INFLUENZA 233 



its many connections with the cerebro-spinal system, 

 becoming involved. 



Thus, the sequence of pathological phenomena may be 

 traced, and their varying intensities accounted for, as well 

 as the complications and sequelae of this disease explained. 



As referred to before, the materies morbi, having 

 obtained an entrance into the nervous system either 

 through its blood supply or directly from the Schneiderian 

 membrane of the nostrils or mucosa of the air passages, 

 finds a medium suitable for its growth and propagation 

 in the cerebro-spinal fluid, within the cerebro-spinal cavity, 

 and surrounding the cells and fibrils of the brain and 

 spinal cord, as well as within the neurilemmar sheaths, 

 encircling the ramifications of the nerve structures through- 

 out the body. 



It will in this way become apparent that an explanation 

 can be afforded of the rapidity with which the strength 

 of the patient disappears, even ere the body-weight has 

 had time to materially diminish ; the explanation being 

 that the production and distribution of nerve energy or 

 force has been stopped or interfered with in proportion to 

 the amount and virulence of the poison imbibed and 

 produced. 



The rapid loss of strength, independently of the loss 

 of body-weight, is in strong contrast to the loss of strength 

 which takes place, say, in typhoid fever, where it is asso- 

 ciated with and in proportion to the loss of body-weight, 

 and is due to the disintegration and loss of tissue, and the 

 over-evolution of caloric and continued high temperature. 



On the subject of the prevailing sequelae of influenza, 

 we may remark that they begin and follow on very much 

 the same lines as those along which the disease has con- 

 ducted its attack, viz. on the brain and nervous system 

 and connected muscles first, and on the visceral and other 

 more outlying organs and structures second. 



We would, therefore, remark that those sequels, which 

 are directly traceable to changes wrought by the disease 

 within and on the nervous system, may be accounted for, 

 as has already been pointed out, by the operation of the 

 toxic and mechanical influences of the specific materies 

 morbi of the disease on the various structures of that 



