The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-01-11

In the opinion of a. number of the
city's leading physicians Scranton is
threatened with another epidemic of
influenza or la grippe similar to the
one which wrought such dire distress
some ten years ago.
The disease follows lines of travel
and the last big epidemic was traced
TO Russia from whence it spread to
Continental Europe and across the At
lantic ocean to this country. The
fact that New York city is now seeing
the beginning of another big epidemic
of the disease and that Scranton is in
such direct communication with that
city leads local physicians to believe
that the large number of cases which
have so far developed In this city are
but the forerunners of an epidemic.
| DR.. :. =. Longstreet Is one of the
physicians who believe beyond ques-
ton that the disease Is going to be
dangerously and widely prevalent dur
ing the next two or three months.
Said he yesterday to Tribune man:
II have encountered an exceedingly
large number of cases of la grippe
during the past week or two. and I
believe we are going to have another
epidemic of it. We of course meet
with certain number of cases every
year about this time but not so many
as just now.
NOT AS SEVERE.
Neither are they so severe as the
cases which have come under my OBJ
servation during the past week. The
! fever of many of my patients who
are suffering from the disease, I find
to be very high and I also find that
, bronchial troubles accompany the dis
ease i'm many instances. Indeed. I
have Just had several cases of pneu-
monia growing out of it.
This is a very bad sign. The Sc
! verer the form in which this disease
manifests itself the greater probable
ity there is of it becoming widespread.
] think the people of this city are in
, for an epidemic of the disease and
e that the greater precautions they take
c to ward it off, the better it will be-"
, DIR. w. f.. Allen, health officer. said
| that he was treating a number Of
5 cases of la grippe, but that things had
not assumed condition as yet which
. would warrant him in saying that an
, | epidemic was to be expected.
G II have number of patients suf-
s fering from the disease" said he,
7 | Soiiie ol lHelll very severely, DuL
cant say yet that it's going to be
epidemic. Still it's better for the peo-
pie to believe that it's going to be
so that they will take the proper pre-
!, cautions to ward it off. What are the
precautions to take, you ask? Simply
the precautions which any one would
take to keep themselves from taking
I cold.
|, THE REMEDY.
:, keep out OF the night air as much
:, as possible and keep the feet dry. Keep
out of the wet and slop on day like
:. this. This is an ideal day for the
!. grippe. The person with a cold is the
= person most likely to take the grippe.
. If you get a cold try and cure 1t as
quickly as possible and don't let II
get a hold of your system"
DR.. a. j. Connell, when seen, said
that la grippe was very prevalent. IL
have had a hundred cases within the
- past week." said he. IT can't say that
many of them have been very severe
! however. / should say that it's a
!, milder type than usual. l believe new
II ertheless that were going to have am
other epidemic of the disease"
DR.. j. j. Sullivan, of North Scran-
ton. said that the disease was very
p prevalent in that part of the city
I've just got over a severe attack
myself" said he, land I've got a large
number of patients laid up with it
Many of the cases are very severe, too
v / believe that there VIII be an cpl.
It demic of the disease"
= The act of assembly governing mat
p ters of health contains no provision
l. regarding la grippe and hence The
N local board of health has no specia
a power to take any precautionary meas
r ures To prevent its spread. 1t is dis
n ease which it would be extremely hare
to control by the enforcement of any
- especial sanitary regulations. Physi
"a clans do not report ii to the secretary
y of the board of health and for tha
=. reason it is impossible to ascertain
T., anything like the exact number o
/, cases in the city at the present time
IT IS DIFFERENT.
Or. c. W. Roberts, in discussing tn
la grippe epidemic with Il Tribune maj
last night, had the following to say
10 "This epidemic is much different from
any we have ever had before. 1t i
more persistent, and leaves a persist
ent cough. The first symptoms of tn
" disease are a headache, high feve
% and aching of the bones. The numbe
of cases are increasing daily. The,
= should be taken promptly in hand an
.o people should not delay seeking medi
~ cal attention when the symptoms ar
~ first noticed
80 The doctor depreciates the public