EPIDEMIC OF INFLUENZA

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 438, 18 January 1890, Page 6

EPIDEMIC OF INFLUENZA

HISTORY OF THE DISEASE. EPIDEMIC IN SYDNEY 50 YEARS I ,7.77 . 7 AGO. .77 ' To the majority of people the cablegrams which have recently appeared with regard, to the epidemic of influenza in Europe will have come as a revelation. There will nob have been wanting sceptics to cunningly regard the intelligence as purely fanciful ; others again, more simple minded and practical, will probably have wondered that “such a fuss should have been made about *a cold in the head,’ ” even though that head happened to be a crowned one. The fact is, says the “ Sydney Telegraph,” that the popular idea of the disease or complaint is that it is decidedly inconvenient to the immediate sufferer, and at times a little trying to the nerves of his or her friends ; that it is occasionally painful, but never really dangerous, and always more or less ridiculous, exciting even less sympathy from the non-suffering beholder than sea-sickness itself. But the term, as originally applied, was used to describe a complaint much more serious in its character and eflectsthan the common catarrh. Fortunately these epidemics of the real disease are of comparatively infrequent occurrence. Various epidemics of influenza are on record from the middle ages down to recent times. From the various-records it would appear that the intervals between the outbreaks have been longer as time progressed. The disease is described as assuming three distinct forms—(l) that in which it is simple or unattended by any serious complication; (2) when it is complicated by serious affection of < the aerial mucous membrane, and especially with bronchitis and pneumonia; and (3) when disorder of the digestive organs, which generally exists to some degree in the disease, becomes a more prominent character, while there are markedrhcumatic symptoms and a tendency to assume a remittent form.

Little is known of the exciting causes of influenza, and even the best authorities are divided as bo the manner of its propagation. With regard to the march of these epidemics, the observations made do not lead to any satisfactory conclusion in this respect. ; In the present ease the disease would appear to have spread very rapidly over the continent as it carried on the wind, which would also, perhaps, account for its slightly eccentric course after leaving the mainland. There is something to be said in. favour of this theory. Renault records an epidemic of influenza on board a French mail steamer on the passage from Marseilles to Alexandria coincident with the appearance of the disease on the Mediterranean coast. There were also a number of eases to be found in a collection of communications on the subject made by surgeons of the : English navy. For example, on board an English ship of war cruising on the coast of Cuba in 1857 and holding no communication with the shore, the major part of the crew fell ill of influenza, and it was afterwards ascertained that the disease had been prevalent during the very same time in Trinidad and other parts of .the Indian Islands. In later times the outbreaks of influenza, it would appear, have not only been less frequent but also less dangerous than the earlier experiences. But as late as 1836, which was extremely bad year, the disease made great ravages, and it is worthy of note that in the following year the malady made its-appear-ance in these southern seas, albeit the “oldest inhabitant.” will probably have forgotten the circumstance by this time. In December, 1836, influenza showed itself in Russia, Sweden and Denmark ; .in January, 1837, in London, and in a very brief time it spread over all England, Germany, and France. In January the disease appeared in Berlin, and somewhat later in Dresden, Munich, and Vienna. At the beginning of February, Switzerland and France -were attacked, and at the end of March, Spain also. In London almost the whole population was attacked, and the mortality was vary great. “ This epidemic,” says Dr. Ziemssen, “ also spread to the Southern Hemisphere, and prevailed, at Sydney and the Cape of Good Hope at the same time that it visited the north of Europe, and at directly the opposite season of the year therefore. . . Most observers were astonished at the great; mortality of thisepidemic.” We find that “ the more recent epidemics have run a less dangerous course,” and therefore, like the last epidemic of 1874 in Berlin, have been scarcely mentioned in literature.

In places where the disease occurs it is said to attack first the female population, next the adult males* and lastly the children. In some epidemics the children, moreover, remain strangely exempt. No connection with atmospheric conditions has' been established, although some observers declare particularly violent changes in temperature or foggy weather and the like to have been prevalent at the time of epidemics. A question of interest for us is, what are the chances of the epidemic travelling to Australia. So far as can be ascertained there is nothing in the history of the disease to warrant an opinion being formed one way or the other. ' Some few years ago there was what might be called a slight epidemic of influenza, in Sydney, but it was of a very mild type, not differing materially, if at'all, from the peculiar “ cold in the head ” which popularly goes by that name. In the meantime, there is some comfortin the reflection that the disease is said to. be non-contagious, and that of late years, wherever it has appeared it has been of: less virulent character than it formerly was. - .

A representative of the “Sydney Daily Telegraph ” waited upon Dr. Maiming, the President of the Board of Health, with the view of obtaining an authoritative opinion upon the subject. Dr. Manning, speaking generally,, said he could form no opinion as'to the chances of the epidemic reaching Australia, nor could he say much on the subject as it stood, in the absence of information which will be contained in the medical journals published in England. . >'* Questioned with regard to the contagious character of influenza; Dr. Manning said there appeared-to be no doubt that, whatever the exciting cause of the disease, it was carried from place to- place in the air, and that it was not contagious-in the ordinary sense. - v-- •- : With regard to sanitary precautions, DrManning said nothing could be done toprove effectual in warding off an epidemicof influenza, for- the reasons that he had; already given, that is to say it, wouldnot come through any-one of the- wellknown channels in: which it could? beat- J tacked, like cholera or other contagious' diseases ; it would, in all probability, come/ suddenly, if it cam© at all, and spread-' rapidly, as it had done elsewhere, and giveno warning. That was practically all he* had to say about th© matter.