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
This was recognized early in the epidemic. It was sometimes preceded by
a peculiar flushing of the face, such as accompanies belladonna
poisoning. It might be noticed in the very first days of the attack. The
cyanosis was looked upon as being a very early symptom of lung
involvement. With our later knowledge from autopsies, and especially as
shown by Dr. Klotz, we feel it was surely an accompaniment of, or may
even have preceded, the changes in the lung which have been designated
as œdematous, “wet” or cyanotic. At the earliest appearance of the
cyanosis we were frequently unable to find any change in the physical
signs of the chest. Of course, the indefinite signs of an acute
bronchitis were present, and in some cases an additional “impaired
resonance” was noted over one or both lower lobes, but when this was
definitely present other more definite signs soon followed, and our case
was shifted suddenly from Group I, i. e., without apparent lung
involvement, to Group II, i. e., with definite lung involvement. This
cyanosis was noticed first in the face, and frequently was marked on the
dorsal surface of the hands. It was not unlike the cyanosis which may
sometimes be seen when large doses of certain coal tar derivatives are
taken. In fact, the question arose whether in the epidemic of 1889 and
1890, when the coal tar derivatives were prescribed with such freedom
and with accompanying cyanosis and apparently such deleterious effects,
the cyanosis may not after all have been due more largely to the
infection than to the medication. After that epidemic it was said:
“Influenza has slain its thousands, but the coal tar products have slain
their tens of thousands.” There was no gross hæmaturia or hæmoglobinuria
present in these cases, although a few red blood cells were seen
microscopically. There was, however, epistaxis, sometimes early in the
disease or later associated with the cyanosis. In a few cases there was
hæmoptysis, which we regard as always arising in cases where the wet or
hemorrhagic lung was present. Cyanosis in disease of the lungs, and
especially in the terminal stage of lobar pneumonia, is a familiar and
common occurrence, but the cyanosis observed in this epidemic seemed
quite different from the ordinary. The points of difference were these:
(a) it came early in the disease; (b) it seemed to be more generally
present when very little lung involvement could be demonstrated
physically, and was just as likely to disappear when more definite chest
signs were demonstrable; (c) it was not associated with embarrassment of
respiration; (d) it had no relation with a demonstrable circulatory
disturbance. The pulse did not become rapid; the quality of the pulse
did not change; _the right heart was not dilated_, as is so frequently
the case in the terminal stage of a lobar pneumonia when cyanosis
appears; (e) and finally there was no associated œdema of the lungs, or
at least that œdema of the lungs which occurs in the later stage of
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