INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1918, Page 4

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

WORLD-WIDE DISEASE. An interesting discussion of the nature and characteristics of influenza, lias been contributed to the “Melbourne Argus” by a medical correspondent. He remarks that true influenza, when it has appeared in the form of groatworld outbreaks lias always been marked by dramatic suddenness of onset and the number of persons attacked. Almost all the great pandemic: waves of influenza in liistory has been distinguished by some descriptive title. A generation ago the last greater appearance was first manifested in Russia, and went by the name of Russian influenza, just as the present pandemic is “Spanish’’ because it first developed in Spain.. Tfiie Very nlame “influenza” comes to us from an Italian outbreak, about 1743, In which the causation was attributed to the influence of the stars. A century later the disease was Chinese influenza, since the first manifestation was in that country. Throughout all liistory the disorder is recognisable, and: it lias ever been held that the disease which attacked the armies engaged in the siege of Troy was influenza. In 1675 Evelyn made an entry in his diary: “I got an extreme cold, such as was afterwards so epidemical as not only to affect, in this island, but was rife all over Eitropc, like a plague. MYSTERY OF DISTRIBUTION. Influenza is of extraordinary interestfrom the scientific standpoint. .. It is unquestionably a distinctive illness which appears from time to time i' l great world epidemics and in the sarnc disease century after century. The extraordinary feature attaching to it is its pandemic character. It appears almost over the whole world within a very short period, and in circumstances, which arc scarcely explicable by any theory of direct transmission, either by human or animal sufferers . There are many recorded instances of influenza attacking a ship’s company at sea, and one of the classic records is that, of the naval squadron which sailed from Spithead in 1782, under Admiral Kempenfeldt. The ships left port on May 2nd and had no communication thereafter with the shore, cruising all the time between Brest and the Li bard. On May 29th influenza broke out in one ship, and in a few days the whole fleet, was so stricken that it- was necessary toreturn to port. The squadron of Lord. Howe, which was off I lie Dutch const, was similarly attacked at the same time, although there was no communication with the shore. A still more striking record is that of a passenger ship called the Stag, which was coming up the ‘English Channel on April 3rd, 1833. She reported to a Devonshire coast station “All Well.” The same evening sixty of her list wore suddenly affected with influenza. On that same day Sir Thomas Watson saw the first two eases of influenza in London which preceded the general epidemic and the disease appeared in « wholesale manner in the Portsmouth barracks on the following day. Since that day have come upon the scene the bacteriologist, who points out the minute vegetable germs which must, be visible before modern science, can accept the disease beyond all doubt There is no question even among bacteriologists that all infectious disease germs require a particular environment to enable them to assume an epidemic •virulence. Popular theory has from time immemorial associated epidemics disease with “something in the and if this phrase is translated into <o scientist’s “optimum atmospheric > > virpnment,” it means precisely the same thing. It may be impossible to imagine that, a particular germ can lie transmitted from China to Peru in a few hours. But it is possible to inquire if the germ be present in each place to begin with could a particular ntino. spheric change of state be transmitted which would encourage the disease organism to become suddenly active? So far, we know nothing of the kind; but wc do know that an atmospheric disturbance in Cornwall can he transmitted in a few minutes over 12.000 miles of “space” to an atmosphere surrounding n “wireless” station in Australia. It gives one furiously to think that there are more possibilities of disease transmissions in heaven and earth than our science yet comprehends.

