Definition

A pandemic disease, coming at irregular intervals, traveling very rapidly, and extending over a vast territory in a very short time. In intra-pandemic years there are epidemics and endemics as well as sporadic outbreaks. In fact, some parts of the country are experiencing this disease all the time.

Etiology

The difference between influenza and the ordinary cold is the tendency of the former to continue long after the time for a hard cold to disappear. In influenza there is a constitutional disturbance. Some patients complain of being very weak, and in some cases the weakness continues to run on for weeks. The catarrh, which is always pronounced, hangs on continuously. One day the patient feels as though he were almost well, and the next day he knows that he is not well. He feels that he is going backward rather than forward.

At the time of an epidemic of influenza there are the usual number of colds or catarrhal fevers. My individual experience has led me to believe that the different forms of catarrhal fevers, colds, influenza, etc., are one and the same, only differing in degree, and that the difference in degree depends entirely upon the condition of the stomach and bowels. Those who are toxemic, who have much decomposition in the large intestine, with the accompanying toxin absorption, and who have bad eating habits and are negligent in the care of the body, will always develop the severest form. The very young and the very old are not inclined to get over the disease as rapidly as those in middle life. The sensualist is always a victim to a severe form. All those who are enervated have difficulty in throwing off the disease. Of course, this disease, the same as all other diseases, has epidemic years; which means that at such times the type of the disease is more severe than in endemic years.

Symptoms

The incubation period of influenza is from one to four days--generally from three to four days. It usually begins with fever, and sometimes chill. In pronounced cases the mucous membrane is involved from the nose through the entire bronchial tubes; the lungs often become engorged. Pneumonia may develop soon after the attack. It is, however, brought on from improper treatment and nursing. Where the bronchial tubes and lungs are involved, delirium is often present, along with much prostration. According to some of the leading authorities, the disease may develop in a manner similar to that of typhoid fever. Pleurisy is also a disease that is liable to spring up during the life of influenza. There are nervous forms of this disease, characterized by headache, much pain in the joints, also marked prostration. There are quite a good many forms of influenza. One of these is the intestinal--a type that is marked by much fever, and the complications of which are given as pericarditis, endocarditis, septicemia, peritonitis, etc., all of which is brought on from imprudent eating on the part of the patient as advised by the physician.

Treatment

As soon as the disease starts, the patient should stop eating, and take a hot bath, preceded by a copious enema of two quarts of water and a tablespoonful of salt. After the bowels have been moved, the bath should be taken, and continued until all pain and discomfort are gone. The bathing should be kept up daily, headache, and pain in the body, all the discomfort should be removed by a hot bath, even if the bath has to be taken every three hours. The water should be as warm as the patient can stand comfortably. After the patient has been in the bath for five minutes, the water should be heated to as high a temperature as he can stand. Just how long the bath should be continued depends upon how quickly the patient gets relief. When relaxation and comfort come, the bath should be stopped. If there is a tendency for cold feet and hands, hot applications should be kept to the feet. Positively no food or drugs are to be given in such cases. if this plan is carried out, there will be no complications, there will be no spasm, and the disease--even the very worst forms of it--will terminate in one week. Such symptoms as delirium, spasms, peritonitis, etc., can be developed only in those patients who are fed and medicated.