The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-23
The City Suffered Severe Epidemic Two
Years Ago.
IT IS A CONTAGIOUS DISEASE
Which First Started in Europe and
Came to This Country-A Serious
Epidemic Prevalent in New
York and Other Cities.

yet settled whether the disease has be-
come epidemic or not, but the cases are
in sufficient number to call attention to the
fact that the grip is really here. Forum
ately, all but few cases of the disease are
OF mild character, and unless there is
a serious change for the worse, will not
become SO prevalent or so severe as they
have been In Birmingham in former years.
The following is what a few of the Biz
mingham physicians had to say on the
subject yesterday:
81 don't think there is an epidemic Of
grip in Jefferson county or in the city of
Birmingham said County Health Officer
Barclay, yesterday, though it is true that
the disease is prevalent to some extent.
With a few exceptional cases, 1 am glad
to say that nearly all of the cases are
OF a mild nature and are by no means as
severe as they were two years ago. I
find that there are more people suffering
with the disease in the city than there are
out in the rural districts of the county.
The grip is most prevalent in changeable
weather like this. though it appears all
through the winter months"
Disease MOI epidemic
81 don't think the disease is epidemic
said DR.. w. H. Wilder, the city physician,
though there are a great many cases of it
now in the city. There are hundreds of
people with deep colds and catarrhal
troubles, who are confident that they have
the grip, but such is not the case. The real
grip is an infectious and contagious dis
ease. which, in many cases, has very seri-
Gus effects. There are great many more
cases of the disease among the poorer peo-
pie of the city than among those who are
we'll clothed and we'll housed, but I am
glad to say that the comparatively warm
weather of the past few days has greatly
aleviated their sufferings.'
There is an epidemic of grip now preva-
lent in Birmingham" said DR.. Cunningham
Wilson. though 1t is of mild nature. The
cases are, with few exceptions much less
severe than they have been in past years.
and, properly treated, I think the disease
Not the Only One
Birmingham is not the only city in the
country suffering from this disease, for in
the north, especially, the disease is getting
very severe. The board of health of the city
of New York is seriously considering the
ACCESSIBILITY and necessity of treating this
disease like every other contagious disease
that is, that the physicians shall be COM
PEELED to report to the board every case of
grip which comes under their observation,
and that the cases shall be under the gen.
eral surveillance of the board. The follow
ing Is the official bulletin issued by the
New York board:
Influenza is an infectious and contagious
disease due to the influenza bacillus. In
cases of influenza or grip this organism is
present In all the secretions of the nose,
throat and bronchial tubes The disease
Is transmitted from person to person
through the taking in of these organisms
either from direct contact or after the Sc
cretions have been dried and pulverized
and inhaled in the form of dust.
1.-The disease cannot be produced by any
other cause than the influenza bacillus.
There are many catarrhal affections of the
respiratory tract which are improperly
called grip, and the distinction between
these and true grip is extremely difficult
and often impossible in the milder forms.
Grip, however, is a much more serious af-
lection, produces much greater depression
and is followed by much more tedious con-
valescence
First in Europe
The influenza, or la grippe, made its first
appearance in New York in December, 1889.
1t had been prevalent for some time in
Europe, which it had invaded from the d.
rection of Russia. In Russia 1t is said to
have come from the east, and 1t has been
stated that it is epidemic in China. along
the banks of the Yellow river, where there
are frequent foundations, and where 1t is
looked upon as marsh fever
The last previous epidemic of the disease
was in 1859, forty years before, and ii
therefore descended in 1889 upon new gen.
GRAFTON which had had no opportunity to be-
come acclimatized to it. Consequently the
first onset was extremely severe. the num-
Der of deaths from all causes rising alb
ruptly from 1862 for the week ending Deem
Der 2S, 1889, to 1902 during the ensuing
week and 144 for the week ending January
II, 1880.
Treatment of the Disease
DIR. Cyrus Edison, of New York, one of the
best known physicians of that city, gives
the following general advice for the treat |
ment of the disease:
mo specific remedy for the grip can be
given by any reputable physician, owing to |
the moods of the disease, which vary |