Studies on Epidemic Influenza: Comprising Clinical and Laboratory Investigations — John Shaqi
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
Before referring to the physical signs it might be well to describe the
condition and general appearance of the patient when the lungs became
involved. The patient who had been progressing with an apparently simple
influenza, with no chest signs except those of bronchitis or tracheitis,
occasionally slightly cyanotic, became more cyanotic, the elevation of
temperature continued longer than three to seven days, or if it came to
the normal began to rise again, his respirations gradually increased and
the pain in the chest became well localized. One could safely assume
that the patient had developed a lesion in the chest. This could not
always be localized during the first few hours or on the first day. The
evidence of increased bronchial disturbance was frequently recognized,
and later impairment of resonance and diminished breath sounds
associated with “a few crackles” were noted. This, so far as we can
tell, may have been the only evidence of the stage of œdema or “wet
lung.” After this, as the disease advanced, definitely increased vocal
fremitus and rather definite tubular breathing with greater impairment
of resonance were noticed. These signs were usually observed first at
the apex of the left lower lobe, and from here they extended forward
along the inter-lobar sulcus, or downward along the spinal column. If
the lesion was noticed first on the left side, in a day or two it was
found more or less definitely in the right lower lobe also. It seemed to
occur more frequently first in the body of the right lobe, instead of in
the apex of the lobe as on the left side. In both lobes it might spread
to contiguous areas and form a massive consolidation, or it might be
found in small separate areas, some of which would clear up in a day,
while others would persist.
The expectoration was frothy, containing either blood or masses of
yellowish, greenish purulent material floating in a watery sanguiolent
or clear fluid, or enmeshed in frothy mucus. The amount of expectoration
in some cases was enormous, but as a rule it was scanty. It was thick
and ropy at times and distinctly annoying to the patient.
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