The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-10-12
By DR.. Gordon Henry Hirshberg, A. NJ, MD.

symptom. The patient thus hacks and
sprays forth lots Of the microbes, which
spread the infection rapidly unless handled
with the greatest precauton.
A thick, tenacious sputum OF a whitish
mucoid character distinguishes this now
disease from the well-known OLD influenza
with its greenish sputum. This also dis
tnsuishes Spanish influenza from pueumo-
MIA. with its typical rusty colored tough
expectoration."
Failure Of intestinal action. restricted
flow Of the kidney fluids and a want Of
appetite play large role in the charac-
teristic signs and symptoms OF Spanish
influenza.
If you take close notice of the several
differences between this new malady and
the old 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
influenza, whereas in the previously known
influenza gastro-intestinal disturbances
were predominant
A most important discovery has just
been made with regard to this disease.
The specific microbe which causes it has
been definitely isolated. This is a complete
disproof of the assertion In some medical
publications that the BACILLUS was the
same as that of the old influenza, or grip.
This interesting discovery is due to the
researches of three English army sur.
geons. Captains T. r. Little, c. ]. Garafalo
and P. A. Williams. OF the Canadian Mo-
bile meteorological Laboratory, attached
to the British base hospitals.
loc ~ Crfn
fuenza, lasted three years. from 1889 until
1892. 1t spread like wi!dirc oyer the
civilized world during that periodT Then
several American psychologists at work
simultaneously and Professor Pfeiner dis
covered the grip germ, or influenza 5acil-
lus, which has since been confirmed and
established as the specific cause OF the
colds, pains, backaches and other classical
symptoms OF the old-time grip
The present scourge. it was soon found,
Is much more malignant and entirely diff
ferent from the other.
The manner in which the bacterial agent
which causes this plague was run TO earth
Is q model of the psychological skill, Sill
premacy efficiency and patience Of the
English and American medical STATS.
1t was recognized that the rauidity with
which the contagion spread pretty we'll
pointed TO some microbe or baCterium as
the guilty party. Il was also argued that
the causatve agent must Turk at least a
large part Of the time in or near the air
passages of the victim.
The coughs, the sputum the pneumonia
and bronchitis complications, the spray
from the nose and throat as it 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
the ocean. medical science has succeeded in
isolating and identifying the germs in just
that way at the very beginning Of the
American epidemic. which is therefore like
ly to be nipped i'll the bud.
The new bacillus is not in the blood.
Cultivation of it is impossible from this
source. 1t IS lucky that so demoniacal a
bug does not penetrate the delicate fluid
tissue Of man. Then its maignancy
would perhaps he tenfold
However, when the psychologists ex-
plored the discharges and eXcretions from
the nose, the pharynx and the throat. 10
and behold! their pioneer work was at
last rewarded.
Spread upon glass and examined under
a magnifcation Of 200 times. a new
microscopic living world opened up before
their astonished gaze.
A rertable beehive of trembling, vibrst-
ing bacilli almost as round and as small
and resembling the diplococcus Of meningi-
It's doomed UP beneath the high magnitica-
tions Of the microscope a diplococcus is
a type OF microbe in which two disc-like
shapes are attached to one another.
At the poles or opposing ends OF this
myriad Of tiny germs their torpedo. blunt
noses were lattened out to make them al
most biscuit shaped.