Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-09-26
IOWA PHYSICIANS SAY EPIDEMIC
IS oLp.FAsHioNEp lNFLu.
ENzA, NOTHING MORE.
NO DIFFERENCE FROM
PREVIOUS EPlcEMic
Caused by Busy Little Germ Which
Has Many or Few General Symptoms
II " You Contract Disease-Pneu-
monia Occasionally Develops.

Cedar Rapids, Sept. 26.-There are
anywhere from fifteen to fifty cases
OF spanish" influenza in Cedar Rap
! ids at present.
There have been few days in the
quarter of century or moro just
passed-except possibly in midsummer
when there have not been cases Of
the same disease in Cedar Rapids.
Last winter there were hundreds.
AS a matter of fact, in the opinion
of City Physician Beardsley and a
good many other Cedar Rapids men in
the same profession. Spanish influenza
Is just another name for the regular
old fashioned influenza and is no diff
ferent from the Influenza we have al
ways had A bad cold is a bad cold,
a worse cold is la grippe-which COW
ers a multitude OF things-and the
thing that is worse than la grippe is
influenza. Spanish influenza Is ordin-
ary influenza. in the opinion OF these
physicians. and this opinion Is upheld
by some Of the most noted medical
men in the country.
Caused by Busy Little Germ.
Influenza, whether Spanish or other
wise. is caused by a particularly ener-
getic germ, and is a parasitic disease.
1t may not have anything TO do with
bad cold. aitho the symptoms are
much the same. 1t goes across whole
states and nations as a form Of cpl
6emic just as bad colds and la grippe
will spread over entire cities and COM
munities. II is one Of the most swiftly
spreading maladies becase Of the rapid
incubation of the germ. These germs
are found in the blood, altho there II Is
COMPARATIVELY inactive, and in enor-
nous numbers in the bronchial mucus,
where it is coughed up to renew its
pernicious work.
This germ forms toxins or poisons
which continue on the rampage long
after the victim has apparently recoV-
cred. It exerts such general devital-
izing effect on the tissues that other
dangerous micro organizations which
ordinarily are held in check run riot
and catarrt, pneumonia and similar
conditions develop. It particularly at
tacks overworked and weakened or
cans. such as the heart and lungs. and
for this reason rest. nutrition. warmth
and tonics are important factors in Its
| treatment.
Symptoms Of the so-called Spanish
! influenza are just hker the ordinary
grippe" said well known physician
when the germ gets to work the
patient Is suddenly taken with severe
pains all over There is vertigo and
| nausea and sometimes actual vomit'
ing Of bilious matter. Frontal head
aches Of special severity are expert
enced. Pains in the eyebaNs are In
creased by the slightest movements Of
| the eye. There IS a general feeling OF
misery and weakess and great &C.
preston of spirits. The patient ma!
give way to weeping and suffer from
insomnia and occasionally deHrium
! In some cases catarrhal symptoms
NAV develop. such as running at the
! ewes. sneezing and sore throat. The
! glands in the throat and neck may
| swell and there may be splitting o.
! bright blood from the pharynx. OTTER
! tonsilitis appears. There is a hard or!
cough of paroxysmal kind. woSe a.
| night. and high fever. Spanish IN
| fuenza is just new name for the
old fashioned grippe