The sun., 1918-07-07
TROOP SHIP TURNED
BACK BY INFLUENZA
Health Officials Fear "Spanish
Malady" May Be Brought
to United States.
STUDY OF 1T IS URGED
Medical Authority Says Ap-
pearance in Allied Army
Would Be Serious.
STUDY OF 1T IS URGED

The fear that the epidemic which has
been raging in Spain for more than two
months and which has attacked Germany
and England may be brought to Amer
lea has made health officers in Atlantic
and Canadian ports watchful.
A troop ship bound for an American
Atlantic port was compelled to put into
a Canadian port last week because Of the
prevalence Of the disease among the Of
hcers and crew. It was learned here yes
terday.
The troop ship was two days out Of a
British port when the mon complained
of severe headaches, with throat irrita-
ton. and then fever. They were unable
to work and went to bed. and the day
after sweating began. followed by weak
ness and pains In the muscles and the
joints.
On tho third day the fever slightly
decreased and the dry cough became
looser. The general feeling was like
that Of a case Of the grippe.
This is not the first instance OF sea
men being affected with the Spanish
epidemic. for there have been several in
stances where Grimsby fishermen were
compelled to return because the crews
were Ill with influenza.
Although the epidemic began in Spain
early in May. It first appeared on the
Continent last month. 1t was presum-
ably carried by German spies travelling
from Spain to Germany by submarine
and other ways.
The German newspapers have not
given much publicity to the spread or
the disease in that country, but pris-
oners taken by the British. French and
Americans confirmed tales OF the In
crease of the epidemic in an alarming
way. not only among the German people
at home but in the German army itself
Reports have been current for some
time along the battle front that the dis
ease was so widespread that II consti-
tuted one reason for the German slow
ness in pushing their offensive aimed at
Paris and the Channel ports.
An editorial to appear in the forth
coming Neto York Medical Journal con-
corning the epidemic In Spain will say:
Attacks respiratory Tract.
Tho fragmentary reports which are
to be found in recent British and French
medical journals give evidence of
serious epidemic OF an acute catarrhal
affection Of the respiratory tract which
has been raging throughout a large part
OF Spain since early in May.
THE disease Is clearly both epidemic
and readily transmitted. II It is cor
rectly reported that in Madrid alone
there have been more than 100, 900 cases.
THE clinical character OF the disease
closely resembles that Of influenza. but
the symptoms seem 80 far to have been
confined 20 the respiratory tract almost
exclusively. The attack develops quite
suddenly without premonitory symptoms
and is characterized by severe headache
for a few hours, high fever. irritation
~ the throat, dry cough and slight bron-
chltis.
There are total loss Of appetite
slight gastric disturbance. general weak
ness and muscular and joint pains. BY
the second day there Is profuse sweating
and the fever decreases. to disappear by
the third or fourth day. The cough is
somewhat looser and productive after
the second day Relapses are very COM
mon and many are attacked twice within
few days.
THE disease seems to affect men es-
pecially. women less and scarcely affects
children at all. The death rate from II Is
quite low. No statements are available
as to the after effects and the duration
of convalescence. but the Implication Is
that recovery Is both prompt and COM
plete.
Bacillus Not Yet Isolated.
"Such meteorological Investigations
as have been made have failed TO dis
close the occurrence OF the influenza
10 Ill I..N - -
presence OF an organism resembling the
menlngococcus The clinical picture Of
the disease, its very great epidemicty
and the absence Of involvement Of the
nervous system make II very improba BILE
that the disease Is OF meningococcal
origin. 1t has been suggested that the
organism Is the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. but
even this does not seem plausible.
"A year or more ago we had an cpl
demic over a large part OF this country
which resembled grippe quite closely,
but which was marked by more severe
symptoms than this Spanish outbreak
Very careful meteorological investiga-
lions OF the American epidemic showed
the absence of the influenza bacillus, but
seemed to indicate that the condition
was due to mixed infection Of the
respiratory tract In which the strepto-
coccus played a very important role.
Whatever may prove to be the true
cause OF the Spanish disease. It is evil
dent that more thorough and painstaking
meteorological investigation must be
made.
while awaiting fuller and more ac-
curate reports concerning the epidemic,
its military significance deserves mem
ton. The evident rapidlty with which
the disease spreads. its capacity for at
lacking very large numbers in a very
brief period Of time. and its prediction
for the male adult would render its APP
pearance among the allied forces a mat
ter OF the gravest concern.
Every effort should be made to learn
its mode or modes of transmission in
order to establish effective measures for
checking its spread and keeping II con-
fined TO the region to which II Is yet
limited. What little evidence is at hand
suggests that II Is communicated from
man to man. and possibly also through
carriers.
"A thorough study OF the conditions
In Spain should be undertaken without
the least delay as purely military
measure as we'll as for the relief Of the
victimized country"