The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1918-10-17

III the head, eyes, ears, back or other
parts of the body and feeling of Sc
we're sickness. In most of the cases the
symptoms disappear after three or four
days, the patient then rapidly recover
Ing. Seine Of The patients, however,
develop pneumonia, or Inflammation
of the ear, or meningitis, and many Of
these complicated eases die. Whether
this s.-called Spanish Influenza Is
Identical with the epidemics Of infiuen.
"a of earlier years is not yet known.
"Epidemics of influenza have visited
this country since 16i7. 1t is interest
ing to know that this first epidemic
was brought here from Valencia.
Spain. Since that time there have
been numerous epidemics of the dis
ease. In 1889 and 1890 an epidemic
OF influenza, starting somewhere in the
Orient. spread first 10 Russia and
thence over practically the entire CIV
ilizsd world. Tire" years later there
WAS another llare-up of the disease,
Both times The epidemic spread wide
~ over the United States.
Although The present epidemic is
called Spanish influenza. there is no
reason TO believe that it originated IN
Spain. Some writer's who have studied
the question believe that the epidemic
came from the Orient and thew call nj.
tention to the fact that the Germans
mention the disease as occurring alonr
the eastern front in the summer and
fall of 1917
How can Spanish influenza" be rec.
ognized?
mere Is as yet no certain way in
which single case of Spanish influ-
ehZa can be recognized On the 9th.
or mana, recognition Is easy where
there Is a group OF cases. In contrast
10 the outbreaks Of ordinary coughs
ana coles, which usually occur IN Tn.
co'o months, epidemics of influenza
may occur ut any season of the year
mus the present epidemic ragged most
intensely III Europe in May, June and
July. Moreover, in the case of ordi.
nary colds, the general symptoms
t1eVer, pain. depression) are bv M
'iieans as severe or as sudden in their
onset as they are in influenza. Final.
~ ordinary colds do not spreod
through the community so rapidly M
SO extensively as does influenza.
In most cases q person taken s,,,,.
With influenza feels sick rather end
denly. He feels weak. has pains In the
eyes, ears, head or back. and may, no
sore all over. Many patients foe,
dizzy. some volnit. Most of the M.
fients complain Of feeling chilly and
with this comes fever in which the
temperature rises TO 100 to lO4.' In
most cases the pulse remains relative.
~ slow. "a
IN appearance one is struck by the
fact that .he patient looks sick. His
eyes and the inner side of his eyelids
may be slightly 'h!oodshot,' or con.
gested. rs the doctors say. There
may he running from the nose. or
there may be some cough. These signs
OF cold may not he marked: never.
theless the patient looks and feels very
sick.
I'm addition to the appearance and
the symptoms as already described.
examination of the patients blood may
aid the ph.sica in recognizing Spas
ash influenza, for it has been found
that in This disease. the number ar
white rosptS;'lcs shows little or no In.
crease above the normal. II Is possi.
h'e ,hai The laboratory Investigations
now being made through the National
research Council and the United
states Hysienic Laboratory will fur
n'sh a more certain way in which indi-
vldual eases of this disease can be
What is the course Of the djsea.e3
Do people die Of it?
'Oriinarily, the fever lasts from
hree 10 four days and the patient re-
overs. But while the proportion Of
Ieaths in the present epidemic has
been low, in some places the