The evening times., 1898-12-22
LEADING SOURCES OF
THE GRIP EPIDEMIC
Novel Theory Advanced as to
Its Cause.
VIEWS OF A PHYSICIAN
The Malady Aseribed 10 the Use
Of Asphalt Payements.
Awaiting the. Coming of Cold md
Clear Weather to Check
the Disease.
VIEWS OF A PHYSICIAN

The prevalence of Ia grippe in this
city this winter has brought forth the
usual number of doctors. with their
ideas as to the cause of the epidemic
the state of the atmosphere and the
generally mild weather that has pre-
vailed throughout the winter; the re-
turn of the troops from Cuba, bringing
with them numbers of unnamed diseases,
which, with the proper nourishment.
would easily result in grip or some dis
ease very much like 1t. that would in
nine cases out of ten be diagnosed as
grip.
The newest and what is regarded as
one of the most probable causes for the
appearance of the European ailment is
the general use of asphalt pavements in
the large cities throughout the country
1t has been pointed out that it is only
in thickly-popuiated sections of the
country that the disease has gained any
headway, and that 1t can just as well be
assigned to this cause as to anything
else. 1t is claimed by the seXponents of
the new theory regarding the origin of
the disease that the heat which COM
l1SSS's p'1NCS Siit asphalt the sum-
mer causes it to become soft, and in
this state it absorbs a great deal of the
dust and dirt with which the surface Of
the street is covered. 1t would be i'm
possible for such thing to take place
and germs not be taken in at the same
time. .-,..
When the frost comes and the asphalt
again hpcnrlpS
these germs are forced out Of the places
they have been occupying an summer 1t
becomes necessary for them to seek a
new resting place and they are therefore
| carried by the winds to all quarters of the
city and are kept moving until they be-
come lodged In the throat of some unlucky
! individual who happens to keep his mouth
| open long enough for them to enter 1t
| does not take long for the inyidious bac-
| terra to infect the system and then
headache, high fever. quinine in immense
/ quantities. whisky ditto, and few days
/ in bed. Even then the patient is liable to
! get another case the first day he or she
| is out of the house.
Many physicians regard the disease as
! one Of the most contagious known to the
\ medical world while equally as many
! others protest that there is nothing con-
| tagious in II. 1t sometimes becomes an
! epidemic. but never contagious 1t is OF
an infectious nature While this argument
is going on among the learned practition-
ers the general public sits and suffers,
| and absorbs quinine and whisky.
number of physicians were asked for
| their opinion as TO the cause of the dis
ease, but they one and all positively de-
| clined TO allow themselves to be quoted.
! They would not be drawn into a discus
sion they said which would in all proba-
bility result in a general open argument
and could not in any way be of benefit to
| the public.
You see 1 could not very well tell you
| what causes the grip one of these
| physicians told a reporter for The Times
| yesterday afternoon. There are so many
| different opinions on the subject that
would be very much afraid 10 state mine
| | do not think that ii is possible for the
disease to be caused by the germs tha,
infect the asphalt pavements. That is
rather far-fetched theory, think OF
course there is a great difference of opin-
| ion on that score. Now take myself. for
instance. do not think la grippe is con-