200 INFECTION AND IMMUNITY 



than sixty years of age. The total number of deaths 

 in the United States during the census year 1900 

 was 16,645. As in Germany and elsewhere a large 

 proportion of the deaths occurred in persons over 

 sixty years of age or among young children, under 

 five. But these figures by no means represent the 

 total mortality from the disease. Many deaths re- 



FIG. 8. Bacillus of influenza ; magnified 1000 diameters. 



corded as due to pneumonia are the result of a pre- 

 ceding attack of influenza. Other complications or 

 results of the disease which may have a fatal termina- 

 tion are connected with the brain and spinal cord, the 

 heart or the kidneys. Serious eye and ear troubles, 

 also, not infrequently follow an attack of influenza. 



Wide-spread epidemics of influenza have prevailed 

 in Europe from an early period. It prevailed in Italy, 



