The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-12

! The epidemic of grip now prevalent
in Washington is becoming daily more
widespread and new cases are constantly
coming to the attention of the local ply
sicians and hospitals. The rainy weather
| of the past two days has contributed in
no slight degree to the spread of the dis
ease. Colds are more easily contracted
| in wet weather and pave the way for a
| severe attack of grip, which, of course.
may be complicated by even more can
gerous affections. The epidemic is not,
however, al present regarded as dangerous
by the local physicians, who say that the
disease lacks many of the malignant traits
that have been characteristic of it in
previous years.
Three deaths that can be attributed to
grip have occurred in the past week. This
is light death rate when it is realized
how widespread the Gilment is and how
many persons are afflicted. The hospitals
have many cases, but it is reported that
they are not of serious nature, with
the exception of several that are compli-
Gated with lung diseases.
The epidemic has made a decided i'm
press on the departments, some of which
appear well nigh depopulated so many of
the employees being absent on account of
the prevailing illness. In some of the Of
fees the facilities for heat and ventilation
are very poor, and this adds materially
to the spread of the disease.
One physician said yesterday that he
had noted a decided increase in the prev
aience of grip in the past two days. He
said that the affection, as far as he was
able to judge from his practice had this
year assumed a mild type, and that there
was little cause for anxiety were il not
for the complications that generally fol-
lowed an attack Of grip. He was of the
opinion that even mild cases often de-
yeloped sequels in the form OF pneu-
monia, consumption, quinsey, and kin
dred ailments or in kidney diseases. The
grip served to lay the system open to the
ravage Of any of these diseases to which
victim might be liable.
Physicians who are kept busy fighting
the disease say there are four results
from an attack of grip which are sure
symptoms of ailment. The first is a cold
in the respiratory organs, the bronchial
tubes, or the lungs. Next the nervous
system Of the victim is attacked, iecom-
ing manifest usually in fits of very bad
temper. The stomach and digestive or
gans then feel the strain, and rebel
Finally high fever develops The at
tack is usually marked also By pains in
the back and extremities, and some ines
by nasal catarrh and sore throat.
A well-known physician said yesterday:
The best preventive Of grip is liberal
use of disinfectants. The malady may be
warded off by spraying the nostrils or
gargling the throat with a diluted solu-
tion of hydrogen peroxide or solution of
menthol. One who is predisposed to such
attacks should certainly take this precau-
tion during an epidemic
Nearly all the local physicians share in
the accepted belief that the disease per-
meates the air at this season of the year.
They all regard it as the most contagious
affection extant. How long the epidemic
will last is a question that few attempt
to answer. Generally. however, the dis
ease assumed its most malignant form
during the month of January and disap-
pears entirely with the advent of warm
weather in the spring.