Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-10-06

symptom. The patient thus hacks and
sprays forth lots Of the microbes, which
spread the infection rapidly unless handled
with the greatest precaution.
a thick. tenacious sputum of O whitish
mucoid character distinguishes this new
disease from the well-known old influenza
with Its greenish sputum. This also dis
'inguishes Spanish influenza from pneumo.
MIA. with It's typical rusty colored tough
expectoration"
Failure Of intestinal action. a restricted
now OF the kidney fluids and a want OF
ap!etite TIA? large role in the charac-
terisuc signs and symptoms OF Spanish
Influenza
II YOU take close notice OF the several
aiherences between this new maladv and
me Ola influenza, you will observe that the
FEVER is sharper, higher, but Of shorter
duration the total course of the new
scourge is briefer; there are fewer stomach
or intestinal symptoms in the Spanish
!nNuenza, whereas in the previously known
lnhuenza gastro-intestnal disturbances
were predominant
most important discovery has lust
peen made with regard to this disease.
The specific microbe which causes il has
Deen definitely isolated. This Is complete
disproof OF the assertion In some medical
pupllcations that the bacillus was the
same as that Of the old influenza, or grin.
ms interesting discovery is due TO the
researches Of three English army sur.
eeons, Captains t. R. Little. c. J. Garafalo
ana r a. Williams, OF the Canadian Mo.
bile Psychological Laboratory, attached
to The British base hospitals.
Inc last great pandemic Of grip, or in.
nuenZa, lasted three years. from 1889 until
1882. 1t spread like w!ldfire over the
civilized world during that period: Then
1T
simultaneously and Professor Pfeifter dis
covered the grip germ. or influenza bacil-
JUS, winch has since been confirmed and
established as the specific cause of the
colds, pains. backaches and other classical
symptoms OF the oldtime grip.
Ihe present scourge, 1t was soon found,
is much more malignant and entirely diff.
1erent from the other.
me manner in which the bacterial agent
which causes this plague was run to earth
IS a model OF the meteorological skill, SUI
premacy, efficiency and patience Of the
English and American medical stats
IL was recognized that the rapidity with
which the contagion spread pretty we'll
pointed TO some microbe or bacterium as
the guilty party. II was also argued that
the causatiye agent must lurk at least a
large part OF the time in or near the air
passages Of the victim.
The coughs, the sputum the pneumonia
.'u 'i oHSHitio CoinpilCaliOnS, the spray
from the nose and throat as 1t came in
direct contact with the men or reached
Them through plates dishes and linens.
seemed to invite meteorological searches
and microscopic studies
Fortunately for all Of us on this side OF
me ocean, medical science has succeeded in
isolating and identifying the germs I'm Just
mat way at the very beginning OF the
American epidemic, which is therefore like
~ TO be nipped in the bud
The new bacillus is not in the blood
CULTIVATION of It is impossible from this
source. II IS lucky that so demon!acal a
Dug does not penetrate the delicate fluid
tissue Of man. Then It's malignancy
would perhaps be tenfold.
However, when the bacterioloeIsts OK.
piored the discharges and excretions from
me nose, the pharynX and the throat, 10
ana behold! their pioneer work was at
last rewarded
spread upon glass and examined under
inaghiication Of 1000 times a new
microscopic living world opened up before
their astonishcd gaze
Veritable beehive of trembling. yibrot
hhs DacilIi almost as round and as small
anu resembling the diplococcus of meningi.
us iooined up beneath the high magnifca.
.'ohs OF the microscope. A diplococcus Ia
type OF microbe In which two disc.liko
Shapes are attached 10 one another.
~ me poles or opposing ends OF this
myriad or tiny germs their torpedo blnnt
noses were flattened out 10 make thom al
most biscuit shaped 1' "a