New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1918-10-12
SPANISH INFLUENZA
THREE DAY FEVER.

We were handed the subJolned
article on "Spanish Influenza by
City Physician DR.. w. F. Carstens
and requested to reproduce it:
"What is Spanish 1nuuenza? Is
II something newY Does it come
from Spain9
The disease now occurring III
this country and called Spanish
Influenza resembles very con-
tagious kind of "cold" accompan-
led by fever, pains in the head,
ewes, ears, back or other parts of
the body, and feeling of severe
sickness. In most Of the eases the
symptoms disappear after three
or four days, the patient then rap
idly recovering; some OF the
patients, however. develop pneu-
monia. or inflammation of the ear,
or meningitis, and many of these
complicated eases die. whether
this so-called "Spanish' inf1uen-
"a is identical with the epidemics
of influenza of earlier years is not
yet known.
Epidemics of influenza have
visited this country since 641. 1t
is interesting to know that this
first epidemic was brought here
from Valencia, Spain. Since that
time there have been numerous
epidemics of the disease. In 1889
and 1890 an epidemic of influ-
enza, starting somewhere IN the
Orient, spread first to Russia, and
thence over practically the entire
civilized world. Three years later
there was another f1are-up of the
disease. Both times the epidemic
spread widely over the United
States. - -.is.@i- Lodi
Although the present epidemic Is
called 'tSpanish Influenza there
il no reason to believe that 1T
originated in Spain. Some writer's
Who have studied the question be-
lieve that the epidemic came
from the Orient and they call at
tention to the fact that the Ger
mans mention the disease as oc-
curing along the eastern front IN
the summer and fall Of 1917. Il
How, oon "Snanish influenza
be recognizedf
There is as yet no certain way
in which single case of Spanish
influenza" can be recognized; on
the other hand, recognition is easy
where there is a group Of cases. In
contrast to the outbreaks OF ordl-
nary coughs and colds. which
usually occur in the cold months,
epidemics 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 ordinary colds. the general
symptoms (fever, pain, depres-
stony are bysno means as severe or
as sudden in their onset as they
are in influenza. Finally, ordinary
colds do not spread through the
community so rapidly or so ex-
tensively as does influenza.
In most eases person taken
rick with influenza feels sick rath.
er suddenly. 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 patients COM
plain Of feeling chilly, and with
this comes a fever in which the
temperature rises to 100 to lOt.
In most eases the pulse remains
relatively low.
Tn appearance one is struck by
the fact that the patient looks
sick. His eyes and the inner side
Of his eyelids may be slightly
ssbloodshot," or "congested," as
the doctors says. There may bel
running from the nose, or there
NAV be some cough. These signs
Of a cold may not be marked
nevertheless the patient looks and
feels very sick.
In addition to the appearance