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“The Flu”: A Brief History of Influenza in U. S. America, Europe, Hawaii

<h2 class='c005'>CHAPTER I.</h2></div> What is Influenza? Discovery of the Bacillus. Alleged causes. Names given to the disease and their translation. Explanation of medical words. <h3 class='c012'>INFLUENZA.</h3> 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. <dl class='dl_1'> A.D. 1411 Diabolical pollution of the air with pestilential vapors arising from the air and ground; these caused bleedings from the mouth, nose and bowels, and in women caused abortions. 〃 1580 Bad conduct of Sirius the dog star, caused by anger. 〃 1658 Blast from the stars. 〃 1742 Malign influence (Influenza) of the stars, etc., etc. <div> 6 <h3 class='c012'>NAMES GIVEN TO INFLUENZA: TRANSLATED.</h3></div> <table class='table1' summary=''> <tr> <th class='c008'>Date of Epidemic.</th> <th class='c008'>Name.</th> <th class='c015'>Language.</th> </tr> <tr> <td class='c008'>A.D.</td> <td class='c016'> </td> <td class='c017'> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class='c008'>827</td> <td class='c016'>Se Wulf</td> <td class='c017'>Saxon</td> </tr> <tr> <td class='c008'>827</td> <td class='c016'>Heafd Flowan</td> <td class='c017'>Anglo-Saxon</td> </tr> <tr> <td class='c008'>876</td> <td class='c016'>Italiae Febris</td> <td class='c017'>Latin</td> </tr> <tr> <td class='c008'>1411</td> <td class='c016'>Le Tac</td> <td class='c017'>French</td> </tr> <tr> <td class='c008'>1414</td> <td class='c016'>Le Horion</td> <td class='c017'>French</td> </tr> <tr> <td class='c008'>1427</td> <td class='c016'>Ladendo</td> <td class='c017'>Italian</td> </tr> <tr> <td class='c008'>1510</td> <td class='c016'>Cephale Catarrhale</td> <td class='c017'>French</td> </tr> <tr> <td class='c008'>1510</td> <td class='c016'>Coqueluche</td> <td class='c017'>French</td> </tr> <tr> <td class='c008'>1510</td> <td class='c016'>Coccoluche</td> <td class='c017'>Anglo-French</td> </tr> <tr> <td class='c008'>1742</td> <td class='c016'>Influente</td> <td class='c017'>Italian</td> </tr> <tr> <td class='c008'>1742</td> <td class='c016'>La Grippe</td> <td class='c017'>French</td> </tr> <tr> <td class='c008'>1781</td> <td class='c016'>Catarro Russo</td> <td class='c017'>Italian</td> </tr> </table> 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. <div> 7 <h3 class='c012'>THE PERFECT LANGUAGE.</h3></div> 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. Plu or Flu is an ancient disease, so the Author of this Booklet believes, and in confirmation thereof, cites the views of native Indian Sanskrit scholars who have found the records of a pestilence, resembling the Flu away back in the mists of antiquity, 1200 B.C. This disease repeatedly ravaged the then centers of dense population, Central Asia, Mesopotamia and Southern Asia, in the reigns of Tiglath Pileser (1120–00) and Nebuchadnezzar (605–562). The sickness affected the citizens of ancient Babylon; and the described features of the epidemics were such as we have today in those of Influenza, cough, headache, fever, pain in the eyeballs, and copious tears and water gushing from the nose, stained with blood or all blood. The Sanskrit historians gave the name “Plu” to the disease, probably from the flowing nasal discharge. It is an uncanny coincidence, that our Hawaiian people, who are descended from the Indian branch of the Indo-European family of nations, use the softer letter p in pronouncing the shortened form of the word Influenza, Plu for Flu. Unknowingly, the Hawaiians are using probably the word that their ancestors used 2,500 years ago in India on the banks of the river Sindhu or Indus. <h3 class='c012'>EXPLANATION OF MEDICAL WORDS.</h3> Before entering upon a description of the epidemics of Influenza, which have ravaged the various countries of the world, it is essential to explain the meanings of certain medical words used in connection with epidemic, contagious and infectious diseases. The definitions which are given, if not exactly orthodox, are fairly in accord with modern views, and are clear, simple, and should be easily understood by any ordinary reader. 8Infectious. A disease acquired without any direct contact with a sick person; the infection may be carried by a person in apparent good health, or by any intermediary substance, or by the entrance of a non-immune person into a room, house, or any place of human residence, or occupied as such; where there has been recently any infectious disease, such as Flu, Scarlet Fever, Measles or Small-pox, etc., etc. Infection. The entrance into the system or body of living disease producing germs, such as by (a) Droplet infection; bacteria infected minute particles or droplets, ejected by sneezing, coughing, spitting and talking. (b) Aerial dust particles coated with bacteria. (c) Mixed, more than one bacterium or organism present in the system, they may enter together or one precede the other. Contagious. A disease acquired from a direct contact with the sick. Contagion. The spreading of a disease by direct or indirect contact. (a) Direct contagion. (b) Indirect contagion or mediate, as by a “carrier,” who is apparently in good health, but nevertheless carries disease and can convey it to other non-immune persons. (c) By means of Fomites (hereafter defined). Contagium. The virus or poison which transmits disease, such as the vaccine used in anti-smallpox vaccination, which in former years was obtained from the vacca or cow, now the calf is the source of supply. Fomites. Any non-animate agents or substances that transmit contagion such as blankets, towels, handkerchiefs, or any articles which have been contaminated by the secretions or excretions of the sick. Endemic. A disease which is permanently present in a people or district, it may become epidemic. Epidemic. A rapidly and widely spreading disease attacking many people. Pandemic. A wide and rapidly spreading Epidemic affecting many people and all countries. Sporadic. A disease occurring here and there, not attacking many people, not widely spread nor epidemic. Incubation. The period between the implanting or acquiring of a communicable disease and its development; and visible by external signs or other recognisable manifestations. <div class='chapter'> 9 <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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