Report on the influenza epidemic of 1889-90 / by Dr. Parsons.

  • 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. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    336/354 (page 312)
    On Epidemic Influenza in 188!)-90; by Dr. P.'irsons. Ohap. XII. ■Notes by Dr. •Caldwell Smith; these cases any source of infection. In the traveller, he might have been exposed to but have forced itself on that any observers have The following notes are sent me by Dr, Caldwell Smith, of Motherwell, Lanarkshire:— The first case of Influenza that came under my observation occurred on January 6th, the symptoms being decided: high temperature and sudden onset were marked. Since then I have attended over 80 cases of the disease, and in all the cases the symptoms were much similar to the first. My next case occurred on the 10th, and was a very severe one, but no complications followed, the man recovering in 12 day?. I could not discover in latter, the gentleman beinj the infection, but in the first case, a woman, living a retired life, the most minute inquiries failed to elicit any source of infection. Many of my cases occurred in the same household. In one case, four of the family suffered ; in three others, three cases occurred, and in a large number two only took the disease. It was, however, remarkable that when one member of a family was affected, if another case occurred, it was invariably within 24 hours after I had been called in. That is, that next day when I called to see patient No. 1, if another case occurred at all, I had two patients to see instead of one. This fact was so marked, that it could not my attention, and I have not, so far, noticed remarked the same. This is interesting as regards the incubation of the disease. In only two cases could I trace infection. In one case the man had called to see the patient, and was himself stricken down within 36 hours. In another case, a woman went to see a friend, found her suffering from the disease, and only stayed half-an-hour in the house. In 36 hours her temperature was 102-5, and all the symptoms were mar]:ed. Some particulars regarding the cases may be interesting. (1.) Sex.—Males and females were equally attacked. As my practice is in a community where males predominate, I had more patients of male sex than the female, but I cannot say that the one sex had any greater susceptibility than the other. (2.) Age.—My cases occurred mostly among young and middle-aged adults, men and women in the prime of life, and in good bodily health. Some of the adult males were models of health and vigour, never having had any ailment of consequence in their lives. The youngest patient I had was a boy of 11, who recovered in four days. My oldest patient was an old lady of 72, who was very ill, and was seven d,iys in a very precarious condition. She is only now con- valescent, this being the 12th day since the first symptoms appeared. (3.) Condition in Life.—Most of my cases occurred among the better workino' class. Very few in the professional or even shopkeeping class. One man, a puddler, took ill at his work, and had to be carried home, while the old lady previously mentioned had never been out of the house for seven days. She might, however, have got the infection by letter, as she has friends in Edinburgh, and had a letter from them two days before. At that time the disease was epidemic in Edinburgh. Particulars as regards symptoms :— (1 ) Temperature.—The highest temperature that I noticed was 103 but owing to the treatment adopted a temperature chart would be of I'iltle service. The principal thing to note was the suddenness ot