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
The earliest pulmonary lesion which we encountered was one of
congestion, inflammatory œdema and hemorrhage. These three conditions
were usually present at the same time and were found in the height of
intensity in all of the cases dying within the first four days of
illness. During this early period these manifestations of inflammation
were not accompanied by definite red or grey hepatization as might
ordinarily be expected. The lesions varied greatly in their intensity,
the œdema always being very prominent, while the hemorrhage varied from
a diffuse infiltration of the involved lobe or added to this, was
localized in massive collections four or five cm. in diameter and
commonly occupying the central portions of the lobes. We have seen
several hemorrhages lying in close proximity to each other with their
borders coalescing and leading to a larger central involvement. In the
regions where the hemorrhage and inflammatory œdema were diffuse, air
was still present within the lung tissue, sometimes to an extent
permitting the lung tissue to float on water but more often in quantity
sufficient only to suspend the tissue at various depths. On pressure the
fine air bubbles were recognized amidst the blood-stained fluid. Acute
compensatory emphysema often occupied the anterior borders of the lobes
or formed interstitial blebs beneath the pleura. The quantity of fluid,
inflammatory œdema and hemorrhage, contained within these bulky lobes
was often very surprising. A lobe when compressed would leak fluid with
the ease that it could be obtained from a sponge. Out of the lower lobe
on one occasion we pressed 700 c.c. of limpid blood-stained exudate. The
acute emphysema which may make its appearance suddenly, is
TABLE VIII
DISTRIBUTION OF PNEUMONIC LESIONS AND GRADES OF SEVERITY
═════════════════════════════════════
DEGREE OF INVOLVEMENT + ++ +++ Total
Left upper lobe 10 6 7 23
Left lower lobe 4 10 17 31
Right upper lobe 12 8 9 29
Right middle lobe 10 9 4 23
Right lower lobe 5 9 18 3
─────────────────────────────────────
All lobes were simultaneously
involved in some grade of pneumonia
in 18 cases—56 per cent.
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