The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1913-07-03
INFLUENZA IS NOT
HARMLESS DISEASE
Real Old Grip May Have Many
Dangerous Complications
Says Georgia State Board
Of Health.

Atlanta, Ga.-Whcn influenza.
commonly called La Grippe OF Just
plain old strip, went around the
world in lSS9-9o, many were inclined
to look upon it as a harmless kind 81
fashionable diseaso, viewpoint thar
was speedily changel in those oea-
lities where hospitals became charmed
houses, though this reputation chung
to it more or less strenuousIy 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 IL;
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 sporadc
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
Tor persons who are debilitated Or
weak, persons given to alcoholic II
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 it is or
has been prevalent. 1t has been known
to be contracted at sea whore 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 his
disease. The last pandemic occurred
in 18S9-91. 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
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
d are SETON attacked The great
ct 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 suisse
quent attacks are not usually as Sc
we're. The danger lies not so much in
the disease itself as in the compIca-
lions which it may induce. Frequent
ly it predisposes one to an attack OF
tuberculosis; it may set III action
tubercular garm6 which have been ~
ing dormant. A frequent accompani.
ment of influenza is infiuenza-pneu.
monia, differing from ordinary pneu-
monia in that it rarely terminates in
crisis, usually dragg. ng 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 a..
fections Of the nervous system.
Symptoms Of influenza.
Grip may come on very suddenly,
noticed first in chilly sensations lol-
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