Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-02-15
The PeriIs Of influenza.


The Perils of influenza.
Since that protean and virulent
form of influenza known as the
grip made its appearance in Eu-
rope and America, eight or ten years
ago, it has never altogether died out
Year after year it has figured in the
vital statistics of large cities, some
times conspicuously, sometimes mod
estly. 1t is rather whimsical, too, in
its selection of scene OF operations,
though not more so, perhaps, than
other contagious diseases. In 1898
and 1899 the United States suffered
more severely than England. During
the last few months the situation has
been reversed. The mortality from
this cause in London last month close
ly approached that cf the famous epi-
denies Of 1892 and 1895 Nottingham
had no less than elgh. thousand cases
at one time in January, and in North
ampton more than half the factory
hands were reported ill., At the cap
ltal a marked abatement has been OBJ
served since February came in, but in
the provinces and in Scotland and Ire
land the malady still RACES. 1t has
prevailed on the continent of Europe
also though possibly with less sever
ity than in the United Kingdom, Wis
iting palace and hovel with almost
equal audacity.
Some of the theories once entertain
ed regarding this distressing disorder
have not been entirely sustained by
later observation. 1t was believed al
one time, for instance, that single
hard attack would render its victim
immune much as smallpox does. But
no difficulty would be experienced in
finding a good many people who have
suffered from the grip once or twice
season for several years. Again, il
was supposed that 4 mild winter was
peculiarly favorable to the spread OF
the contagion. Yet England has q
harder time with the influenza than
America this winter, although she has
experienced severer weather, com
paratively speaking. A third propo.
sltion, which now appears to be un.
tenable, was advanced by DR.. Foster
Palmer few years ago. He declared
that Englishmen had a greater power
Of resistance against the grip thar
Russians, French or Americans, the
last mentioned, in his Judgment, hav-
ing undergone some kind of physica
deterioration The notion was dis.
credited by the medical press anG
profession on this side of the Atlantic
however and this season the facts
seem to be against it, too.
Although the influenza, pure ant
simple, is a serious matter in itself
the doctors say that its indirect effects
are more to be dreaded than the di-
rect. By enfeebling the system il
renders its victims susceptible to 9th
er diseases, particularly those of the
respiratory apparatus. Thus last year
the 3O4 deaths specifically attributed
to influenza in Chicago constituted
only "a per cent of all the deaths
during the same period. But the NOR.
tallty from all causes was raised l.
per cent above the average for five
years in which the grip was almost en-.
tirely absent. Perhaps the most fata
OF the complications that arise npneu.
monia. The Hospital remarked the
other day that the latter often seemed
10 be "a mode rather than a prime
cause OF death" Measles and whoop-
ing cough in the young and influenza
in the old peculiarly predispose pa
tients to pneumonia. Not merely for
what 1t is, then, but also for what il
may lead to, the grip is to be avoided
by those who are delicate or advanced
In years. To be sure, this is not alto
gether within ones control. But q
moderate degree of safety can be Sc.
cured by keeping out of public con
veyances and away from infected per,
sons when the disorder is known to be
generally preYalent.-New York Trlb.
lune.