Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1918-10-17
something new7 Does II come fror,
Spain7


"a resembles very contagious kind
OF cold accompanied by fever. pains
In the head, eyes, ears back or other
parts Of the body and a feeling Of Sc
we're sickness. In most of the cases tho
symptoms disappear after three or four
DAYS, the patient then rapidly recover
ing. Some Of the patients, however
ueVeiop 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 epidemics of lnfiuen-
"a OF earlier years is not yet known.
"Epidemics of influenza have visited
this country since l647 1t is interest
Ing to know that this first epidemic
was brought here from Valencia.
Spain. Since that time there have
been numerous epidemics of tbe dis
ease. In 1889 and 1890 an epidemic
OF Influenza, starting somewhere in the
Orient, spread first to Russia and
thence over practically the entire civ
ilized world. Three years later there
was another flare-up of the disease
Both times the epidemic spread wide
ly over the United States.
Although the present epidemic Is
called Spanish Influenza there is no
reason to believe that ii originated in
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 1917"
How can Spanish influenza" be REQ
ognized7
There is as yet no certain way in /
which a single case of Spanish infiu- !
enza' can be recognized. On the 9TH
er hand, recognition is easy where
there is a group of cases. In contrast
to the outbreaks of ordinary coughs
and colds which usually occur in the
cold months, epidemlcs 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
30 extensively as does influenza.
"In most cases a person taken sick
with Influenza feels sick rather sud
denly. He feels we K: 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 fever in which the
rises to 100 TO 1O4. In
most cases the pulse remains relative
ly slow.
"In appearance one Is struck by the
fact that the patient looks sick. His
eyes and the inner side Of his eyelids
may be slightly 'bloOdshot,' or con
as the doctors say. There
nay be running frcil the nose, or
here may be seine cough These signs
f a cold may net he marked never
heless the patient looks and feels very
tex.
in addition 10 the appearance ana
he symptoms az already described,
&C The .atient's blood may
I'D the physician IL recognizing 'Span-
sh influenza, 70. II has been found
hat in this disease the number Of
White corpuscles shows little or no in
rease above the normal. 1t is posi-
lie that the laboratory Investigations
low being made through the National
Research Council and the United
;tates HYGIENE Laboratory will fur
ish a more certain way in which indi-
idual cases of this disease can be
What is the course Of the disease?
10 people die of Il?
"Ordinarily, the fever lasts from
hree to four days and the patient re-
overs. But while the proportion OF
eaths in the present epidemic has
enerally been low, in some places the
has been severe and d""'hs
ave been numerous When --....' o.
urs 1t is usually the result of com
lication."
What causes the disease and no" Is
spread?
"Racteriologists who have studied In
uenza epidemics in the past nave
md in many Of the cases very
mall rod shaped germ called, after It's
Iscoverer. Pfeiffer's bacillus. In other
asses of apparently the same KIND OF
isease there were found pneumococcl,
10 germs of lobar pneumonia. sun
fhers have been caused by strepto-
Dccl. and by others germs with long
ames. liza -
"No matter what particular kind Oh
orn causes the epidemic, it is no"
olieved that influenza Is Always
,read from person to person. lhe
.r,ns helng carried with the air along
ith the very small droplets of mucus'
nv couohing or sneezlis'