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.

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    Chap. XII. D. f Miss A. M. S. developes Influenza on Jtuuuiry 2. ?iifluenzaTri° I Miss S. „ „ „ 2 (or 3). T'ZioZ Mr. N. „ „ „ 9 (or? 8). Ur.Pmsons. The family then go away, but Mr. N. is nursed by the butler and two footmen (who naturally have seen nothing of the girls). Butler and 1 footman develop Influenza on January 13. 2nd footman „ „ „ 14. ^' mL^ ^* ^} ^■^ ^^^^ London. Influenza on January | ^ Miss^— } '^^^ heea in London. Influenza on January | | F. M. and F. S. (children). Influenza on January 12. E. P. S. (father) „ „ 18. In another family where seven had Influenza, the periods of incuba- tion as far as I could make out were from two to four days. In several other cases, of which I have not notes, the incubation period was about the same, from two to seven days. Generally about four days. The following account is sent by Mr. J. H. Wilson, of Kenninghall, Thetford. The Rev. E. S. Gr. went to London in good health on Wednesday, Notes by Mr. January 1st, and returned on Saturday, January 4th. His business J- H. Wilson; took him on Friday, January 3rd, to a house where Influenza existed, but he did not do more than enter the front door. On Sunday, January 5th, he conducted two services at church, morning and afternoon. On Sunday evening, 24 hours after his return home, he felt chills followed by fever, and he had intense headache next morning, and general feeling of prostration. On January 6th when seen he had a temperature of 101-5 in the morning, also slight nasal and bronchial catarrh and considerable pain in the loins. On Tuesday morning, January 7th, the son of the above fell ill suddenly with headache, high temperature, loathing of food, and general malaise. He had been much in his father's company on the Sunday evening, when the latter was beginning to feel ill, but not earlier in the day. This would make the incubation period probably about 36 hours. On Wednesday morning two other children fell suddenly ill with similar symptoms ; on Friday two more, on Saturday one more, and on Sunday one more, and on Monday two more. The clergyman's wife and two servants were subsequently attacked, making 14 cases in all in this household, there being up to January 19th no other cases in the parish. [This would seem to show that the clergyman did not propa^-ate infection in church when incubating the disease.] In another house, thi'ee miles distant, a dealer came from London after a few days' stay there. He fell ill in less than 48 hours, and infected the family of adults, four in number. Writing on January 13th Mr. Wilson says : The only three houses where I know Influenza to be are in diflerent parishes, and are whore the head of the family has just returned from London.