The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-01-19


seems to be the only one which Is sup
ported by the facts, namely, that the
disease is different from any disease
known heretofore. that 1t occurs sim
ultaneously over large areas of coun-
try: under different conditions OF
weather, temperature, moisture and in
different climates; and that cases OF |
1t, more or less numerous, may be met |
with at all seasons of the year, in all |
parts Of the country. And also is this |
theory plausible because disturbances |
of the nervous system are the first and |
most profound expressions of the dis |
ease experienced by the patient and |
that this nervous impression produces !
in turn a disturbance OF the hearts |
action, and in consequence q disturb
ance OF the whole circulation OF the |
body, thus giving rise to the various
symptoms.
TREATMENT.
1t is OF very little Importance, how
ever, to know the history or the name
of n disease when we want to treat it
and In the end ERECT q cure. conse-
quently whether we call It grip or 1T"
is immaterial and we must look to the
symptoms, or rather the group of
symptoms as they present themselves
as guide for the selection Of our
remedies. II will thus be seen that
any drug which has the effect of re-
! ducing the power of the heart is nec-
essariy one which should not be used.
! Thus, all the febrifuges and anti-py-
retics, especially those obtained from
| coal tar, are to be avoided. and the
! much vaunted quinine acts in this dis
| ease as u poison rather than q medi-
cine. 1t Is also of very little conse-
| quence TO reduce the temperature, rs
the rise OF temperature is the only
| symptom of fever present and Is simply
due to disturbance OF the nervous sys-
| tenn. Consequently the indications for
the trea tment of the patient are plain.
| viz, absolute rest in bed for mind and
body. Stiinulants and such drugs
which are known 10 act upon the heart
and support it in its enfeebled con-
diton, and a drug which acts upon the
organs whose office 1t is to eliminate
the waste material accumulated in the
body viz, the skin, the kidneys and
the mucous membranes throughout the
body.
Such drug has been found in BEN
suate of soda, made as 1t should be
from bensaic acid and not from tulu
OF coal tar, and extensive experiments
have proven this drug to possess vir-
tues in this disease which may be
likened TO quinine in the genuine ma
larial fever, known as chills and fever
viz, 1t acts as q specific in American
grip. BenSuate of soda SHOULD be
given in ten grain doses at frequent
intervals at first, until the pains have
disappeared, and then the intervals
should be heightened. 1t is best given
in capsules or in compressed tablets.
together with some aromatic, and
should be swallowed with cOpious
draught of cold water, SO that the
patient cannot taste the medicine
which. owing 10 its nauseous, bitter
sweet taste, is apt 10 disagree with
the stomach, but for this reason only.
as it does not have any injurious or
disturbing effect upon the stomach it.
self. The usual course OF the disease,
even of severe cases, is from three 10
five days, when the patient is, To all
intents and purposes, fully restored
with the exception of some weakness,
which, however speedily disappears.
This simple treatment, and at the same
time SO eminently effective in this dis
ease, is certainly easier and preferable
| To tne treatment usually tuOpteu, VIZ,
the swallowing of large doses of Gui-
nine or phenacetin or any of the other
coal tar preparations: or worse stiil,
of ,the numerous advertised patent
medicines; and although it may be q
hardship for the patient to be confined
to bed for three or four days, Yet even
that is preferable to long continued
invalidism. or even death which so
often follows when the other treatment
is adopted.
But it must be borne IN mind that
the bensuate of soda alone is not suf-
ncient TO effect cure and the patient
must be kept at rest in bed, as any
eXertlon may, and frequently does.
produce sudden heart failure; nor
should the artificial support OF the
heart by sumulants and heart tonics
be omitted, for neither alone viii do
much good, ANA it takes the cOmbina-
ton of the three factors, viz, absolute
, rest, heart support and bensuata OF
soda TO effect n cure.
: In short, comprehensive article like
this il Is, Of course, impossible To con-
slider the subject more in detail, al
though Il is one Of such immense in
terest and OF such far-reaching Inn
portance that it deserves a more full
ana detailed description of the disease
in al! It's various symptoms and va
, garics