Evening star., 1937-01-03
INFLUENZA WAVE
CLOSELY WATCHED
Whether 1t Is isolated Out
break or Start of Epi-
demic Is Question.
BY JOHN BOGART.

NEW YORK, January 2.-Whether
the wave of influenza here Is the be-
einning of an epidemic or merely an
isolated outbreak remained matter
of doubt today. Since 4l2 B. c., when
Livy wrote the first record OF the dis
ease. influenza has struck repeated
and consistent blows, but the epidem-
les have been so irregularly spaced
that it Is impossible to chart them in
cycles. In North America they have
appeared at intervals OF anywhere
from l to IS years.
Influenza is an acute febrile disease
of extreme communicability and is
characterized by catarrh of the re-
spiratory tract and occasionally OF the
alimentary canal, and is accompanied
by pains in the head and muscula-
ture. It strikes suddenly and pro-
duces marked prostration; the period
of incubation is from two to four days,
while the duration of the disease. de-
pending on the severity Of the attack,
varies from a few days to several
weeks.
The disease takes its name from the
italian "infiuenz." it being supposed
in the seventeenth century to be
caused by mysterious astral or tellur-
gic influences. The ancients regard
ed influenza with awe and ascrlbed
its cause to the supernatural.
Thought Caused by Virus.
In the past there has been consid-
cradle doubt about the specific cause
of influenza, whether it be bacterium,
coccus, protozoan or filterable virus.
Now it appears certain that flu is
caused by virus.
Although there is yet considerable
territory to be explored regarding the
cause Of the disease, it seems to be
generally agreed that it is spread by
excretions of the respiratory tract.
It is through the tract, and possibly
through the eyes and alimentary
canal, that infection enters the body
Transmission from person to per-
son is directly accomplished by cough
ing. sneezing and talking and indirect
ly by the use of carelessly washed
dishes, handshaking and by touching
common articles freshly infected by
the diseased. Some believe the dis
ease may be spread by dust, which is
thought to carry the agent.
knowing no boundaries, influenza
has roamed the globe at will. India
China, Europe, the Americas and the
great and small islands have felt its
scourge. While it is generally con-
sidered cold-weather disease, it has
occurred at all seasons of the year
The disease does not conflne its
ravages to the weak and inflrm, but
seems to show peculiar partiality to
the strong and vigorous, as demon
strated here in the war camps. The
young adult in the prime of life is the
No. victim for the disease, and il
attacks men and women alike
In the recent epidemics of infiu-
enza all ages, both sexes and all races
have been alike attacked, although ir
varying degrees. From the existing
surveys of its extent, it was deter
mined that the disease showed lit
tie preference in persons under A
years Of age. Above that age, how.
ever. the prevalence was less noted
No consistent sex selection was shown
but it was demonstrated that Negroes
are less susceptible than are whites
Despite the heavy hand of the disease
on persons 40 or under, the death rate
there is not as high as in the elder
bra cket.
All persons are not equally suscep-
tible to influenza. In the effect of
the disease In this country it has
been noted that urban life gives an
apparent non-specific immunity, which
seems to make the city-liver some
what less susceptible to the disease
and better able to withstand it.
Certain persons seem naturally i'm
mune from the disease. AS far as
noted. specific immunity to the dis
ease is greater protection than gen.
eral physical health.
Immunity Lasts Short Time.
Immunity acquired against subse-
quent attack does not seem to last for
more than year. "At the present
time" according to Dr. Francis, Eek
periments in human subjects vaccin-
ated simultaneously with the arti-
f1cially cultivated virus are being car
ried cut, and it has been found that
the human individual also responds to
vaccination with the development OF
anti-bodieS in the blood without ex-
hihiting an evidence of infection"
"A state of immunity develops as q
result of experimental infection in
animals, and in humans as a result
Of natural infection"
Until a foolproof vaccine is devel-
oped, there does not seem to be a
great deal to be done in the way of
prevention. The war experiences dem
onstrated pretty well that quarantine,
no matter how strictly enforced, is
not certain of stopping influenza's
spread. Cloth masks, sprays and
gargles have been tried, but with no
signal success. Immunization, pre-
eentive and curative, sees certainly
to be the answer, but much is yet to
be accomplished in this field.
However, there is great deal the
individual can do. if he thinks he is
coming down with influenza. He
should Immediately go to bed and
summon a physician. BY doing this
the danger of complications is greatly
reduced. Influenza itself is not neces-
sarily dangerous, but 1t weakens the
body, permitting other diseases to get
. foothold, and, when complicated,
may prove to be indeed dangerous.
tCopyrisht. 1877