The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-03
NATURE OF INFLUENZA.
characteristics and Treatment of a
ro..,,.,o.,, xr-fu.o~ CoFnuIafuF

characteristics AID Treatment of n
Common Winter Complaint.
From the New York Herald
Influenza assumes principally a gas
trio form. There are indeed several forms
Of influenza, The first is typical in
fectious form without localizaton. It is
revealed by a very high temperature, by
infectious accidents" OF variable gray
ity but without any organ being special
~ affected This form is generally sud
den in it's appearance, hence its German
name "blitzkatarrh.' or lightning catarrh-
When this first form causes death It does
so by means Of kind Of blood poisoning.
The second is Of a pulmonary kind. In
this form the illness starts ike brOn-
chitis or an ordinary cold. either as
cOryZa. which next affects the throat and
then successfully the bronchL or by bron-
chitis in the first instance. This form is
particularly serious IN the case Of persons
who, believing themselves TO be suffering
from a mere cold or slight attack Of bron-
chitis 20 out and continue their ordinary
avocauons. It IS principally under these
conditions that bronchitis IS transformed
into broncho-pneumonia OF evolves in the
direction OF infectious pneumonia. When
one remains quietly AZ home one has ev-
cry chance IN the world Of escaping from
pneumonia complication.
The third form is gastric, a form which
sometimes has the appearance Of gastric
fever, and sometimes even OF Typhoid
fever, 20 such an extent that IN a dag
n0sis It Is often difficult 20 diferentiate IL
from the latter illness. In this gastric
form there is diaUhea. sometimes VOmit-
ing, a distensiOn Of the abdomen and an
extremely dirty tongue. This form priu-
Cipally affects persons who have previous
~ had digestion troubles
Influenza attacks. as II were, the weak
point Of the system. and IL is a question
whether the gastric form, which is so
widespread Ia London at present, has not
some relation % Christmas festivities and
a great consumption Of plum pudding.
mince pies, and other seasOnable Il some
what heavy dainues.
Lastly. there Is "a form which includes
two sub-variationg, one characterized by
phenomena OF depression: the other on
the contrary. having as its notable fea-
ture a state of excitement which borders
on deiirium
There is no definite treatment for infu-
enza. Ia general IL is necessary for the
treatment 10 take into account the par
ticular form OF the malady. II is certain
that quiniue, which succeeds IN a vast
majority Of cases. would not do any good
ia the gastric form, By reason OF the sus-
cept.blity Of the stomach. Antipyrine and
pyramidOn are also much used. in a gen
eraI way pyramidon is preferable 90 an
tipyriuC, the latter being too depressing
I'm its action. The best thing 10 do in
those forms in which the fever rises
great deal is TO take once OF twice a day
thirty centigrammes of pyramid0n then
ten minutes after fifty centiErammes of
carbohydrate OF Quinine. This association
of medicines, iu addition TO the fact that
Il greatly diminishes severe headache and
the sensation of an aching lassitude in
the limbs which is felt when one has In
huenza causes abundant perspirations,
which facilitate an elimination Of poisQns
and diminish the duration OF the illness.