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 epidemics of influenza which have been recorded from time to time
during the past few centuries have always contributed an interesting
chapter to the history of medicine. The protean character of the disease
with its many complications is always an excuse for another attempt at
the description of the clinical manifestations of a recent epidemic.
This is not, however, the only incentive at the present time for
describing the clinical aspect of the disease as it appeared in the
epidemic through which we have just passed. The study of the disease
from other aspects, such as the pathological, the bacteriological and
the physiological, by well-organized groups of workers has made it
necessary to co-ordinate, if possible, the clinical findings in every
detail with these apparently basic principles. It would be interesting
to review here the peculiarly fortunate circumstances which have led to
the investigations. On account of the great war many temporary
laboratory organizations which otherwise would not have existed were in
operation, and these organizations, moreover, were keen to undertake any
laboratory problem which might arise. The present epidemic presented the
opportunity, and that the work was taken up with great enthusiasm is
evidenced by the reports coming from the various army hospitals, base
hospitals and civilian hospitals throughout the world. The permanent
laboratories connected with medical schools and with institutions for
medical research took up the problems with equal endeavor. This brief
reference is made only to call attention to the fact that from such
organizations a great mass of information has come which must be
critically reviewed and coordinated before it can add to the permanent
fund of our knowledge of the disease under consideration.
The material upon which the following clinical observations have been
made is peculiarly adapted to review because it consists of two distinct
groups of patients which were admitted to the Mercy Hospital. One group
of 153 men was composed of soldiers between the ages of 18 and 23, which
had been recently inducted into the Student Army Training Corps, and
were living in barracks in the immediate vicinity of the hospital.
Another group consisted of civilians (394), ranging from youth to old
age, which came from various parts of the city and surrounding towns and
country. The first group came to the hospital early, or as soon as the
disease was recognized; the second group came usually after several days
of illness had elapsed, or when a complication had already arisen. Many
of this group had been ambulatory cases for the first part of the
disease. The entire number of patients admitted to the Mercy Hospital
from the first admission, September 21 to December 1, the end of the
quarantine, was 547. After December 1 very few simple influenza cases
were admitted. These 547 cases form the basis of the observations which
will be referred to in this paper.
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Studies on Epidemic Influenza: Comprising Clinical and Laboratory Investigations — John Shaqi
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