An infectious and contagious disease; most startling in its methods of sudden appearance and disappearance; its widely diffused and rapid spread is seen in no other disease; it has excited universal and general attention; physicians and scientists have been stimulated and fascinated whilst pursuing their investigations and studying the disease in its various phases, to wit: spread, incubation, differences of type, and the exact micro-organism which invades the system of man, and if there is more than one that enters together or separately. _Discovery of the Bacillus._ In the year 1892, Dr. Richard Pfeiffer, of the University of Breslau, Silesia, Prussia, discovered the specific microbe of Influenza, a Bacillus, which is generally accepted as being the cause of the disease; however, there are some physicians who dissent. It was found to be present in the lungs, bronchial mucous membrane, sputum and nasal discharge. It is one of the smallest of the known bacilli; measures about one micron long and a one-half micron in breadth. A micron is equal to 1/25,000 of an inch. The bacillus is found singly and in pairs, is non-motile. Domestic animals are not subject to the Flu, but monkeys and rabbits can be infected. _Alleged Causes of the “Flu.”_ It has been attributed to numerous and varied agencies in the past. Philosophers, physicians and the people believed the disease to be due to supernatural phenomena. Some of the causes given were in the main fanciful, freakish and imaginary, the delusions of minds filled with wonder or fear, and illusions of the senses, such as: Comets, earthquakes, volcanoes and cosmic dust caused by the rising and setting of the sun. A.D. 1411 Diabolical pollution of the air with pestilential vapors arising from the air and ground; these caused bleedings from the mouth, nose and bowels, and in women caused abortions. 〃 1580 Bad conduct of Sirius the dog star, caused by anger. 〃 1658 Blast from the stars. 〃 1742 Malign influence (Influenza) of the stars, etc., etc. NAMES GIVEN TO INFLUENZA: TRANSLATED. Date of Epidemic. Name. Language. A.D. 827 Se Wulf Saxon 827 Heafd Flowan Anglo-Saxon 876 Italiae Febris Latin 1411 Le Tac French 1414 Le Horion French 1427 Ladendo Italian 1510 Cephale Catarrhale French 1510 Coqueluche French 1510 Coccoluche Anglo-French 1742 Influente Italian 1742 La Grippe French 1781 Catarro Russo Italian