The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-19
GERMS WEARING OU1
The Grip Bug Seems to Be Losing
His Grip in This
Country.
Would He Collapse Altogether if
Subjected to a Bath in
Formalin?

Influenza is now more prevalent in Min
neapolis than for three or four years, said |
DR.. George E. Kicker of this city to-day
when questioned as to the unusual popu-
larity Of bad colds -. S'
Yes, there's good deal more in
f1uenza," continued DR.. Rioker, but 7
shouldn't think that there is twice as
much as last year. The disease is much
less violent, of course, than it used to be. |
1t has changed it's symptoms. They are
now quite new. They're painful enough,
but not so alarming as those OF the old
time influenza. ~ 80 49,
1.-THE early indications are much the
same-'cold in the head, aching Of the
back and limbs and that general unhappi-
ness that the patent medicine man is SO
fond of discussing. But the disease does
not affect the nervous system seriously.
We've had no cases here of the insanity
that was Tot uncommon in other cities
years ago alter attacks of influenza. And
the 1903 pattern doesn't so to the lungs as
the old style did. I've heard Of very lit
tie pneumonia or bronchitis caused by grip
this season. That pneumonia, too, was a
very severe form. .~..
"Just now influenza affects chiefly the
digestive tract. Some people, no doubt,
have inaccurately called it the winter
cholera. The symptoms are vomiting and
a violent disturbance Of the stomach and
bowels. 49,, = ~. ...
"Perhaps the decided change in the
| character Of the prevailing grip Is q sug
gestion that the disease, like the North
sea whale, is on the point Of disappearing.
| 1t has been gradually growing milder
| since 1t first reappeared In the United
! States about sixteen years ago. 1t
reached Minneapolis. I think, in 1887. But
I remember an outbreak at Northfield,
three years before that, of a disease that
was probably influenza. We called it
! catarrhal fever yet it had all the ear
marks Of Ia grippe. 1t quite upset the lit
tie town for a few Weeks-caused more
/ excitement than the; Younger brothers.
raid, but soon passed away and was for
gotten. A couple of years later the genu-
inc. fashionable grip was first imported
at New York and was very soon shipped
| out west p
up to that time this country had not
known the disease for many years. But
| before the war, If Pm not mistaken, the
| influenza, as they called it, set the whole
nation a-sneezing year after year until
| the germs finally wore out
Grip Of course, is a germ disease. The
germ has been Isolated But I don't
know Of any specific remedy that has
been discovered as the result of chasing
the germ into his lair. The treatment re-
mains much the same as heretofore.
Would formalin injections be worth
trying? Why, haven't the least idea. l
don't know whether grip germs would
Ae'A,'' az >iio 'tSilt " AOfIldllll, ana m
not even sure that those New York ex-
periments with such injections are as sat
1sfactory as the newspaper reports would
Indicate, The experiments are too recent
and too few. .., als
"A small amount of formalin and a large
quantity Of water were injected into the
veins OF patient suffering, not from grir
but from septicemia or violent bloodpoi-
sonlng. Two injections, it Is said, de.
stroyed the poison and completely cure(
the patient: But was it altogether the re-
suit of formalin? Was the. water pure
water or a saline 'solution?''A saline So
luton, we zknowsfis ,a,pewerful tonic ant
this may have had much to do with the
, patients rallying. Still, the experiment:
look very encouraging, and the profession
will be only too delighted to get SO promp
cure for septicemia. Apparently thi
+ new treatment would have saved tn,
: lives of both Garfield. and McKinley.'