Report on the influenza epidemic of 1889-90 / by Dr. Parsons.

  • Parsons, H. Franklin (Henry Franklin), 1846-1913
Date:
1891
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report on the influenza epidemic of 1889-90 / by Dr. Parsons. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    30/354 (page 14)
    On Kpidemic liitluenzii in 1889-90; by Dr. Parsons. Chap. II. In Russian Empire. The first case among the civil population at Alderney occurred accord- ing to Dr. Barnard, the only civil practitioner on that island, on January 14th. This ishxnd is in communication only with Guern- sey and Cherbourg (by one steamer only, the same steamer going to both places), and the two persons first attacked, on January 11th and loth, were both engaged in taking charge of the parcels brought by the steamer. Influenza had been prevalent, according to Dr. Barnard, both in Guernsey and Cherboui g before it occuri'ed in Alderney. Isle of Man. The garrison on the island were not attacked with Influenza. I have no other information. On the Continent of Europe.* Russia. In the Kussian Empire epidemic Influenza appears to have been first reco<^nized in Central Asia at Bokhara in the second half of May (old style) 18S9, and before the middle of July half the Europeans dwelling at New Bokhara had been attacked. At the beginning of October (old style, October 15th, according to our calendar). Influenza vras present in Tomsk, over wide areas in Siberia, and in the province of Ufa, in Astrakhan, European Russia. A writer in Unsere Zeit, who saw the Influenza epidemic break out at Bokhara, says, that the summer of 1888 was exceptionally hot and dry, and was followed by a bitterly cold winter, and a rainy sprmg. The dried-up earth was fidl of cracks and holes from drought and subsequent frost, so^that the spring rains formed ponds in these holes, inundated the new railway cuttings and turned the country into a perfect marsh. When the hot weather set in, the water gave off poisonous exhalations, rendering malaria general. As the winter had been so severe the i^okhariots were obliged to spend money on firmg, instead of food, so that they were weak from want of nourishment, while the severe fast of Eamadan further reduced their strength. Then the Influenza epidemic appeared suddenly, and the enfeebled inhabitants died in large numbers, while Europeans suffered so severely, that at one time all the household of the Russian legation in the city of Bokhara were ill in bed, and there was no one left to nurse the invahds. The • Russian railway oflBcials and soldiers were equally affected, and as soon as the sufferers became couvalesceot, they hurried home to Russia for chau-e of air and good nursing. They seem to liave taken the infection with°them for the epidemic travelled westwards along the central Asian railway, to break out at St. Petersburg, in October. Caravans traveUing eastward, from Bokhara to Siberia, also conveyed the disease to post stations along the road. . . „ . . rit seems, however, that la grippe figures largely in Russia in ordinary years. In 1886, 52,570 cases of la grippe were registered in the Russian Empire, with 512 deaths; the greatest number of cases occurred in governments in the west of Russia, and m that of Irkutsk in Siberia In 1887, 43,983 cases, and 450 deaths are returned; tlie crreatest number of cases again being in the west of Russia. (Kusnezow. British Medical Journal. May 10th, 1890.)] ~TT^^;i;;;;rii^ri^bted to the Colonial Office and to the Foreign Office for rnnrh valuable information respecting the Influenza epidemic as it occurred m the much valuable inror i countries. By the former office a forni of quenes British Colonics and u^^^o^^^^ the Local Government Board was sent to S cUernor' f fve rSriti^i Colony, and at the time of this reiK>rt going to pres. I reply had bceu received from every Colony >vith the exception of Canada.