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deaths ascribed to Influenza, an excessive number from diseases of
the respiratory organs viz., 136 in the four weeks from December
29th, 1889, to January 25th, 1890, the period covered by my first
monthly report: 106 of these were due to bronchitis, alone or
associated with pneumonia, and 20 to pneumonia alone. The
number in the following four weeks fell to 81. No such numbers
were registered again till the close of the year, when in five weeks
ended January 3rd, 1891, there were 114 deaths from these
diseases, including bronchitis 70, and pneumonia 23. The deaths
from phthisis also were unusually numerous in the first quarter,
and those from heart diseases in the first four and the last five
weeks of the year; our local experience thus conforming to that
of London generally as to increased mortality from particular
classes of disease, and being amenable to the same explanation,
viz., that Influenza was the root of the mischief in the early part
of the year, whilst at its close inclemency of weather adequately
accounts for the unusual number of deaths.
The Medical Department of the Local Government Board,
naturally anxious to "gather information respecting the origin
and distribution " of Influenza, addressed to Medical Officers of
Health a series of questions in January, as follows:—
1.—Has any " Influenza," particularly if characterised by much nervous
depression, severe frontal headache, or various muscular pains, shown
itself in your District ?
2.—The date of the first occurrence (as far as you know) of such an
Influenza 1
3.—The date of commencement of any extensive prevalence of such
Influenza ?
4.—Any opinion you have formed (or that you wish to modify) as to the
mode of origin of introduction of the disease ; and as to its method
of spread ?
5.—Have you observed among domestic animals any unusual complaint ;
and in what animals, and with what symptoms ?
6.—Illustrations or observations as to the behaviour of any observed
Influenza, especially as to the intervals of attack in members of
households, its dissemination among particular communities, and its
incidence on particular localities ?