The sun., 1918-07-09
The Spanish Epidemic OF Innuenza
and Its War Aspects.

The epidemic which began a few
weeks ago In Spain has been called
influenza because 1t presented the
principle symptoms of what Is usu-
ally described as la grippe. 1t is
being investigated in Madrid and
other cities, with the result that so
far the first reports of its character
have had to be revised. Early In the
outbreak it was stated in the London
newspapers that the germ of the dis
ease had not been isolated. The state
ments as published in Madrid were
that the influenza bacillus had not
been asSociateei-with the cases Of the
disease, but that different and
slightly known microbe, the parame-
ningococcus, was generally found.
Whether this germ was really the
cause or only an accompaniment of
the ailment has not been settled. An
other report was that the plague had
started in Spain. This plague report
was officially denied by the Spanish
health authorities.
These Spanish authorities have just
stated their opinion of the new all
ment. In their view 1t IS a camp in
lection which was Matched on the
western front during the March often
sive of the Germans. The massing Of
vast numbers of troops from various
parts of Europe caused cOncentra-
ton of the germs of the disease and
an increase in their vlrulence. Wars
nearly always produce new infections.
The present war has fortunately not
bred an epidemic like the plague or
new and strange infections which are
now being studied in France. The
latest of these is the Spanish infiu-
enza, which Is showing one great
point of resemblance to genuine influ-
enza In its tendency to spread.
1t began in Flanders, but its pre-
else way of reaching Spain has never
been seriously investigated. The fact
that ii jumped over intervening coun-
tries and sea Is no matter of surprise
TO students of medicine. They are
familiar with this popularity of inhu-
enza epidemics and similar infections.
The great influenza epidemic of 1889
spread over the entire world. follow
ing IL most circuitOus course, AMI
seemed to obey no law Of seasons or
Of atmosphere. The differences be-
tween this epidemic and Spanish In
fluenza disclose the points of likeness
and diSsimilarity. In the great cpl.
denies influenza WAS a severe dis
ease, and people suddenly seized by
it were incapaCitated for at least
twelve days, although some Of the
strongest tried to throw off the weak
ness too soon and suffered in conse-
quence. The mortality was much
higher than in Spanish influenza.
Other points of difference are that the
new epidemic lasts but short time,
two days, In most cases. The first
reports stated that it was very mild
and that there had been no deaths.
This last statement has since been
contradicted by Spanish physicians.
Another mistake in the early re-
ports was that Spanish influenza was
intestinal influenza, because its symp-
toms were often mainly intestinal,
and still other reports stated that 1t
was the camp infection known as bo-
tullsm, sometimes called sausage poi
soning. All these reports have now
been denied by the best authority,
which AYERS that the decisive point
about it Is the bronchial symptom.
1t begins suddenly, without premon-
itory symptoms, accompanied by Sc
we're headaches during a few hours.
high fever, throat irritation or bron-
chitis, with dry, hacking cough.
pain in the muscles, general weakness
and the intestinal disorder which mis-
led many physicians at first. The
fever lasts about two days; men are
usually>attacked, women seldom and
children almost never. Physicians
thence inferred that 1t was a camp
disease.
If this should prove to be the case
the epidemic has serious aspect. 1t
might seize whole armies in its clutch
as it was reported to have done in the
case of the Germans. But it seems
most improbable that it can have any
influence on the course of the war un.
less its symptoms should assume much
more gravity.