The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-10
Medical Notes.

1ataI disease, that is it seldom causes
death of itself, fatal complications being
Que TO disease caused by 1t. If mortality
reports are studied it will be found that
during even the most severe epidemics
of the grip the maximum percentage of
deaths from it is from two to three per
thousand. If the number of deaths APP
pear large 1t is because the epidemic
Is so widely disseminated.
An attack of the influenza usually be-
gins with more or less marked debility
and lassitude. The mucous membrane OF
the respiratory tract becomes congested,
being especially noticeable in the nose
and throat, this state of congestion lead
ing to oppression and cough Then fever
appears and depression is marked; the
patient complaining of pain in the chest
or side and rheumatic-like pains in the
limbs. If the patient persists in sitting
up he suffers from vertigo, from neu-
ralgia, headache, pain across the fore
head and over the eyes, and marked
sense of oppression.
Sometimes the grip invades the body
by the allmentary passages, showing its
presence by vomiting, collie and diarrhoea.
But in all cases nervous symptoms pre-
dominate The patient complains of great
bodily weakness; he becomes morose,
discouraged and pessimistic; he cannot
overcome a lack of appetite due to dis
turbance of taste and smell. He feels
unable to undertake the most simple in
tellectual work, and is strangely power
less to do even manual work
The most marked types of Influenza
occur in old and debilitated persons who
offer soil prepared for the ready ger
mination and speedy growth of pacilH.
Among these the most easily affected are
the consumptive, those suffering from
diabetes, those addicted to alcohol habit
ually, or having heart or brain disease;
those fall easy victims to the grip and
suIfer most severely from its effects; in
fact two-thirds of the fatal cases occur
in those suffering from some chronic
disease. Among these its ravages are
most marked in consumptives.
The grip is a democratic disease; it does
not respect the rich more than the poor
Many believe that 1t is a contagious
disease, and while this theory may be ac-
cepted with certain reservations. it is
probably true that it is in great part, if
not wholly, an earth-born or miasmatic
disease upon which humidity cold and
sharp variations of temperature, espec.a'-
" in the spring, have Il powerful in
f1uence
The complications and even the forms
Of grip are many. Sometimes it as
sumes the type of meningitis or ty-
phoid fever, and masks itself so we'll
that it deceives even the most expert
physician. At other times it stimulates
angina pectoris
Bronchitis and concomitant lung in
fammation are infectious complications
very frequent in old people, and those of
weak constitution. For it's prevention,
in times of grip epidemics, frequent
gargling of the throat with water and
some mild disinfectant, two or three
times a day, are of use, and a little car
bolated vascline may be smeared over
the inside of the nose occasionally. Pre-
disposed per sons should be sustained by
a generous diet, malt extracts, wine,
eggs, milk, meat juice, beef tea, and the
like, while the heart and nervous system
are sustained by coffee. cocoa, etc.
The most serious element of these
broncho-pneumonic forms of grip is the
Inflammation of both lungs, thus greatly
disturbing respiration. In. these cases
oppression of the lungs is very marked.
and there is high fever and continual
cough, while fatal termination is TO be
feared from actual suffocation. Some
times energetic counter-irritation, warm
baths and the administration of ipecac
and aconite will control this, and in ex-
IRENE cases bleeding may be good.
In the ordinary forms of grip treat
ment should begin with a ten-grain dose
of Dover's powder, to which cathartic
may be added, efforts being made to
eliminate the germs from the body, as if
they were actual posons. Some even
advocate an emetic for this purpose
Qunine Is given to counterfeit the in
fammatory tendency, combined with
acetanilid or salicylate of soda or both.
The nervous system should be sustained
by nervous tonics and internal conges-
ton should be relieved by counter trri-
tants or a wet pack.
To relieve bronchial catarrh, muriate of
ammonia is given, and for the dryness
of the throat an infusion of green tea,
with a pinch of red pepper added to a
cupful, may be used as gargle. To
relieve sleeplessness bromide of sodium
Is indicated. Recovery from the grip Is
usually a matter of time-some weeks
at least, and sometimes months and even
years or a lifetime-for with the best Of
treatment the equilibrium of health is
not quickly, and often never, wholly re-
established This is true even in mild
cases, and in severe cases the patient
may remain for a long time apathetic,
emaciated and sickly looking, complain
ing of headache and insomnia, of various
disturbances of digestion and above all
of marked failing of will-power and mem
tai energy. Upon these nervous compli-
cations of convalescence medicines have
but little influence. The most effective
treatment Is a change of climate. Cold
douches along the spinal column also
seem to have a regeneratiye influence
upon the central nervous system, whose
functions have been stupefed by the
grip poison.
The grip is a lazy sort of disease,
so to speak. 1t prefers to attack feeble
people, especially the aged, and those who
suffer from heart or lung disease. These
people have an especial morbid receipt
witty and are more seriously affected by
the miasmatic virus.
Pain in the side, one of the most
characteristic symptoms of the grip, is
common to many other diseases. When
after inamoderate or violent exercise or
exposure to the wind or cold, a severe
pain is experienced in the side, it Is
probably due to disturbed circulation of
the spleen. Sometimes 1t is peuralgic;
sometimes when more diffuse 1t is due
to muscular rheumatism. especially if it
occurs on the left side which is the most
common site, owing 20 the constant
movements of the chest walls. Even the
ribs may be affected with an inflaEma-
! tioa of the bone or the membranes sur
rounding the bone, and in these cases the
| pain is more noticeable during the night.
| Persons afflicted with sluggish digestion
| or flatulence may also have pain in the
| side due to compression of the inter-
costal nerves by the dilated stomach. And