Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-10-11

| subject OF ln1lutllZd.
What is Spanish influenza? Is it
something new? Does il come from
Spain?
The disease now occurring in this
country and called Spanish infiuen-
"a" resembles a 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
severe sickness. In most of the cases
the symptoms disappear after three or
four days, the patient then rapidly re-
covering: some OF the patients, how
ever. develop pneumonia, or inf1ama-
ton OF the ear, or meningitis. and
many of these complicated cases die.
Whether this so-called Spanish in
fiucnza" is identical with the epidem-
les OF influt MA OF earlier years Is not
yet known.
| Epidcmics of influenza have visited
this country since 16i7. II is interest
ing to know that the 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 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 widely
over the United States.
Although the present epidemic Is
called Spanish Influenza" there is no
reason TO believe that 1t originated in
Spain. Some writers who have studied
the question believe that the epidemic
came from the Orient and they call
attention to the fact that the Ger
mans mention the disease as occurring
and fall of 1917.
| How can Spanish Influenza" be
| recognized?
There is as yet no certain way in
| which a single case Of Spanish influ-
cnza" can be recognized: on the other
hand. recognition Is easy where there
| is a group Of cases. In contrast TO the
outbreak of ordinary 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 in
| tcnsely in Europe in May. June, and
July. Moreover. In the case Of ordina-
ry colds, the general symptoms (fever.
pain. depression) are by no means as
severe or as sudden in their onset as
they are in influenza. Finally, ordina-
ry colds do not spread through the
community so rapidly or so extensive
ly as does influenza.
In most cases a person taken with
influenza feels rather sick 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
complain of feeling chilly, and with
this comes n fever In which the tenn
perature rises to 100 to 104. In most
cases the pulse remains relatively
slow.
In appearance one Is struck by the
fact that ono looks sick. His eyes and
the inner side of his eyelids may be
slightly 'bloodshot." or "congested." as
the doctors say. There may be run
ming from the nose. or there may be
some cough. These signs of n cold
may not be marked nevertheless the
patient looks and feels very sick.
In addition to the appearance and
the symptoms as already described.
examination Of the patients blood may
aid the physician in recognizing
Spanish influenza" for 1t has been
found that in this disease the number
of white corpuscles shows little or no
increase above the normal. II Is pos
sible that the laboratory Investigations
now being made through the National
Research Council and the United
States Hygienic Laboratory will fur
nish a more certain way In which in
dividual cases of this disease can be
recognized.
What Is the course of the disease?
Do people die Of It?
Ordinarily, the fever lasts from three
to four days and the patient recovers.
But while the proportion Of deaths in
the present epidemic has generally
been low, In some places the outbreak
has been severe and deaths have been
numerous. When death occurs II Is
usually the result of a complication.
What causes the disease and how Is
it spread?
Bacteriolosists who have studied In
luenza epidemics In the past have
found in many Of the cases a very
small rod shaped germ called after its
discovercr Pfeiffer's bacillus. In other
cases of apparently the same kind OF
disease there was found pneumococci.
the germs Of lobar pneumonia Still
others have been caused by strepto-
cocci and by other germs with long
names.
No matter what particular kind Of
germ causes the epidemic. II Is now
believed that influenza is always
spread from person to person. the
germs being carried with the air along
with the very small droplets of mucus,
expelled by coughing or sneezing.
forccful talking. and the like by one
who already has the germs OF the dis
ease. They may also be carried in the
air in the form of dust coming from
dried mucus. from coughing and
sncczing. or from careless people who
spit on the floor and on the sidewalk.
AS in most other catching diseases.
person who has only mild attack Of
the disease himself may give a very
severe attack to others.
What should be done by those who