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does not succeed in growing unless there is a suitable soil in
the nature of a lowered constitution. Now all the factors
enumerated above have prepared the soil for this pandemic
with the grave results of which we are already familiar.
Exciting Cause. In Influenza we are dealing unquestionably
with an infection which is very virulent, though the
virulence seems to vary from time to time. Many years ago
Pfeiffer discovered a bacillus which is frequently associated
with influenza, and which he looked upon as the cause of
the malady, but many investigations have been recently
undertaken, the effect of which has been to cast doubt upon
his conclusion. Recently, however, the late Major Graeme
Gibson discovered by special methods an extremely small
organism which experiments seem to prove is the cause of
influenza. Its extreme minuteness may be judged by the
fact that it will pass through a fine porcelain filter, and in
this respect it resembles the virus of typhus fever, measles,
rose measles and trench fever, and possibly very many other
infectious diseases, such organisms being known as " filter
passers." These organisms or viruses are undoubtedly present
in the secretion of the nose and throat, and are passed
from one person to another during the act of speaking,
sneezing and coughing, for it has been proved that in the act
of speaking small droplets are projected from the mouth to
a distance of about four feet, and in coughing and sneezing
they may be projected as far as ten feet. It is thus evident
that if the virus is in these droplets, a person suffering from
the disease may infect a great many persons, especially during
conditions of overcrowding or close contact between the
the healthy and sick.
Prevention. As the organism has only been very recently
discovered, and its method of spread is still under discussion,
it has been difficult to formulate any systematic method of
prevention. After careful consideration it became evident
to the Local Government Board that the difficulties of preventing
the disease were enormous, but that a great deal
could be done to render it less fatal, and these were the
lines on which our preventive efforts were concentrated. Some