Influenza : $b An epidemiologic studyVaughan, Warren T. (Warren Taylor)
History
Influenza : $b An epidemiologic study
Vaughan, Warren T. (Warren Taylor)
Influenza
Both groups of observers have described in some detail the pathology of
the cases which were necropsied. The author in attempting to obtain
further comparative information has submitted the pathologic
descriptions given by the British authors to Dr. E. W. Goodpasture, who
has very kindly pointed out the points of similarity and difference
between the gross and microscopic findings in these cases of purulent
bronchitis, and the same findings in typical influenza. He says that the
lung picture, as described, is not the same as that which was typical of
the acute influenza observed in the autumn of 1918 and again in the
winter of 1920. The characteristic picture in the latter is primarily an
extensive involvement of the alveolar structure, while as Abrahams and
his associates remarked, the condition in their case is primarily “an
affection of the bronchi and bronchioles, and not of the alveoli, though
the alveoli may be affected later, if the patient survives long enough.”
Goodpasture states that the pathology as described by the British
authors is very similar to the lung picture in interstitial
bronchopneumonia described by MacCallum for the post-measles and primary
bronchopneumonia among our troops in the winter of 1917–18. The
streptococcus and the influenza bacillus were dominant organisms in
MacCallum’s series. It also resembles the pathologic picture described
by Pfeiffer in his original article on one of the late recurrences of
the 1889–93 epidemics of influenza.
In summing up, we must admit that it is impossible to reach a definite
conclusion, but that both clinically and pathologically the disease
described among the British troops in 1916 and 1917 was not typical of
influenza as we have known it more recently. The similar conclusion
reached by Carnwath, presumably chiefly from epidemiologic
considerations, has already been described. We do not deny that this
“purulent bronchitis” _may_ have been influenza. On the contrary, it is
a part of our hypothesis that influenza under the proper conditions may
become epidemic in practically any land. But we do believe that the
evidence has not shown that the disease among the British troops in 1916
and 1917 was an etiologic precursor of the great pandemic.
To return to a discussion of influenza in China, we quote from an
article by Cadbury in the China Medical Journal: “Unfortunately no
health reports are available for the greater part of the Chinese
Republic. We have consulted, however, the Health Reports of the Shanghai
Municipal Council from 1898 to 1917, and among the total foreign deaths
we find that only the following were attributed to influenza: 1899, one
death; 1900, one death; 1907, four deaths; 1910, one death. After this
no deaths are recorded from this cause up to and including the year
1917.
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