Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1913-06-11
INFLUENZA IS NOT
. HARMLESS DISEASE
Real Old Grip May Have Many
Dangerous Complications
Says Georgia State Board
of Health.

Atlanta, Ga.-When influenza,
commonly called La Grippe or just
plain old grip" went around the
world in 18S9-9O, many were inclined
to look upon it 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 or 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 APP
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 giTen 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 it's discoverer in 1892. 1t may be
communicated either by association
with persons affected or through In
halations in sections where it 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 1SS9-91. 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
liZed world was affected. Since that
time influenza has been constantly
present in the United States, but in
milder form.
InAnAnzo ic of tho 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 a 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.
tions which it may induce. Frequent
ly 1t predisposes one to an attack of
tuberculosis: it may set in action
tubercular garms which have been ly.
ing dormant A frequent accompani.
ment of influenza is intluenza-pneu.
monia, differing from ordinary pneu'
mOnia In that 1t rarely terminates in
a crisis, usually dragging On for
weeks. Other complications are con-
gestioh OF the kidneys and other or.
gans, diseases of the heart and blood
vessels, diseases OF the ear and a..
fections of the nervous system.
Symptoms Of Influenza.
Grip may come on very suddenly,
noticed first in chilly sensations fol
lowed by d fever which may reach
105 degrees, loss Of appetite, head
ache main in the limbs and then a