Читать книгу Studies on Epidemic Influenza: Comprising Clinical and Laboratory Investigations - University of Pittsburgh. School of Medicine - Страница 6

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At Bryn Mawr College, in Pennsylvania, an institution devoted to the higher education of women, located within 10 miles of the city of Philadelphia, the epidemic occurred at the beginning of the college year—October 1. This college at the time had an enrollment of 465 students. There were 85 cases of influenza, with an additional 25 who suffered from influenza in their homes. There were no deaths from pneumonia. The weather conditions were clear and warm, and since November 29 there have been no new cases occurring in the college and only three or four of the students have been ill at their homes since that time.

Dates of the Appearance of Influenza Endemic in various Cities of the UNITED STATES

1918.

The enrollment at Smith College, Northampton, Mass., was 2,103, and the first case of influenza appeared with the arrival of the students on September 18 and reached its height on September 30. All group gatherings indoors were stopped from October 3 to October 18, and the epidemic was over by October 20. A recurrence began November 15 and continued until December 17. There were 182 cases in the first epidemic and 100 cases in the second. There were only two deaths from influenza pneumonia. During the rise of the epidemic the weather was rainy, followed by good, clear weather. The change in weather conditions seemed to make no difference. The second epidemic was still prevalent when the students left for their holidays.

In Wellesley College, where there were enrolled 1,593 students, the epidemic first appeared on September 18. Up to the middle of December they had had 280 cases. During six weeks of the epidemic 265 cases were reported and only one death occurred from broncho-pneumonia. For the most part, bright and sunny days were present, with only a few cloudy and rainy days. This college has not been without cases since September, but the epidemic lasted only about six weeks.

In a communication from Columbia University it is stated that the epidemic appeared during the week beginning September 22. No records were available for the student body at the time of inquiry, but in the Student Army Training Corps of 2,200 men between 8 and 9 per cent. had the disease during the period from October 1 to December 14. In this army group during this period two deaths from influenza and pneumonia occurred. The weather conditions in the city during this time were considered normal for fall weather—that is, mostly clear, with high winds. The opinion expressed was that the epidemic was still prevalent and increasing, and that a return wave seemed to be more virulent and affected the children of the city more than had the first one in the early fall.

There were enrolled at Harvard on October 1, 3,193 students. The first case of influenza occurred on September 20. There were 227 cases of influenza reported; of these there were 46 cases of broncho-pneumonia, with five deaths. There were two waves to the epidemic; the first wave height was in October and the second the last of November. The weather conditions were not severe nor particularly unfavorable at either time. The epidemic abated at the university largely because of the demobilization of the Student Army Training Corps. At that time it was still prevalent in Cambridge and Greater Boston.

At Yale University the disease first appeared in the New Haven Hospital on September 21. There were registered in all departments of the university 2,265 students. Up to the date of December 24, 1,013 cases have been treated. The number of deaths from broncho-pneumonia has been 249. At the height of the epidemic, which occurred in the third week of October, typical fall weather prevailed. An unusually clear, dry October with very little rain, much sunshine and rather low humidity was the weather report.

During the period of the epidemic at Princeton that university had 1,050 students, and the first cases appeared shortly after the opening of the college term on September 24. As a precautionary measure, every case, when even only suspicious, was sent to the infirmary. In all, there were about 70 cases in the university and about 45 cases from the United States School of Military Aeronautics. Only one member in the latter school died of pneumonia. There were no deaths among the students at the university. In this part of the country the weather was most delightful all autumn, being warm and dry, very little rain having occurred since the end of July. At the date of the inquiry the epidemic had disappeared—that is, about December 21—there being only two very mild cases under suspicion. In the town of Princeton, outside of the university, the conditions were much more serious than in the university itself. Influenza appeared in the homes of many of the poor people of the immigrant class, so that it was not uncommon for four or five members of one family to be infected at once. In one family of seven, five serious cases of pneumonia developed. An emergency hospital was opened by the authorities and 40 cases of pneumonia were treated. Of these approximately one-half died. At the time this report was furnished the epidemic seemed to have disappeared.

The number of students enrolled at the University of Virginia was 957. The first cases occurred as early as September 24. There were 290 of these in number, and three died of broncho-pneumonia. The epidemic was reported as having abated on December 15, but a few cases appeared after that date.