Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-10-17

in 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 Some Of the patients, however
develop pneumonia, or Inflammation
of the ear, or meningitis, and many Of
these complicated cases die. Whether
this so-called Spanish Influenza is
identical with the cpidemics OF iniluen-
"a Of earlier years is not yet known.
"Epidcmics OF influenza have visited
this country since 1917 II 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 Ia the
thence over practically the entire civ
iilzed world. Three years later here
was another flare-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 u originated il
Spain. Some writer's who have studied
the question believe that the epidemic
came from the Orient and they call at
tom Ion %. Hn Ga el.~
mention the disease as occurring along
the eastern front In the summer and
fall OF 1917"
How can Spanish influenza" be rec
ognlxed7
There Is as yet no certain way In
which a single case OF Spanish influ.
enza' can be recognized. On the 9th
er hand, recognition is easy where
there is n group OF cases. In contrast
10 the outbreaks OF ordinary coughs
and colds, which usually occur in the
cold months, cpidemics OF Influenza
may occur al 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) ore by no
means as severe or as sudden I'm 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.
I'm most cases IA 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 IA.
tents complain Of feeling chilly. and
with this comes fever In which the
temperature rises 70 100 10 1OI. In
most cases the pulse remains relative.
ly slow.
"1n appearance one Is struck by the
fact that the patient looks sick. His
eyes and the inner side uf his eyelids
may be slightly 'hloodshot. or con
gostod, rs the doctors say. There
may he running from the nose. or
there may BE- some cough These signs
Of cold may not be marked newer
thelcss the patient looks and feels very
sick.
In addition 20 the appearance ana
the symptoms MS already described.
examination 81 the patients blood may
aid fhe physician ~ rrco-riain1 spun.
Sn influenza, for it ha., been found
that In this disease the number ri
white corpuscles shows little or no In.
crease above the normal. IL is posi-.
Bile that the laboratory Investigations
now being made through the National
Research Council and the United
States HYGIENE Laboratory will fur.
nish more certain way I'm which lndi.
vidual cases OF this disease can bs
recognized"
What 10 the course Of the dIsease7
Do people die Of It7
"Ordinarily, the fever lasts from
three TO four days and the patient re-
covers. But while the proportion Of
deaths In the present epidemic has
generally been low, in some places the