The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-04-01
TEN YEARS STUDY
OF LA GRIPPE


ueinic form In this country, after an fnters
val of forty-three years. There are difds
culties in ascertaining the exact chronos
logical order in which different parts of
the country were attacked with the COM
plant, for, although cases were not actu-
ally recognized and reported until toward
the end of December, 1885, yet subsequent
reflection convinced many medical men that
they had met with cases considerably ante
rior to that time. Since that epidemic the
community has been rarely, if ever, en-
tirely free from the disease, and recru-
descenees have from time to time occurred,
although they have not assumed such pro-
portions as were reached in the early part
of 1880. 1t forms an interesting study al
though not a consoling one, to look back
over the ten years in order to ascertain
how far medical science has advanced as
regards the recognition, treatment and
prophylaxis of the malady.
DIR. Sisleys book on epidemic Influenza"
and the able report presented to the local
government board of the epidemic of 1889.
80 by DR.. II. L. Parsons give an excellent
resume of the information which had been
collected up to that time. The fact that
this epidemic was the first that had visited
this country since the establishment of
central health authority renders such a re-
port particularly interesting. The first
point which strikes US is that the type of
the disease has undergone constant alter
atoms, and the varieties OF symptoms
which present themselves are so numerous
that 1t Is altt1cult TO recognize them at
forming instances of the same disease, the
clinical course OF which during the epidem-
ic just referred TO was SO characteristic
Experience has shown that the complica-
lions are SO DIV erse that their Importance
outfldes that OF the original malady, and,
indeed, they may be even mistaken for IL,
ana thus inc difficulties OF diagnosis may
De mdnifestiy increased. Various hypo-
theses We're suggested as to the etiology
OF epidemic influenza, such as the theory
tnat 1t was due to climatic conditions or
10 some aerial poison" or ''miasm;" other
observers contended that it was zoogen-
Gus IN origin-that is to say derived from
equine Influenza, or that it was carried
by migratory birds; another suggestion
was that the disease had a dietetic origin
being disseminated by means of Russian
oats. these theories have, however ono
by one been discarded and it is now gem
erally acknowledged that the bacillus ols,
covered py Dr. fIelHer III 1872 is the casual
FACTOR, and, as We have Already poinled
ence OF this mlcrobe in the sputum should
form an essential part OF the diagnosis in
doubtful cases.
1t Is frequently difficult to distinguish be-
tween ';tebrne catarrh" ard an atlack of
influenza; botn have many symptoms In
common, although the mode of onset and
the danger OF Complications differ consider.
AMY. onIess cale is tahen in the diagnosis
needless alarm is often created. IT, there
lore, means for the detection of Pfeiffe,s
bacillus can be easily carried out valuable
help IN this respect is at hand There is
an article ON TINS subject in the monthly
report (tebruary) from the department of
health of the city of Chicago. After quot
ing from the Medical Age to the effect that
influenza seems to have a strange attrac-
ton for some people, and every febre ca
tarrh of whatever kind is called ia grippe"
gastric cases, heaaaches, sore throat.
coryzas, are all grippe'-the results are
given OF some experiments carried out by
DIR. f. e. Wynekoop, first assistant bac-
terioogist of the department. These re-
suits only take the form of a "preiiminary
report,H but Dr.. Wynekoop has demon
strated that after the observer has become
familiar with the appearance of the Pfeiffer
bacillus under the microscope it NAV be-
readily identified in the sputum and mucus
of a patient suffering from influenza by di-
rect examination without awaiting the re-
pressed our opinion on this proposal and
trust that further investigation will be-
made in order to test the clinical value of
such meteorological examinations.
DR.. Osler, following the opinions of many
competent observers, states that the re-
spiratory system is peculiarly likely to be
involved, while others, although agreeing
with this statement believe that the main
force of the disease is expended on the
nervous system, and much has been writ
ten on the pathology" of influenza.
DR.. Goodhart draws attention to the fact
that there is no record in former times of
the long series of nerve disorders following
influenza with which we are now but too
familiar and which will be found by our
successors when in the stress of epidemics
yet to come they study as we do today, the
recorded experience of the past. 1t is
doubtedly true that influenza has shattered
the nervous systems of large number OF
its victims, in some cases permanently, in
many for several years after it has run its
course. The subsequent events may lead to
the diagnosis of influenza after the event,
the primary attack being SO vague that no
conclusion could be arrived at until the
b train of nervous symptoms suggested the
true nature of the original disease.
while we may claim to have made con-
siderable advances during the past ten
years in the knowledge OF the etiology and
pathology of influenza, We can show but
little Improvement in our methods of treat
ment and prophylaxis This can cause no
surprise as the disease Is probably trans
mitted in similar manner to pulmonary
tuberculosis through the mucus and Sc
cretions derived from the respiratory tract,
which DIR. Pfeiffer has shown lis the home
of the active germ. That being So prophy-
Tactic measures are accompanied by the.
same difficulties as is the case with regard
to Consumption" Most risk IL therefore
run in ill-ventiated buildings, and, all
though the healthy may be attacked. yet
any mode of life which tends to lower the
vital powers at the same time renders the
individual more prone to infection. Sta
tistics testify to the Frequency of the dis
ease and to IT'S heavy mortality, particu-
larly in the alcoholic and also In the over
worked and aged
As respects treatment no specific has yet
been discovered, and much the same meas
ures are now adopted as in the epidemic or
1890. and even in earlier outbreaks. In the