Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-30
GRIP IS on THE WAVE
Epidemic in New York is Now
Less Severe.
SOME HISTORIC OUTBREAKS
Gotham Writers Point Out the I'm
portance Of Carefulness.
IT Is NO NEW DISEASE
Ailment Accurately Described in the
Tenth Century-wsbster Con-
tradicted the Doctors.
SOME HISTORIC OUTBREAKS
IT Is NO NEW DISEASE

NEW YORK, January 80.-Tens Of thou
sands will be relieved to learn that this
winters epidemic of grip Ii on the wane.
In the LOCO years since the ailme1t was
| first described individual epidemics have
never harassed community for longer
! than six weeks. while statistics show q
steady decrease in the number Of persons
afflicted after the fourth week.
While this peculiar disease speeds on
ward In each epidemic and sweeps around
the world in a comparatively short time.
| 1t Is gratifying to know that it will not re-
cur until some succeeding season.
In the opinion Of Prof. William H. Thorn
son, the well-known diagnostician, grip al
ways comes from the northeast into Eu-
rope, and thence to America. Some declare
that these epidemics originate in Chinese
Tartary, and 1t Is q well-substantiated fact
that the Tartars always have It with them.
But the mysterious feature of the ailment
is this: It frequently breaks out In a feet
OF vessels on the ocean, even though they
have not touched at any port for weeks
In one of Commander Peary's arctic expe-
dttions the entire crew was taken down
with influenza, and on the same day a Pc
culiar tribe Of Eskimos in the neighborhood
was seized with It.
Due to a Bacillus.
The cause Of grip has long since been set
at rest. 1t is due to bacillus, discovered
by Dr.. Pfeiffer Of Berlin. This bacillus is
one OF the smallest members OF the germ
FAMILY The initial symptoms of grip are
50 uniform as to be almost classic. It
usually begins like a very severe cold in
the head. with pain at the root Of the nose
and great headache in the temples and fore
head. q good dea LOT sore throat. and a
tendency to bronchitis. There are also
pains In the loins, I'd and down the SPINE
and In the legs. There Is fever also, and a
weak and rapid pulse. These symptoms
last three or four days and then subside,
leaving the patient very weak.
While these symptoms are uniform, the
complications and seQuelae vary greatly
IN dtnerent epidemfcs. An unexpected and
For instance. in the epidemic Of 1872 the
second OF the epfdemics in the last forty
or nifty years. the first being that of 1896
acute sastritis. or inflammation Of the
stomach, turned I'D as a prominent symp-
tom, and In some cases proved mortal.
Some OF these resultant affections are acute
mania. both suicidal ana homicddal Some
patients are maniacal for a few DAVIS others
for few months and few never re-
cover. In some q permanent tendency to
meningitis remains. Neuralgia is a FREE
auent sequeia- Sometimes grip pneu-
mon1a and grip pleurisy'' result, these
directions usually attacking both sides
Perfcorddds. or Inflammation OF the heart
covering. often follows the latter ailment.
rarely grip Is followed by Bright's disease
More Fatal Than Cholera.
The gravity Of this widely prevalent all
ment. when viewed in the light of it's uos-
sible consequences, should be sufficient to
impress upon the minds of those seized
with it the necessity of taking the best
of care Of themselves Prof. Thomson
says that the epidemic Of 1890 was more
fatal than Asiatic cholera has ever been
when the deaths from its complications
and sequelae are considered.
The patient should go to bed, summon a
physician and stay there for at least a
cured for three weeks.
Since grip was first described in the tenth
century 1t has been variously known as in
huenza, epidemic bronchitis. epidemic ca
tarrh. la grippe. etc. The name influenza
Is Of Italian origin. 1t has spread over
the whole Of Europe in six weeks. The
most historic periods of prevalence in
1S47, 1857 and 1890. In these years it not
only extended over all the inhabited parts
OF North America, but over the greater ex-
tent OF Europe and Asia as well. The cpl
denic OF 1852 is typical Of the manner
In which 1t usually spreads. Most writers
describe it as having originated in Chinese
Tartary, whence It spread over Russia,
Germany, Holland and the British Islands
and from the latter southwark through
France and Italy to the Mediterranean and
westward across the Atlantic to America"
which it is represented to have reached
in October, 1852.
Webster Knew About It.
1t is interesting to note that Noah Web
ster wrote of grip in 1900 in his Brief
History of Epidemic and Presidential Dis
eases" published in London. He contra
dicted the medical writer's concerning this
particular epidemic. declaring that it was
extensively prevalent in America in 1851
and that it passed thence to Europe in
1852. He also asserts that 1t passed from
America to Europe In three other impor-
tant epldemics, namely. those of 1893, 1757
and 1871. In the epidemic of 1S47 It pre-
vailed simultaneously at Copenhagen. Lon
don and Marseille. In the view Of one
writer, who declared that he had exam
important epidemics Of this disease in the
last three centuries, the general course of
spread was from the west to the east
Another writer declares that the epi-
east Of Europe In February. In London in
April and In France in July, while that
Of ITS was first noticed in Italy, whence
rsaenae tsa orsSty until #
demic OF 1S47 made its appearance in every
country Of Europe inside Of SIX weeks
All the great epldem1cs up to 1880 0c-
CURED at periods varying from ten to
fifty years. but since then 1t has required
in this country every two or three years.
All these epidemics have varied greatly
both as to the number Of the persons at
f1icted and al to the severity Of the dis
ease.
One writer. DIR. N. s. Davis, says that
they have occurred at all seasons of the
year and In all parts of the globe, not
emitting the Islands Of the ocean.
INCREASE I'M THE MATT.