Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-04-19
Tho Grip.

Altho Ugh grip prevailed in mild
form during the late autumn months,
it has now taken on an unmistaka-
bly, yirulent type in the extent and
character Of its new invasion. Dur
ing the last fortnight thousands who
have escaped heretofore have been
striken, and tho disease is plainly
epidemic over very wide section
of the country. The rural districts
suffer equally with the cities, and
even tho so-styled health reports are
not without their numerous victims.
The radical and sudden climatic
changes are doubtless leading causa-
tive elements in cffccting this marked
change from an almost phenomenal
heathfulness to widely prevailing
sickness.
The type of the disease is essen
TALLY catarrhal and chiefly manifests
itself in intiammatory affections of
the membranes of the nose, throat
and upper air passages. The attack
is quite sudden and there is generally
a high temperature, with pain in the
forehead, hac king and Initiative
cough, with general muscular pains
and associated prostration.
Fortunately, unlike previous cpl
denies, the seizure is short lived,
although quite severe; but, on the
other hand, it is followed by COM
parativcly longer period of general
weakness, with the attendant danger
of serious lung complications. The
latter condition is what may be natu-
rally expected at this particular sea-
son, when pneumonia troubles are al
ways especially prevalent. This fact
should carry with it enough Of signi-
ficancc to countcract general feeling
Of Indifference for what is usually
considered very common and harm
| less altectlOn.
1t must bc said in this connection
that most Of the fatal issues are due
to careless exposure during the pro-
gress Of the malady and the neglect
of proper treatment of the different
symptoms. cit is only an attack of
grip" and the patient ordinarily re-
signs himself to apassing expectancy
of the ultimate outcome.
Nothing is more foolish than to
suppose that the grip will eventually
cure itself and leave the victim un-
harmed. No disease is more prolific
in complications. Although it may
spend it's main force upon the air
passages, there is no organ Of the
body which is exempt from its raw
ages. Hence in chronilcling the
death of many persons from what is
conveniently styled ga complication
Of diseases" we note almost as a mat
ter of course that the first decline in
health dated back to "a grip" of
months or perhaps years ago. These
matters Of experience should carry
with them their own significant les
sons
1t is generally conceded that, while
the disease is very amenablc to pro-
per scientific treatment, there is no
medicine which is considered to be
specific. No single prescription can
lit every constitution. The many
complex conditions which show
themselves in turn during the course
OF the malady call for the most dis
eliminating judgment of the expert
enced physician. BY such skilled
management only can the dangerous
complications be avoided. No one is
safe from the latter until all catarrhal
and fcbrilc symptoms have disap-
pcarcd And even then his conva-
lcsccncc must be carefully watched.
| But, best Of all, however, the pre-
ventivc measure should always APP
peal to us. In all cpidcmics the weak
are the first who suffer. The man
who takes severe cold uuring such
an epidemic as is now prevailing is
quite sure to be an easy victim. 1t is
impossible to give himself too much
care on this point. The only safe
course is the maintenance Of high
state of health in every particular. If
the general systematic tone is low
cred he is lost. Every fresh cold is