Abstract
PART ONE - MAINLY HISTORICAL:
Influenza is a disease of the respiratory tract. It is
characterised by an abrupt onset, pyrexia, ill defined muscular
pains, and a serous or catarrhal discharge from the epithelium
of the nose, pharynx, and bronchial tree. Economically it is
important, as twenty per cent or more of a given population may
be affected by it; taking to bed for about four days and
remaining "off-colour" for two or three weeks thereafter.
PART TWO - CAUSATION:
During the pandemic an enormous volume of work was done on
the relationship of Pfeiffer's bacillus to influenza. The
results of these studies were confusing and contradictory. The
bacillus was present at one stage of the disease but not at
others; absent in many cases of influenza and present in many
normal individuals.
PART THREE - PREVENTION:
With most diseases, discovery of the organism responsible
has paved the way for major advances in prevention. Influenza,
however, is not easy to deal with - either preventively or
therapeutically.
