Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-02-15
THE SPREAD OF INFLUENZA.
The Record Of the Epidemic in the Past
and tue Lessons Learned Therefrom.

The Record Of the Epidemic in the Past
and the Lessons Learned Therefrom.
The questions with regard to influenza
which are most calculated to interest the
non-medical public are manifestly those
which relate to the principal or ordinary
channels of its propagation, and to the
extent to which it may be regarded as
contagious. On these, unfortunately,
there is very little to be said; for the his
tories of former epidemics are, in great
measure, contradictory in respect of
both. In some instances personal con-
tagion has appeared to be at least highly
probable, while in others it might almost
be excluded.
As an example of the latter class, it is
recorded by DR.. Theophilus Thompson
that, on the Cd Of May. 1882, Admiral
Kempenfeldt. who was afterward lost
by the sinking of the Royal George at
Spithead, sailed from thence with a
squadron of ships under his command.
On the Goth of the month influenza APP
peared among the crew of the Goliath,
one of the ships of the squadron, and the
crews of the remaining ships were after
wards affected. So many men were rem
dered unfit for duty that the squadron
was obliged to return into port about
the second week in June, not having had
any communication with the shore in
the interval, and having cruised only be-
tween Brest and the Lizard.
If the disease were one of what is tech
nically called long incubation-that is,
one the symptoms of which do not make
their appearance for a considerable time
after the exposure to infection-the in
terval between the I'd and the Goth of
May, although unusually long even in
such case, might admit of explana-
ton. But one of the most remarkable
peculiarities of influenza appears to be
the extreme rapidity of its diffusion and
the manner in which it attacks large
1umsers of people within few hours
Of each other.
Another example, similar to the last,
WAS furnished by Lord Howes feet,
which sailed from England for the
Dutch coast on the 9th of May. To-
wards the end of HAY the disorder APP
peared among the crew of the Rippon,
and, two days later, among the crew
of the Princess Amelia. The crews Of
other ships in the fleet were affected at
different times, some not until their re-
turn to Portsmouth in the second week
of June. This fleet, like that of Admiral
had no communication
with the shore after leaving Portsmouth
until it reached the Downs on its return,
about the Sd or 18th of June.
An equally remarkable instance Of an
opposite kind was observed during the
epidemic of 1887, when the nIaiady is
first mentioned as having been prevalent
in Lisbon and among the merchant ship
ping in Portuguese and Spanish ports
during the month of January. early in
February it appeared in the Russell, an
English man-of-war, than at anchor in
the Tagus, and the first man attacked
had been exposed the greater part Of the
day in boat and on shore. The disease
rapidly spread and affected eighty-four
Of the crew. In thetsane year the Cano-
pus, with $50 men, after three years of
service on. the Mediterranean station, left
Malta ON the 1st of January, and, after
having stopped twenty-four hours at
Gibraltar and part Of the day at BARGE
o:a, reached Plymouth sound on the 1st
Of February. The weather was cool and
wet, and influenza was prevalent on
shore, yet the crew continued in perfect
health until the 18th, when the epidemic
struck down two-thirds of the crew.
In March the disease reached such a
height at Barcelona that business was
almost entirely suspended, and in April
,he crew Of the Childers weres effected
,hree or four days after she LETT that
place. She arrived at Gibraltar, and
lext day obtained assistance from the
Jasseur to weigh anchor, on account of
he weakness of her own crew. On the
18th the disease broke out on the Jas.
;elr, the first man affected having been
me of the relief party. so as to.renGer it
highly probable that his iilnessihad been
,Ue TO contagion.
Notwithstanding that instances SINH
ar to those last quoted havesnot been
7ery uncommon, the balance of proba-
,ility is certainly opposed to the belief
hat colleagion furnishes the ordinary
node of spreading the disease. Many
attempts have been made, IN Successive
.pidenEcs and IN different countries, TO
rame hypotheses which might with
ome show OF reason be held to afford an
explanation Of the facts, but these eff
orts have in no instance been entirely
The questioned temperature
an hardly be considered important in
he case-of Ipaladv which has prevailed
Il Russia during the winter, and. appar-
ntly'by directsex.ension, in Venice and
'taer Italian towns during the subse-
and summer.
The authorities are very generally
greed IN asserting that influenza years
AVE been sickly years in other respects,
nd that contagious fevers, measles,
malIpox and other maiadies have ire
Iuenuy preceded or followed the less
erious epidemic This fact, IL fact 1t be,
Ioes nos in the least tend to expel the
'oscurity bywhich the whole question IS
because we have learned 70
egard each one of the maiadies In ques-
ion as the outcome of specific conta-
ION, as capable OF reproducing itself,
nd itself only. and hence as standing IN
10 conceivable casual relation 10 the
'shers. unless. perhaps. that all alike
night be rendered more severe By the
'revalence Of general lInsanit2ry condi-
ions. or by incidence upon cornHuni- !
' many members OF which were weak |