Transcriber’s Note:

The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.

“THE FLU” A BRIEF HISTORY OF INFLUENZA IN U. S. AMERICA EUROPE HAWAII

PREFACE

This Booklet has been written and compiled for the use of any student or layman who seeks concise and clear information on the history of Influenza. Brief and salient facts are set forth relating to “Flu” epidemics and pandemics: other collateral features have also been discussed, connected with or bearing upon this subject.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

CHAPTER I.

What is Influenza? Discovery of the Bacillus. Alleged causes. Names given to the disease and their translation. Explanation of medical words.

INFLUENZA.

An infectious and contagious disease; most startling in its methods of sudden appearance and disappearance; its widely diffused and rapid spread is seen in no other disease; it has excited universal and general attention; physicians and scientists have been stimulated and fascinated whilst pursuing their investigations and studying the disease in its various phases, to wit: spread, incubation, differences of type, and the exact micro-organism which invades the system of man, and if there is more than one that enters together or separately.

Discovery of the Bacillus. In the year 1892, Dr. Richard Pfeiffer, of the University of Breslau, Silesia, Prussia, discovered the specific microbe of Influenza, a Bacillus, which is generally accepted as being the cause of the disease; however, there are some physicians who dissent.

It was found to be present in the lungs, bronchial mucous membrane, sputum and nasal discharge. It is one of the smallest of the known bacilli; measures about one micron long and a one-half micron in breadth. A micron is equal to 1 25,000 of an inch. The bacillus is found singly and in pairs, is non-motile. Domestic animals are not subject to the Flu, but monkeys and rabbits can be infected.

Alleged Causes of the “Flu.” It has been attributed to numerous and varied agencies in the past. Philosophers, physicians and the people believed the disease to be due to supernatural phenomena.

Some of the causes given were in the main fanciful, freakish and imaginary, the delusions of minds filled with wonder or fear, and illusions of the senses, such as:

Comets, earthquakes, volcanoes and cosmic dust caused by the rising and setting of the sun.

NAMES GIVEN TO INFLUENZA: TRANSLATED.

Se Wulf. Se (the), Wulf, wolf. Probably so named from the cough of the Flu victim resembling the growl of the wolf; or from the sudden seizure by the outlaw wolf of its victim.

Heafd Flowan. Heafd, head; Flowan, to flow; hence Head Catarrh.

Italiae Febris. Fever of Italy.

Le Tac. The Rot; slow recovery, persistent cough, like T.B.

Le Horion. The thump or blow; suddenness of the attack of the Flu.

Ladendo. This word is puzzling; it is slang Latin or Italian or is misspelt. If Latendo, it means, the Hidden One, the Flu. If it is Ludendo, then it may mean, the Tickler or Laugher, the tickling cough spasms, resembling a person laughing. In the Epidemic of 1427, the manner of greeting was “As-tu eu Ladendo?” Have you had Ladendo?

Cephale Catarrhale. Head Catarrh.

Coqueluche; from coq, the male bird; hence crested like the comb of a cock. Luche means a cap or hood. The wearing of a cap, cocked or crest shaped, by the victim of the Flu, gave the name to the disease, hence, “Coqueluche.”

Coccoluche. Is the above word Coqueluche, Anglicised. Coc or cocc is Anglo-Saxon for the French word, coq.

La Grippe. La, the, and the verb, agripper, to grip or cling to or choke.

Influenza. The world-wide designation by which the disease is known today; is of Italian origin from the word Influente; a malign Influence or Influenza from the stars being the cause. Latin: in, into or upon, and fluo to flow; hence a flowing in, into or upon; caused by an unseen power or Influence or Influenza, like the profuse nasal discharge, flowing from an invisible source.

THE PERFECT LANGUAGE.

Sanskrit literally means “the perfect language,” from san or sam, with, and krita, perfected or done. It is a mother language, the ancient language of the Hindus, and called the Infallible language, because it is based on infallible rules; and also the language of the Gods.

The language contains the root Plu; to flow, to rain, to swim. Now, whether it is the Anglo-Saxon word, flowan to flow; or the Latin words pluo, to rain, and fluo to flow; or the German fliessen, to flow; or the Greek word phleo, to flow; and the Italian word, influente, influo, and hence Influenza; every one of these words is drafted from this Sanskrit root Plu; from 1800 B.C. downwards is the time that the Sanskrit was in use.