Epidemic Influenza (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1892 Excerpt: ...very evident; moreover, the figures for 1892 tend strongly to confirm former observations with reference to the relation with the epidemic of whooping-cough, enteritis, diseases of the nervous system and disturbances of the puerperal condition affecting both mother and child. 4. The Epidemic in its relation to Age and Sex.--For a complete statement of the age-incidence of the present development of the epidemic, it will be necessary to wait until the mortality has subsided. So far, however, as results are at present attainable there is no doubt that, at least in London, the present outbreak resembles that of the spring of 1891 and contrasts with that of 1890 in its great comparative fatality at advanced periods of life1. As in all known influenza epidemics, the mortality in infancy and childhood has been low. It has been lately stated by Dr. Ruhemann2 that the present epidemic in Berlin has been characterized by the great severity of its incidence upon women and children as compared with men. This assertion, based by Ruhemann only upon personal observation, is confirmed, so far as regards sex-incidence, by the testimony of statistics. During the month of November, 1891, of the 119 fatal cases of influenza recorded in Berlin, 42 were males and 77 females. This is not in accordance with the usual distribution of influenza between the sexes. In 1890, for example, Dr. Bertillon showed from statistics that in Paris the mortality from influenza was far higher among men than among women; and in 1892, though the disparity in numbers is considerably reduced, the deaths of males are still in a majority. In the first three weeks of 1892, 145 deaths were referred in Paris to influenza; of these 75 were of men and 70 of women. Of the 4523 deaths directly ascribed to inf...