The Glenwood post., 1919-02-01
INFLUENZA IS
STILL MYSTERY
Investigation and Research
By Scientists Barren of
Definite Results
GREAT CAUTION URGED

An experiment which makes the
transmission of influenza more baf-
fling mystery than ever and which at
the same time places on record an act
of self sacrificing heroism by one hun
dred naval volunteers, has just been
completed by officers of the United
States public health service co-operat-
ing with medical officers of the United
States navy at Boston and San Fran
cisco. The story of this chapter in the
history of the influenza epidemic has
been written and published by Freder-
lex J. Haskin in the Salt Lake Tribune.
As nearly everyone knows, scientists
all over the world, in combattiIf. the
spread of influenza, which is still 60
ing on, have proceeded on the asump-
tion that it is transmitted chiefly by
coughing and splitting. The theory has
been that the diseased mucus thrown
out by these acts is filled with the
germs of influenza, which thus find
Judgement in healthy tissue. All uhs
experiments heretofore made seem to
indicate strongly that influenza is
transmitted in this way, and it is well
accepted that most other respiratory
diseases are so carried.
This latest experiment consisted in
submitting the hundred men who vol
unteered for the purpose to every pos
sible method of infection with influ-
enza germs through the nose and throat.
These men risked their lives for the
general good, and for the advancement
of science. They went through sim
gularly trying and repulsive ordeal.
They, and everyone else, believed that
they were being inoculated with the
dread disease which is destroying mil
lions of lives all over the world. Thci,
heroism is fully equal to that displayed
some years ago by the men of the army
medical corps who exposed themselves
in Cuba to the bites of mosquitoes in
order to determine finally whether yel-
low fever was transmitted by that in
sect. The only difference in the two
experiments was in the result. Some of
the officers who exposed themselves to
the bite of the mosquito contracted
yellow fever, and one of them died,
thereby establishing the soundness of
their theory. The volunteers who sub
mitted themselves to incubation with
the germs of influenza were fully ex-
pected to take the disease apd were
prepared to die. But not one of them
developed any symptoms of influenza.
This astonishing negative result.
which is the sensation of the day in
scientific circles, should not tempt any
one to be careless in the matter of
coughing and splitting or in exposing
himself to infection by those acts. AS
officials of the public health service
point out, it may be that the germs of
the disease disappear as soon as, or
Immediately after, the symptoms ap-
other diseases. In measles, for exam
pie, it has been found that the germs
which cause the disease are all gone
within five or six days after the ap-
pearance Of the rash, and the case is
no longer contagious. The discovery
of this fact, which was made by Ander-
son and Goldberger of the public health
service only few years ago, haa led
to shortening the quarantine period for
measles by more than half.
"These new experiments in the
| transmission of Influenza" said Sur
geon General Blue, "sliow how diff
cult is the influenza problem. They by
no means indicate that we can afford
to disregard coughing, sneezing and
splitting as common means of spreading
disease, and even in the case Of influ-
enza this source of infection should al
ways be borne in mind. l believe, how
ever, that we have not paid sufficient
attention to other paths of infection,
especially to the lips, mouth and hands.
The fact that the disease was much
less common in army camps, where tho
sterilization Of all eating utensils and
dishes was rigidly enforced, leaves the
importance Of the mouth a. an avenue
Of Infection"