Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1913-06-05
IS NOT
HARMLESS DISEASE
Real Old Grip May Have Many
Dangerous Complications
Says Georgia State Board
of Health.

NANA~1lch, Nd w uCI1
commonly called La Grippe or just
plain old grip" went around the
world in 1SS9-9O, many were inclined
to look upon 1t as a harmless kind of
fashionable disease, a viewpoint that
was speedily changed in those oca-
lities where hospitals became charnel
houses, though this reputation chung
to it more OF less strenuously for
some years.
But its dangerous qualities have
long since become well known as a
result of the numerous and serious
complications which may attend it;
in fact, there is scarcely any organ of
the body which is immune from the
effects of it. And although it now ap-
pears in milder form in the sporadic
or epidemic cases than in the pande-
mic invasion which went around the
world, it is particularly severe and
dangerous, says the Georgia State
Board of Health, for old persons, and
for persons who are debilitated or
weak, persons given to alcoholic IL
quors, those who are too fat and
those suffering from heart and lung
troubles.
Influenza is an acute infectious disc
ase caused by what is known as the
bacillus of Pfeiffer, after the name
of its discoverer in 1892. 1t may be
communicated either by association
with persons affected or through in
halatiOns in sections where 1t is or
has been prevalent. 1t has been known
to be contracted at sea where there
was no existing case, lending color
to the belief that the germ travels
through the air. 1t occurs either in
isolated cases, in epidemics or pan
denies.
Travels Around the World.
During the last century there were
four periods during which practically
every country in the world suffered
from the unusual prevalence of this
disease. The last pandemic occurred
in 1S89-91. 1t started in Russia and
soon spread to Germany and Eng
land. Later it appeared in New York
and rapidly spread over North Ameri-
ca. Soon practically the entire civil
lied world was affected. Since that
time influenza has been constantly
present in the United States, but in
milder form.
Influenza is one Of the medical
goats" and not infrequently the in
cipient stages of tuberculosis, malaria,
liberated endocarditis and typhoid fe-
yer are mistaken for it.
Grip may develop very suddenly,
as a rule in one to seven days. The
germs, gaining entrance to the res.
piratory tract, multiply very rapidly.
All ages are susceptible to the disc
ase, though infants under one year
old are seldom attacked. The great
est prevalence of the disease is dur
ing the winter and spring; deficiency
of sunlight seems favorable to the
growth of the germs. One attack does
not confer immunity but seems to
predispose to others, though subse-
quent attacks are not usually as Sc
we're. The danger lies not so much in
the disease itself as in the complica-
lions which it may induce. Frequent
~ it prediSpOSeS one to an attack of
tuberculosis: ii may set in action
tubercular garms which have been ly.
ing dormant A frequent accompani-
ment of influenza is influenza pneu-
monia, differing from ordinary pneu-
monia in that 1t rarely terminates in
crisis, usually dragging on for
weeks. Other complications are con-
gestion of the kidneys and other or
gans, diseases of the heart and blood
vessels, diseases of the ear and al.
fections of the nervous system.
Symptoms of Influenza.
Grip may come on very suddenly,
noticed first in chilly sensations fol-
lowed by a fever which may reach
l05 degrees, loss Of appetite, head
ache, pain in the limbs and then a
sense of utter Indebtedness. LASH
tude, cough, insomnia and flush
ing of parts of the face as in scarla-
tina, may accompany ii. The patient
feels and seems desperately i'll. BrOn-
chitis frequently develops accompan-
led by pains in the chest, and may
be followed by pneumonia. The pa
tent becomes profoundly depressed,
the heart action may be feeble, the
skin relaxed and clammy, hot and
dry. Pneumonia and heart failure
are the most frequent causes of
death following an attack Of influenza.
Meningitis, q particularly danger
Gus complication, may also be caused
by the Influenza bacillus. Nervous
forms of the disease are quite COM
mnn VARYING all, the WaV from SimDle