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
At this stage the physical signs were very much in accord with those of
broncho-pneumonia. In a few hours sometimes, or in a day, the small
areas of consolidation became confluent and massive consolidation was
formed. It appeared as though the whole lobe would in time become solid,
as in a true lobar pneumonia. Or the original areas may apparently have
cleared and other areas involved, became the centers of massive
consolidations. In many cases both lower lobes were thus similarly
affected, and one had the physical signs of a double lobar pneumonia.
However, nearly always a small angle of the lobe remained clear, thus
differing from the entire lobe involvement characteristic of a true
croupous pneumonia. Other signs, such as the absence of vesicular
breathing and presence of the crepitant râle, moist râles of all sizes
to very coarse râles, could be noted. As in certain stages of a complete
consolidation, the lung might be dry; no râles present, but definite
tubular breathing present. This in a day or two, or after a longer time,
might give the signs of resolution. The stage of resolution, however,
was almost invariably prolonged, sometimes extending over weeks. With
these variable lung signs were often mingled the signs of a fibrinous or
serofibrinous pleurisy, which occasionally but remarkably infrequently
went on to effusion or empyæma.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
As stated above, the demonstrable pathology was in the lower lobe, and
more frequently in the left than in the right, only occasionally in the
middle lobe, and never, we might say, in the upper lobes. The very
earliest definite signs were found at the apex of the left lower lobe.
This observation seems to be entirely contradictory to that of the
pathologist, who found in 65 per cent. of all cases coming to autopsy a
lesion in all the lobes of the lungs (Klotz). The only explanation we
can give which seems at all satisfactory to us is that the pathology in
the upper and middle lobes must not have been sufficient, or must have
been of such a nature that it did not yield the physical signs, i. e.,
definite impaired percussion resonance, increased vocal fremitus and
tubular breathing, with varying shades of moist râles—signs upon which
we insisted before we were willing to state definitely that there is a
demonstrable pneumonia present.
In this description it has been attempted to follow the order of
invasion in a lung which seemed to go through the entire course of the
disease. There were, necessarily, all degrees of the process, some cases
showing few signs and yet being remarkably ill, and others all of the
signs with very little other evidence of serious illness.
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