INFLUENZA MYSTERIES.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13103, 30 April 1908, Page 7

INFLUENZA MYSTERIES.

"While influenza belongs to the everincreasing number of diseases the actual causes and pathology of which scientists have settled beyond dispute, there aro still several characteristics about the disease which, continue to baffle medical skill (says tho "Daily Mail ). A medical correspondent, urging that more importance should bo given to influenza research, points out that, directly and indirectly, more deaths result "from influenza every year than from tho sleeping sickness, which is now k> largely occupying the time ot pathologists. "Medical men know," ho "writes, "tho action of tho influenza bacillus on the various mucous membranes on which it settles. They can. give roasons for the cold in the head, bronchitis, and other catarrhal symptoms, but the marvellous weakening effect on tho heart of even a mild influenzal attack has never been accounted for. This is usually put down to tht> action of somo specific virus xnanu-, factim«l in the systeni by the influenzabacillus, but the question has never been dearly decided. 'Tho post-in-flutnziii depression, which bears such an important share- in tho seriousness of tho disease, and is entirely different from tho lassitude and lack of tono notieod after other acute fevers, is also a total mystery to tho profession. Aga-ixi, why axi epidemic should show

three or four distinct types, as infiuenza has done this year, has never been explained."