Aureomycin in Treatment of Peritonitis

Abstract

exposed to the same adverse conditions: nine soldiers developed symptoms within a few hours of a five-mile march in heavy rain, and other groups attributed their illness to a chilling consequent upon the over-zealous opening of windows in the sleeping quarters.Stuart-Harris suggested that meteorological factors might determine the onset of an influenzal outbreak.We therefore obtained details from local Air Force stations of the conditions prevailing during January and February, 1949.No dramatic changes of temperature were associated with the onset or the peak of either epidemic, but rain fell on each day of the week preceding the peaks of both epidemics. DiscussionThese two outbreaks differ from those commonly reported in this country (Stuart-Harris, 1945) in that recruits and seasoned men were equally affected when living under comparable conditions.This finding suggests that the community had no recent experience of the infec- tive agent.The new antigenic strain of virus which we reported had rarely been experienced in this country and would have been expected to provoke an equal incidence among recruits and trained men.We did not prove, however, that this strain was responsible for the epidemic as a whole.Furthermore, the American workers claim that the incidence of Virus A influenza of the usual antigenic types is not determined by the duration of residence in the community.This implies that Virus A influenza may not be an endemic disease.The behaviour of future epidemics in this country may be of interest in this connexion, but no definite conclusions can be drawn from the limited evidence which we have presented.Differences of environment rather than of host susceptibility determined the variability of the American outbreaks, and overcrowding was responsible for the higher infection rate in certain groups.Our experience is similar, but exposure to cold seemed to play a greater part than cross- infection.SummaryThe incidence of influenza (Virus A) among troops in the Highland District of Scotland during January and February, 1949, is reported.Epidemics were confined to two training centres.The form of these two outbreaks and the factors affecting the incidence and spread of infection are discussed.Clinical features, laboratory investigations, and treatment are also described.