A soldier was brought to the hospital suffering with severe influenza, which commenced with a violent chill and pain in the side. Bacteriological examination of the sputum showed the presence of numerous streptococci. .Marmorek's se rum injected-20 cubic centimetres (5 drachms) each time—and after four in jections the temperature was reduced to normal. The patient recovered com pletely. Carrieu and Pelan (La Mod. Mod., Apr. 27, '98).
The foregoing outline of treatment of influenza is the result of my own obser vations during all the epidemics that have prevailed in this country since 1S37. The only cases of threatened "heart-fail ure" that have been met with were in patients who were habitual drinkers of alcoholic liquors or had taken large doses of some one of the coal-tar antipyretics with brandy or whisky.
Subcutaneous injections of pilocarpine followed by excellent results. Pyrexia may be met by cold sponging, cold allu sions, the cold pack, or the cold bath. Antipyrine, antifebrin, and kindred remedies largely used during epidemic, and rendered excellent service. Eich horst (Corres. f. Schweizer Aerzte, Mar. 1, '90).
In the painful form of influenza anti pyrine and exalgin hold the first place. These failing, injections of morphine may be made. In the gastrointestinal form, absolute rest in the recumbent post ure should be maintained, and prepara tions of opium, of which paregoric is the best, administered. In the catarrhal form, quinine, 4 grains, morning and evening, should be given, alone or com bined with antipyrine, 15 grains. Aco nite is also useful in this variety. Stimu lants may be required. Pulmonary com plications call for cardiac tonic treat ment:— 13 Caffeinm, Sodii benzoatis, of each, 30 grains. Aquae bullientis, drachms.
M. Sig.: Fifteen minims b. vel t. d., subcutaneously.
The depression following the acute at tack of the disease is, in part, attributed to the administration of large doses of antipyrine, phenacetin, and antifebrin. Patton (Med. and Surg. Rep., May 23, '91).
Phenacetin recommended in influenza in small and frequent doses. The drug does not cause gastric disturbances, it is prompt and decided in its action, it has no cumulative effects, and it is much safer for children and old people than is opium. P. O. Stimson (Med. and Surg.
Rep., Nov. 21, '91).
Protests against reckless use of such drugs as salicin and antipyrine; relieve immediate symptoms, but tedious con valescence and cardiac debility encour aged. Quinine the true antitoxic in influenza. Burney Yeo (Lancet, Mar. 2, '95).
Diminished mortality and shortened period of convalescence of recent epi demics of influenza due to the fact that antipyrine and similar depressants are being withheld. Grant (Lancet, Mar. 2, '95).
Concurrence with Burney Yeo and Mof fatt, but patient should be alleviated by active measures. To do this and lower the temperature in influenza, 4- to 6-grain hourly doses (in cachets) of phenacetin valuable. Two more cachets at intervals of four hours, if necessary. J. H. Bar nard (Lancet, Mar. 23, '95).
Phenacetin considered the safest and best remedy in influenza in the infant. As high as 5 grains at a dose has been given an infant eighteen months of age, with no depression. It was used in this case on account of a threatened convul sion, which passed away, and the child quieted down and went to sleep. Gener ally from V, to 2 grains should be given to children, with careful directions when to stop it. B. M. Smith (Ped., July 15, '97).
Salipyrin looked upon as almost a specific in influenza in childhood. At ages from five to ten years 4 grains are given thrice a day; from ten to four teen years, 15 grains thrice a day. After a couple of days it will usually be suffi cient to give only two doses a day. Furst (Rev. Mens. des Mal. de l'Enfance, Jan., '93).
Cinnamon in strong decoction or in tabloids when administered within twenty-four hours of the onset of the attack shortens it and often leads to rapid convalescence. Ross (Brit. Med. Jour., Mar. 1S, '99).
Some of these have required the dili gent and protracted use of strychnine, strophanthin, and other vasomotor tonics, with rest and fresh air, to secure a return to health.
In the treatment of the cardiac compli cations of influenza alcohol is of the first importance in cases of simple heart-fail ure. Caffeine citrate and cactus grandi flora proved next in value. Nitroglycerin appeared to act well in the aged and in gouty cases at any period of life, and strychnine was also of great service. Curtin and Watson (Inter. Med. Jour., Jan., '93).