ OF
the disease has not yet been diScoN-
cred.
"Epidcmics Of la grippe appear at
intervals and spread rapidly. covering
A continent in a short time. 1t has
extended over the larger portion OF
the carth's surface, becoming pan
ncmic in a few months. In lSo9 1t ap
reared in st. Petersburg in October
During November and December !
spread to Germany, France and west
ern Europe, appearing in London II
the latter part Of December. 1T ais
appeared in this country about tn
same time it did in London and raj
idlv became epidemic. 1t spread
alony the lines Of trayr,, making 1t
appearance in the cities and towns h'
fore it does in the country And TN
is one Of the proofs Of its being cor
tagiOus,
The spread of this disease is nc
intlcnccd in any manner by metoroIoI
ical conditions. The damp lowlant
and the dry mountainous regions, IL
tropic and the frigid zones are
alike sufferers from his raNages.
large towns and cities it remains fro
six weeks to two months. Sporad
cases do not occur in the intervals
the epidemics, and those persons W
imagine they have an attack or
grippe oncc or twice each winter
mistaken. Every one knows it is
respcctcr Of persons. 1t attacks
ages and classes, and those who sun
its consequences most of course d
the feeble, the aged and the young,
"lts complications are possibly
numerous as That OF any other disc;
and its effects often continue
months. One Of its most c0mn
seQuellea is the great mental dcpl
sion, the ~indiSpOsltiun to do any We
This is often of a degree out OF
proportion to the gravity OF the
ease, and it continues in many CT
for months.
"'rhe virus being conveyed thro
the atmosphere, 1t bellOONCS the
to remain in doors as much as pt
bic curing an epidemic Of this disc
The rate OF mortality varies gre
in different epidcmics. 1t has reac
as high a rate as . per cent. Ev'
pcr cent death rate runs the IA
ties from this disease up to a <
number, owing IT, the large numb(
persons attacked. Having had
disease once does not give lmmu
against future attacks. Persons Sc
times have two attacks during
same cpidcmic.'