Volume 1

Annals of influenza, or epidemic catarrhal fever in Great Britain, 1510-1837 / prepared and edited by Theophilus Thompson.

  • New Sydenham Society
Date:
1852
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annals of influenza, or epidemic catarrhal fever in Great Britain, 1510-1837 / prepared and edited by Theophilus Thompson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    translation of the morbid matter upon the intestines. Hence, probably, arose several dysenteries, which at this very time were rife up and down here; I confess that they were mucous, and seldom bloody. Nevertheless, so little was this effort of nature's to relieve herself to be restrained, that very often the disease terminated by a looseness; and therefore it was to be encouraged by manna, rhubarb, tartar solub., tamarinds, &c. The stronger purgatives, however, generally occasioned terrible gripings, and entirely destroyed the strength. This fever, although exceedingly common far and near, was fatal to few, since, provided that the sick kept within doors in season when they were seized with it, it generally went off on the third or fourth day. Indeed, this was a matter more com- monly requiring an accurate course of diet, and a proper regimen, than a studied heap of medicines, not but at some times it re- quired much more care and attention. Equal and moderate sweats, plentiful spitting, large discharges of urine, and that turbid, easily removed this disorder. Frequently I was asto- nished at the vast sediment which the urine threw down, than which there could not be a more favorable symptom. This fever seemed to have been exactly the same with that which, in the Spring, was rife all over Europe, termed the Hnfluenza.' Nevertheless, it was much more destructive in the southerly nations than it was here; nay, even in London it increased very greatly the number of burials, rising them, in one week only, to at least a thousand. [This year was remarkable for Meteors, Earthquakes, and a Cornet.^ During the three months preceding this attack of influenza, the atmosphere for the most part was dense and moist. On the 22d of January there was a very stinking fog. In January, rheumatism, quinsy, and low fever raged; there was much mortality amongst deer, and mange prevailed much amongst horses, many of which in March died emaciated, or were suffocated with glanders and cough. In April, many persons suffered from dysentery, and old and voung were unusually troubled with round worms. Dr. Huxham inquires: ‘AYas not this OAving to an immense quantity of all kinds of fruit which the Summer and Autumn of 1742 every- where abounded with?]