The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-10-12

T He first really serious epidemic OF
disease produced by the great war
- is that called the Spanish intu-
enza," which has caused deplorable NOR
tally in New York and New England
At the outset it should be said that the
term Spanish influenza" Is clearly an
error, and that the name should be Ger
man influenza" for investigation proves
that the disease originated in the German
trenches. 1t has since made. tour Of the
entire civilized world, in the course Of
which 1t broke out with especial severity
In Spain. owing to certain local conditions.
The French. noting its ravages in Spain,
and not having suffered very badly them
selves, gave it the title Spanish influ-
enza."
That this should be the only epidemic
disease produced by the world war IS a
remarkable proof of the protection afforded
to us by modern medicine and hygiene.
After nearly all other great wars. as a re-
suit OF the misery. starvation and enfeeble-
ment Of the population. there have been
great outbreaks Of pestilence, which have
. depopuated cities and even countries.
The disease generally known as the
bubonic plague" is the great plague which
caused the great ravages OF past war
epochs. It's cost in human lives has not
been3less than two billions. In addition, out
breaks Of smallpox, cholera, typhus and
yellow fever have followed facilitating
wars.
Fortunately our enormous progress in
: medicine and our material resources for
combating disease give assurance that no
plague epidemic Of such magnitude as
those OF the past can occur in America at
the present time.
How widespread has been the outbreak
of Spanish influenza is shown by the fact
that our Assistant Secretary OF the Navy.
Franklin D. Roosevelt suffered from 1t.
while, at about the time he was recovering
the Youngest son Of the King Of Sweden
died OF It,
The first known advent Of the influenza
in this country occurred when the Nor
wegian ship Bergensfjord arrived at New
York on August 10 with twenty-five cases.
three of whom died. but there were prob
ably other sources OF infection, apart from
the report that the German U-boats sur
reptiriouSly disseminated the injection IN
this country. Independent sources Of in
lection. apparently, reached Boston and
New England. where the disease ragged
most alarminsly, causing seventy deaths
in one day and 5000 cases at the Camp
DerenS military camp.
And now just what happens TO the SUI
ferer from Spanish influenza? From obser-
rations OF one thousand soldiers it was
found that from one to three days after
contact or approach to others who had the
disease leverish state began. This fever
rose steadily until on the second or third
day afterwards. it was as high as occurs
in pneumonia. In many cases it went as
high at 104 deg. Fair. Indeed, it Is APP
parent that one Of the most common as
we'll as the most dangerous complications
is that Of pneumonia.
The disease starts with a chill or chills
that may shake the whole room you're in.
Severe headaches, with pains in the legs.
in the groin, in the neck. in the spine, and
in the small OF the back are generally
present
Then that tired feeling" named by doe
tors general malaise" takes charge Of the
sufferers anatomy. The victim feels
wretched all over. Fever blisters, those
frequent accomplishments Of pneumonia. of
meningitis and Of terttan malaria, BREAK
putt on the sufferers lips.
The face becomes flushed, thermom-
eter stuck under the tongue registers 102
to l04 degrees, and the victim as well as
his doctors knows he's in for it badly.
Spanish Influenza "cures or kills in
Liberty motor speed Within four days the
worst is usually over. About the second
day the abrupt crisis takes place. On the
fourth day the patient is either as we'll as
be ever was, or pneumonia or another COM
plication asserts its dangerous presence.
Aharsh cough is frequently encountered