PROTECTIYIv MEASURES. Influenza, lias a mortality of its own but in proportion to tbe numbers of persons attacked it is a very low mortality Nevertheless, influenza predisposes to many serious .complications, and is always to be treated with caution for in all influenza epidemics the general mortality, is notably increased;. Fortunately, in tbe majority of instances the treatment is simple, and the affection runs its course in five to seven days. Tt 'is doubtful if any treatment shortens I tills natural phenomenon The best l proof that Spanish influenza is no unknown disease is tbe fact that tbe Spanish doctors record no appearance with which they were not perfectly familiar. The season of tbe year does not mok e any material difference in tbe virulence of flic germ. It is impossible to lay down any pro. caution against the infection, except that of avoiding, as far as possible, any contact with persons suffering from influenza, and the maintenance of personal hygiene. The modern idea of protective vaccination docs not- appear to hold out much encouragement. Influenza is a disease which in itseTf confers only a very short immunity. In other words, we may suffer repeatedly from influenza, and it- is unlikely that a vaccine will give a longer freedom from attack Than the disease itself. So far as experience shows it is probably a harmless procedure if carefully performed. It would appear that a true influenza is at present assuming a pandemic character, and in fact of this intelligence it is necessary to be vigilant, but there is no occasion for panic. CFrom “Household Words,” 1854.) The following are some extracts from an article in this old periodical:— “l have' observed that when you have a cold in the nose vou are always in the habit of calling it the Influenza. No doubt the influenza is a catarrh, but then it is an epidemic catarrh, and it is by no means alwaysprevailing. It lias only raged about n score of times during the last three centuries. It is an epidemic and a very strange one. It is produced by some subtle influence in tbe air. and the Italians therefore called the whole disease the “Influence” or Influenza. The French call it the Grippe. The old doctors called it cat- '

arrrh by contagion. Certainly it is contagious, but that is not all. True influenza is accompanied with an enormous depression of the spirit and the vital energies. The Influenza of 1837 was practically more fatal than cholera though not so apparently. Many more died of it than during a season of cholera. but then the numbers attacked are incomparably greater. In the year 1833 it visited us. A ship, the. “Stag” was coming up the Channel, and at 2 o’clock arrived at Berry Head, all on board well. There was an easterly wind blowing from the land, and in half an hour forty men were smitten with influenza. .By 2 o’clock next day there were one hundred and sixty men laid up. On the same 3rd. April, the disease appeared in London, and on the evening of that day, the regiment on duty at Portsmouth went to bed all well, but on the next morning there were not soldiers enough to get up to do garrison duty. Evidently the time has come round again for another visitation of this “influence” as described ill tbe above quoted old article. WHAT IS PNEUMONIC INFLUENZA ? DR THACKER, M.P. EXPLAINS. “ British medical journals are reporting on the epidemics of so-called Spanish influenza,” said Dr Thacker to a reporter, “ and from observations under microscope, and by culture, it is proved, on the authority of Professor Hort, of Birming ■ ham University, that 8 per cent of the organisms are influenza (Pffieffer’s bacillus), or true influenza, and that the other organisms are micrococci and diplococci—that is, of the pneumococcus and cerebro-spinal meningitis type. The world-wide epidemic is one of mixed infection,” Dr Thacker added. “ The patient gets ordinary influenza symptoms, and then the other acute organisms present take charge, particularly on the nervous system and the lungs—that is, septic pneumonia. This is particularly the case in crowded damp surroundings, and outside cases coming into a locality that is already affected will always increase the virulence i or the trouble. That is probably ; what happened in Auckland. That ! the authorities recognised it to ! be so is proved by the prophvlaci tic processes they are putting for- ; ward, in the way of inhalants and ; inhaling chambers. I “The proper course for the patient , attacked,” Dr Thacker added, “is to give up occupation and get into bed between blankets, drinking copiously ol broths and iruit drinks, and if there is great depression, alcohol, either an effervescing wine or spirits diluted with effervescing waters. “ The best prescription,” Dr Thacker concluded, “is two teaspoonsful of pure forma'iu in twe tablespoonsful of lavender water oi Eau de Cologne, to be inhaled frequently. If the health authorities made it incumbent on every travellei to produce a flask of this or something similar, it would be bettei than all the fumigations at the termini, because the people carrying the flasks would he dispensing the inhalant to themselves and everybody else wherever they might be. The drug I have found most useful is salicylate ol soda (12 grains) in combination with bromide o.f potassium, taken in water internally That will take down the temperature and remove all nerve paim within 10 hours.”