INFLUENZA (La Grippe)

Category: Infectious Diseases

La Grippe is an acute infectious disease caused by
a germ. It may be epidemic, attacking a large number of persons at one
time, or it may continue in the same region for some time and is then
called endemic. It is caused by a germ, discovered by a man named
Pfeiffer.

The Onset. The onset may be from one to four days and is usually sudden
with a chill and all the symptoms of an active fever due to a general
infection, varying according to the location. If in the organs of
respiration it begins like a severe cold; active fever, severe pains in
the eyes, back, arms, legs, and in the bones; "aches all over" and great
prostration. After the fever subsides there is usually a general sore
feeling. Symptoms of bronchitis, pleurisy or pneumonia may develop. Then
there is the nervous type, generally with a bad headache, neuralgia, pains
in the head, backache, legs and arms ache and prostration. May also have
inflammation of nerves. Then again the stomach and bowels may be the main
seat, for La Grippe has no respect for any organ. We have then symptoms of
acute indigestion with fever, nausea, vomiting, stomach pains or acute
bowel trouble with fever, colicky pain in the abdomen; diarrhea; or we may
have the febrile (fever) type. This may be the only symptom. The fever may
be continuous or remittent, and last several days or several weeks and
often with pains accompanying it.

In all forms convalescence is often gradual on account of the bodily and
mental prostration with general soreness for several days. Many persons
never fully regain their health, especially if they are careless during
the attack, and almost any disease like bronchitis, kidney disease,
pleurisy, pneumonia, etc., may follow.

LA GRIPPE, Mothers' Remedies. 1. Pepper, Red or Cayenne for. "Make a tea
of red pepper or cayenne, and take a tablespoonful in a cup of hot water,
drink slowly, before each meal and on retiring. Larger doses in proportion
to the intensity of the disease." Sponging the face, temples and neck with
water as hot as can be borne relieves the headache of la grippe, which is
often very painful and annoying.

2. La Grippe, Easy Remedy for. "Plenty of good physic with hot teas of
any kind has helped my own family."

3. La Grippe, Pleasant and Effective Remedy for. "Use the oil of
peppermint freely; rubbing it on the forehead, in front and back of the
ears and each side of the nose. Inhale through each nostril separately. If
the throat is affected pour two or three drops in small dish of hot water.
Invert a funnel over the dish with the small end in the mouth and draw
long breaths. Soak the feet in hot water at bedtime and take a good sweat,
if possible."

4. La Grippe, To Allay Fever in. "To produce sweating and to act on the
kidneys and to allay restlessness in fever use the following: Lemon juice
and water equal parts, enough to make four ounces; bicarbonate of
potassium, one dram; water, three ounces. Make and keep in separate
solutions to be used in tablespoonful doses several times daily and taken
while effervescing, that is, foaming and bubbling up."

5. La Grippe. Poor Man's Herb Vapor Bath for. "Give a Turkish or vapor
bath every other day. A pail of hot water, with a hot brick thrown into it
and placed under a cane-seated chair is the poor man's vapor bath. The
patient should be covered. Then take the following herb tea:

Yarrow 2 ounces
Vervain 2 ounces
Mullein 2 ounces
Boneset 1 ounce
Red Sage 2 ounces

Add two quarts of water and boil down to three pints; strain, and then add
one ounce fluid extract of ginger; sweeten with honey or syrup; take a
wine glassful three times a day, hot. Keep the bowels open and let the
diet be light."

6. La Grippe, Red Pepper Treatment From Canada for. "Take a bottle of
alcohol and put enough red peppers in it so that when four drops of this
liquid are put in a half cup of water it tastes strong. This is what I
always break up my grippe with." Peppers thus prepared stimulates and
warms up the stomach and bowels, and increases the circulation.

PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for La Grippe. All discharges from the nose, throat
and lungs should be disinfected, for the disease is contagious. Go to bed
and stay there. You have no business to be around if you value your
health. I am not writing of common cold. A great many people say they have
had this disease when they have not had it. One who has had this disease
is sick enough to go to bed, and there is where he should be. For the
chill a sweat should be produced by putting hot water in fruit jars,
wrapping them and placing them around the patient's feet, legs and body.
Hot tea drinks can be given; hot lemonade, teas made from hoarhound,
ginger, hops and catnip are good.

Next: Corn Sweat
Previous: QUINSY. (Suppurative Tonsilitis)

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INFLUENZA (La Grippe)