Читать книгу Studies on Epidemic Influenza: Comprising Clinical and Laboratory Investigations онлайн

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We are much indebted to Dr. Ogden M. Edwards, dean of the School of Medicine, for making available the facilities for carrying out the work, and for encouraging the publication of the reports.

Oskar Klotz.

Pittsburgh, June, 1919.

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By James I. Johnston, M. D.

The history of epidemic influenza extends back with definite authenticity to the Middle Ages, with a fair amount of assurance to the beginning of the Christian Era and with presumptive reliability even before that period. Beyond this statement, nothing definite can be said until the first epidemic reported by Short and found in the English Annals in the year 1510. This, the first reliable record, presented some features not unlike those occurring in the present epidemic. Two or three striking things stand out in this record—namely, the presence of nose bleed, pneumonia and the very great danger to gravid women. Here, for the first time, the meteorological conditions were elaborately studied and persistently dwelt upon. One other impressive thing, also reported by Short, was that in 1580 the disease showed a tendency to return after a period of quiescence. Attention is called to this because the epidemic, while it was exceedingly prevalent in the months of August and September, became pandemic in October and November. Another feature was that during the years intervening between 1580 and 1658 sporadic cases of this disease were frequently reported. During the latter year another epidemic appeared in the month of April. In 1657 and 1658 at London the summer was very warm, the winter came on early, there was much snow and the spring was very moist.