The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1918-10-11
SPANISH FLUE, ORIGIN
SYMPTOMS And CURE
Malady Is An Old One And
A Product Of The Far
East.

lacking many environments and cities
of the country, is not making its APP
pearance in America fof the first
first time. There have been other
world epidemics of this disease,
which have in time reached this coun-
try and taken severe toll of the popu-
| lation. In an article printed in the
current number of the journal of the
American Medical Association, an in
teresting glimpse at the present and
past of the "fiu" is given. A resume
of the article follows:
Under various names, epidemics
corresponding to epidemic influenza
have occurred at irregular intervals,
since accurate descriptions have been
made of the disease It is likely that
at still earlier times this disease was
combined and confused with other
epidemic disorders and so did not
stand out as an entity until a rela-
lively modern period. In early Eng
lish literature this disease is spoken
of under a variety of terms. Creigh-
ton recognizes it under the name
ague' used by British seventeenth
century authors. In 1863 Cromwell
died from this disease, when Morton
says the country was zone vast hos
pital." The italian term influenza"
first came to England in association
with the epidemic of 1742, and it has
been employed in connection with the
great epidemics of 1888, 1S47 and
.1SS9-90.
Originated In The East.
THE pandemics usually originated
in the far East and gradually ex-
tended westward The rate of human
travel and the degree of intercourse
determined the rapidity of the extern
sion.
The causative agent of epidemic
influenza has not been certainly re-
cognized.
THE cases in the present epidemic
begin usually quite suddenly with
pain in the head, back, eyes, limbs
and joints. With the pain there is
great prostration, chilliness and a fe-
yer of from 101 to 1O4 degrees. The
pulse dose not become very rapid and
the patient is often drowsy. Vomiting
may occur. Sometimes there may be
diarrhoea. but usually there is consti-
patton. After the disease has become
established the mucous membranes of
the nose and throat become Redeemed
and there is sneezing and redness of
the conjunctivae. Involvement of the
larynX causes hoarness, and of the
bronchi, causing caugh, are common.
mot infrequently a lobular pneu-
monia developes after a few days, and
this is responsible for most of the ia
talities.
THE incubation period in these in
fluenzas is probably very short, but it
is difficult to obtain accurate figures
on this point The disease is probably
opi eau NHlitilViy ny tOhtoNt ihlCtblOhs
the virus of the disease being dissem-
mated for short distances through
droplets driven into the air in caugh-
ing and sneezing. Circumstances
which favor this means of spread.
such as crowding in street cars favor
the spread of the disease.
Treatment Is SymptOmatic.
p THE treatment is largely sympto-
matte. Acetylsalicylic acid or similar
remedies may be required to relieve
pain. Warm baths may give relief.
The mouth should be kept clean and
elimination stimulated by the free in
gestion of water and hot drinks. The
patient should be kept in bed in
well-venilated room until the fever
has disappeared. Chilling should be
avoided.
Specific measures are not availa-
BILE in treatment of influenza. With
certain indentifications of the causal
agent, we may hope for some spe-
cific protective measures and prehaps
for some specific therapeutic serum.
1.-The measures to be taken to pre-
vent the spread of the disease COM
prise all those which interfere with
the transfer of infectious materials
from the sick to the uninfected. This
includes isolation of the patient and
the intelligent use of proper gauze
masks by the attendant. In the time
of an epidemic prompt and efficient
isolation of the first cases in the COM
munity should accomplish much. II
this has been neglected and the in
lection has spread among the popula-
ton, measures which prevent the
coming together of numbers of per-
sons i'm close quarters, are to- be inn
ployed. The desirability of closing
schools in large cities in the presence
of an epidemic is a measure of doubt
full value. In smaller places this is
more reasonable, and the danger of
infections, when the children are out
doors, should be less than when they
H.,