Studies on Epidemic Influenza: Comprising Clinical and Laboratory InvestigationsUniversity of Pittsburgh. School of Medicine
History
Studies on Epidemic Influenza: Comprising Clinical and Laboratory Investigations
University of Pittsburgh. School of Medicine
Influenza; Influenza Epidemic, 1918-1919
4. League Island Report (22). Vaccines were used as a preventive in 50
persons, most of whom were hospital apprentices and in the wards 12 to
15 hours a day. Other precautions were used, such as masks, but not a
single case developed in the group. The vaccine was used as a curative
agent in 50 uncomplicated cases; none of the patients injected early
developed pneumonia.
5. Puget Sound Navy Yards Report (23). The vaccine used at this station
was made from hæmolytic streptococci, no other organisms being used;
4,212 men were vaccinated, and not one died from influenza. Among 111
Philippinos isolated and vaccinated there occurred only 2 cases. Among
361 marines vaccinated early there occurred 2 cases. Among 62 marines at
the ammunition depot who were vaccinated early there occurred 3 cases,
only 1 of which occurred after completion of vaccination. Among 662
bluejackets at Seattle Training Camp only 10 men developed the disease.
Among 83 at the aviation corps there were 32 cases—31 of them developed
the disease within a few hours after the first injection. There were no
deaths in any of the above groups. The period of observation was closed
on October 21, and so few cases of influenza appeared subsequent to that
date that it seemed that the epidemic was practically over at the time
the data was obtained.
6. Kitano (24) used a vaccine for prophylaxis containing 0.2 m.g. of
Pfeiffer bacilli per c.c. on 10,300 persons with encouraging results. He
used vaccine for treatment on 87 patients, without any deaths. In the
same group were 270 cases treated in the usual way, with 23 per cent.
mortality. The vaccine lessened the severity, shortened the period of
illness, and lowered the mortality.
7. Wynn (25) used mixed vaccines in the treatment of influenza, and
believed they aborted the disease if given early.
8. Norman White (26) states that vaccination in India would be
impractical, because the disease is so brief and severe that it would be
over before innumerable doctors could complete inoculations.
9. Whitingham and Sims (27) reported the use of a mixed vaccine in an
institution where 156 were inoculated and 149 were not. The case
incidence was 5 per cent. among the vaccinated and 12 per cent. among
the controls. No statement of the stage of the epidemic at which
vaccination was done is mentioned in the report.
10. Cadham (28) reported on inoculations in a military hospital and in
the civilian population near Winnipeg. Of 282 vaccinated soldiers
admitted to the hospital, 17 had pneumonia and 5 died. Of 238 not
vaccinated, 41 had pneumonia and 17 died. Among 24,184 civilians given
two doses, 9.7 per cent. had influenza and 0.5 per cent. had pneumonia
and 0.09 per cent. died. Among 85,941 controls, 24.8 per cent. had
influenza, 2.2 per cent. pneumonia and 0.66 per cent. died. Cadham
states that most of the inoculations were made early in the epidemic,
but no accurate statistics were kept on the point.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account