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103
[1899
especially in the former, a circumstance which is probably due to
the greater cold, and the consequent supervention of these respiratory
diseases which easily cause the death of the already weakened
patient.
Influenza, which is an Italian name first given to it in the 17th
century, is also known by its French name "La Grippe," and
also in France as "Italian Fever" and "Spanish Catarrh." By
Germans it has been called "Russian Influenza," from the fact that
it started from that country in its invasion of Europe, and by the
Russians "Chinese catarrh."
When the epidemic of 1889-91 first made its appearance it was
looked on by some observers as a disease of malarial origin, by
others it was regarded as identical with the "dengue," "dandy
fever," or "break bone fever" of tropical climates, but a more
intimate acquaintance with it revealed points of marked difference
in their symptoms, which it is now unnecessary to discuss.
A description of the disease itself, which is one of the best I
have read, is that " Influenza is a specific fever, epidemic and often
pandemic, of sudden onset and short duration, attended with loss
of appetite and very great prostration, associated often with more
or less severe catarrh, neuralgic pains, and gastro-intestinal disturbances,
and especially liable to be complicated by sevsre
respiratory affections to which the mortality of the disease is chiefly
due." This definition would have been as nearly as possible
complete if it had also stated that it was highly infectious. It can
easily be understood from this description of influenza that if the
patient be not nursed with great care kept apart from the influences
of cold, damp, or wet, from draughts and indeed from chills of any
kind, he is extremely likely to be attacked with serious disease of
the respiratory system, such as pneumonia or bronchitis. To go at
once to bed is therefore, the first, best, and most imperative treatment
for all attacked persons to adopt. If this rule were generally
adopted there would be far less complications and far fewer deaths.