The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1918-10-18

Spain. Some writer's who have studied
the question believe that the epidemic
came from the Orient and they call at
tention to the fact that the Germans
mention the disease as occurring along
the eastern front In the summer and
fall of 1911"
How can Spanish influenza" be rec
ognized?
There is as yet no certain way In
which single case of Spanish intiu-
enza' can be recognized. On the 9th
er hand, recognition is easy where
there is a groaip of cases. In contrast
to the outbreaks of ordinary coughs
and colds, which usually occur in the
cold months, epldemics of influenza
may occur at any season of the year.
Thus the present epidemic ragged most
intensely in Europe in May, June and
July. Moreover, in the case of Ordi-
nary colds the general symptoms
(fever, pain, depressiOn) are by no
means as severe or as sudden in their.
onset as they are in influenza. Final
ly, ordinary colds do not spread
through the community so rapidly or
so extensively as does influenza.
"In most cases person taken sick
with influenza feels sick rather sud
denly. He feels weak, has pains In the
eyes, ears, head or back, and may be
sore all over. Many patients feel
dizzy. some vomit. Most of the pa
tients complain of feeling chilly, and
with this comes a fever In which the
temperature rises to 100 to 104. In
most cases the pulse remains relative
ly slow.
"In appearance one is struck by the
fact that the patient looks sick. His
ewes and the inner side Of his eyelids
may be slightly 'bloodshot, or con
gested,' as the doctors say. There
may be running from the nose, OF
there may be some cough. These signs
of cold may not be marked; never
theless the patient looks and feels very
sick.
"In addition to the appearance and
the symptoms as already described
examination Of the patients blood may
aid the physician in recognizing Span
ish Influenza for 1t has been found
that In this disease the number o
white corpuscles shows little or no In
crease above the normal. 1t Is posi-
BILE that the laboratory investigation
now being made through the Natlona
Research Council and the Unite
States Hygienic Laboratory will full
nish a more certain way in which ind
yidual cases Of this disease can b
recognized"
What Is the course OF the disease
Do people die Of itf
Ordinarily, the fever lasts fro
three to four days and the patient r.
covers. But while the proportion
deaths in the present epidemic hs
generally been low, In some places To
outbreak has been severe and deatf
. have been numerous. When death o
l ours It Is usually the result of cor
plication."
!; What causes the disease and how
n It spread2
i "BacterioIogists who have studied
r fiuenza epidemics in the past ha'
Is found In MANY OF the cases We
l. small rod-shaped germ called, after
discoverer, Pfeiffer's bacillus. In 9th
4 cases of apparently the same KIND
) disease there were found pneumococ
the germs Of lobar pneumonia, 81
u others have been caused by strep'
a. cocci, and by others germs with 10
'e names.
s. ."No matter what particular kind
lie germ causes the epidemic, 1t Is NJ
10 believed that influenza Is alwa
- spread from person to person,
germs being carried with the air ale
with the very small droplets of niue
re expelled by coughing or sneezi
&C. forceful talking, and the like by
'e- who already has the germs OF the
ease. They may also be carried aD
Is In the air In the form Of dust com
no Concluded on page FOUR