Omaha daily bee., 1918-12-29
Flu" Epidemic Caused by
New Germ Says Creighton
Professor Bacteriology
Germ in No Way Connected or Related to Past Scourges
Except in Parts of Body Affected Says Professor
REPRESENTATIVES. Going to Bed to
Avoid Complications

Spanish Influenza" is the sub
ject of an article in the December
issue of the Creighton Chronicle, by
Holland N. Stevenson, professor Of
bacteriology and surgical pathology,
college of medicine.
While Professor Stevenson, like
the majority of medical men who
have discussed this disease, makes
no effort to explain its origin, ne
gives some very interesting facts as
to what the epidemic has done and
how it should be treated. The arti-
Gle follows:
During the past few months the
country has been traversed by an
epidemic of large proportions termed
the Spanish Influenza" This name
is as good as any so far proposed,
for it implies a disease of the air
passages somewhat similar to previ-
Gus epidemics but caused by an UNI
known micro-organism. The SINH
larity of this to previous epidemics
of influenza is merely in the way it
is spread and in the parts of the hui
man body affected. 1t is, however.
gradually being demonstrated that
the germ causing the disease is in
no way connected or related to the
one of past influenza epidemics.
Reached States in July.
In the latter part of July and in the
early part of August cases of Span
ish Influenza" began to appear in the
ports along the Atlantic coast. There
is no doubt that this outbreak was
identical to the epidemic that had
been in progress i'll Europe. From
this time on the epidemic gradually
increased in proportions and spread
from one community to another un-
til it had practically traversed the
country by the end of October. In
comparison with other epidemics the
spread was quite rapid and in gen.
eral the more closely populated dis
tricts suffered more severely than
those where the population was scat
tered. This was we'll illustrated by
the severity with which, certain army
environments were afflicted
There has been considerable popu-
lar discussion as to the manner in
which this disease is spread. There
is no doubt that it is spread from the
air passages of an individual sick
with it to those of one who is not.
1t is a we'll known fact that in con-
versation as we'll as in coughing and
sneezing numerous droplets OF sa-
Iva are sprayed into the surround
ing atmosphere. These are minute
and remain suspended for some time.
1t is easy to see how one individual
having the germs Of the disease in
his mouth or throat can Involuntary
place the organisms where others
can acquire them. This implies a
more or less intimate contact with
those who are sick, especially with
those in the early stages and &C
counts for the severity of the cpl
demic among thickly populated COM
munities.
Caused by New Germ.
1t might be we'll in this connection
to say few words about the causa-
tive agent or germ Of this epidemic.
One thing can be definitely said.
The micro-organism which is giving
rise to the epidemic is not the one
that has caused previous epidemics
of influenza. 1t is an organism that
has not been definitely classified as
yet but which is closely related to
the pneumococcus, the germ of ordi-
nary pneumonia, and the streptococ-
cis, the germ of erysipelas, rheu-
matte fever and many other condi-
tons. This has been brought out in
the recent articles on the subject
as we'll as by our own work in the
epidemic.
In the great majority of cases the
individuals who have contracted this
disease have developed at. one time
or another a certain amouat of pneu-
monia. The prostration has been
great and the recovery very slow.
The time it takes for the disease to
develop after exposure varies and
has been given as from one day
to a week.