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
We were continually impressed with the notion that the pathology in the
lung, at least the pathology demonstrable physically, did not tell the
whole story of the case, and that the outcome depended as much or
possibly more upon a general infection or toxæmia of which the
recognized condition in the respiratory system was only a small part. We
were particularly impressed with this in the success or failure
following the application of any therapeutic measures. It was quite a
common remark, therefore, in the wards of the hospital among those
associated in the work that “the patient died too quickly to permit of
the succession of the various stages of pneumonia”; or, in the autopsy
room, that if the patient had lived long enough he would have had
demonstrable, well-recognized pathology of the lung, instead of the
cyanotic, wet, spongy lung which was found.
The temperature course in the pulmonary cases was characterized by its
irregularities, and by its being entirely out of harmony with the extent
and severity of the lung invasion in so far as it could be interpreted
by the physical signs. The temperature as described in a simple
influenza might not come to the normal in the time of three to seven
days, and might even go higher, with no demonstrable chest signs, but
with every other evidence of lung involvement. Later the temperature
might come down by lysis, which was the usual way, and the chest signs
gradually or suddenly become evident. The temperature might remain
normal throughout the rest of the course, and a lobe or even both lower
lobes of the lungs be as solid as in a true lobar pneumonia.
Occasionally the temperature fell by crisis, but there was no associated
change in the physical signs of the chest. In short, the temperature
seemed to run a course entirely independent of the physical signs in the
chest. In two remarkable cases seen in consultation on two consecutive
days the physicians in charge declared that no signs of consolidation
could be found, though all other evidences of pneumonia were present. In
the 12 hours which had elapsed from the time the last examination was
made the temperature fell by crisis. At the consultation, to the
surprise of the family physicians, we found both lower lobes
consolidated, it having occurred apparently with the crisis. Both
patients were healthy-looking, robust, young men, and both recovered
with delayed resolution. In the convalescence of such cases, if the
patient got up too soon or if any other indiscretion took place, a
relighting of the lung occurred. From the above description it can be
readily seen that a diagnosis of the conditions in the chest in
influenzal pneumonia was frequently impossible, because one had to
abandon all his previous ideas of pneumonia, in so far as onset, crisis,
blood picture, sputum, temperature, respiratory and circulatory
phenomena, physical signs and prognosis were concerned.
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