Report on the influenza epidemic of 1889-90 / by Dr. Parsons ; with an introduction by the medical officer of the local government board.

  • Parsons, H. Franklin (Henry Franklin), 1846-1913
Date:
1891
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report on the influenza epidemic of 1889-90 / by Dr. Parsons ; with an introduction by the medical officer of the local government board. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    The first case among the civil population at Alderney occurred accord- ing to Dr. Barnard, the only civil practitioner on that island, on January 14th. This island is in communication only with Guern- sey and Cherbourg (by one steamer only, the same steamer going to both places), and the two persons first attacked, on January 14th and loth, were both engaged in taking charge of the parcels brought by the steamer. Influenza had been prevalent, according to Dr. Barnard, both in Guernsey and Cherbourg before it occurred in Alderney. Isle of Man. The garrison on the island were not attacked with Influenza. I have no other information. On the Continent of Europe.* Russia. In the Russian Empire epidemic Influenza appears to have been first recognized in Central Asia at Bokhara in the second half of May (old style) 18H9, and before the middle of July half the Europeans dwelling at New Bokhara had been attacked. At the beginning of October (old style, October 15th, according to our calendar). Influenza was present in Tomsk, over wide areas iu Siberia, and in the province of Ufa, in Astrakhan, European Russia. A writer in Unsere Zeit, who saw the Influenza epidemic break out at Bokhara, says, that the summer of 1888 was exceptionally hot and dry, and was followed by a bitterly cold winter, and a rainy spring. The dried-up earth was full of cracks and holes from drought and subsequent frost, so that the spring rains formed ponds in these holes, inundated the new railway cuttings and turned the country into a perfect marsh. When the hot weather set in, the water gave off poisonous exhalations, rendering malaria general. As the winter had been so severe the Bokhariots were obliged to spend money on firing, instead of food, so that they were weak from want of nourishment, while the severe fast of Eamadan fuilher reduced their strength. Then the Influenza epidemic appeared suddenly, and the enfeebled inhabitants died in large numbers, while Europeans suffered so severely, that at one time all the household of the Russian legation in the city of Bokhara were ill in bed, and there was no one left to nurse the invalids. The Rijssian railway officials and soldiers were equally affected, and as soon as the sufferers became convalescent, they hurried home to Russia for change of air and good nursing. They seem to have taken the infection with them, for the epidemic travelled westwards along the central Asian railway, to break out at St. Petersburg, in October. Caravans travelling eastward, from Bokhara to Siberia, also conveyed the disease to post stations along the road. [It seems, however, that la grippe figures largely in Russia in ordinary years. In 1886, 52,570 cases of la grippe were registered in the Russian Empire, vt-ith 512 deaths; the greatest number of cases occurred in governments in the west of Russia, and in that of Irkutsk in Siberia. In 1887, 43,983 cases, and 450 deaths are returned; the greatest number of cases again being in the west of Russia. (Kusnezow. British Medical Journal. May 10th, 1890.)] * The Board are indebted to tlie Colonial Office and to the Foreign OflSce for much valuable information respecting the Influenza epidemic as it occurred in the British Colonies and in foreign countries. By the former olBce a form of queries drawn up in the Medical Department of the Local Goyernment Board was sent to the Governor of every British Colony, and at the time of this report going to press a reply had been received from every Colony with the exception of Canada.
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