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
A weather comparison of 12 large cities, well distributed over the
United States, studied during this pandemic of influenza and checked
with normal weather during that of many years, shows: Boston, fair with
no abnormality; New York, clear and delightful, no abnormality;
Philadelphia, mild and fair; Pittsburgh, mild and cloudy; Cleveland,
pleasant fall weather; Chicago, normal and dry; Louisville, delightful
fall weather; St. Louis, fair and warm-damp, rainy weather later seemed
to control the epidemic; New Orleans, mild; Minneapolis, a rainy fall
and no cold weather, which is unusual there; San Francisco, generally
fair, and Portland, Oregon, clear and dry.
_The Epidemic in Universities and Colleges_
At Bryn Mawr College, in Pennsylvania, an institution devoted to the
higher education of women, located within 10 miles of the city of
Philadelphia, the epidemic occurred at the beginning of the college
year—October 1. This college at the time had an enrollment of 465
students. There were 85 cases of influenza, with an additional 25 who
suffered from influenza in their homes. There were no deaths from
pneumonia. The weather conditions were clear and warm, and since
November 29 there have been no new cases occurring in the college and
only three or four of the students have been ill at their homes since
that time.
[Illustration:
DATES OF THE APPEARANCE OF INFLUENZA ENDEMIC IN VARIOUS CITIES OF THE
UNITED STATES
1918.
]
The enrollment at Smith College, Northampton, Mass., was 2,103, and the
first case of influenza appeared with the arrival of the students on
September 18 and reached its height on September 30. All group
gatherings indoors were stopped from October 3 to October 18, and the
epidemic was over by October 20. A recurrence began November 15 and
continued until December 17. There were 182 cases in the first epidemic
and 100 cases in the second. There were only two deaths from influenza
pneumonia. During the rise of the epidemic the weather was rainy,
followed by good, clear weather. The change in weather conditions seemed
to make no difference. The second epidemic was still prevalent when the
students left for their holidays.
In Wellesley College, where there were enrolled 1,593 students, the
epidemic first appeared on September 18. Up to the middle of December
they had had 280 cases. During six weeks of the epidemic 265 cases were
reported and only one death occurred from broncho-pneumonia. For the
most part, bright and sunny days were present, with only a few cloudy
and rainy days. This college has not been without cases since September,
but the epidemic lasted only about six weeks.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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