History of Infiiienza. 6 1 



nervous centres, and through them with every 

 vital organ in the body. My own experience has 

 proved to me that influenza is not dependent 

 npon a low temperature of the air. If cold 

 weather was of itself an exciting cause, we 

 should always find the greatest number of fresh 

 cases on the day or the day after an intensely 

 cold day and night, whereas we do not find that 

 to be the case. I have found nearly as many 

 fresh cases during the prevalence of beautifully 

 fine, dry, warm weather, with a clear crisp 

 atmosphere, as in a wet, dull, murky atmosphere. 

 I mean during the whole time the epizootic is 

 prevalent. A long continuance of east winds 

 may possibly contribute some of the conditions 

 necessary to its development, but of this I am 

 persuaded, whenever epizootic disease is prevalent, 

 the mystery is dependent upon some invisible 

 subtle agency operating from without, and exists 

 in the atmosphere. I do not wish to be under- 

 stood that the whole force of the attack is in- 

 stantaneous. Supposing an animal in perfect 

 health, and in tip-top condition, surrounded and 

 pressed npon by an atmosphere which is in this 

 peculiar state, the rapidity and intensity of the 

 attack will depend upon the state of the skin and 

 coat of such animal. As to its acting as a good 

 conductor or non-conductor if the animal has 

 a thick coat or is clothed too much, inducing 

 a damp state of the coat, and whilst in this state 

 permitted to stand in a cold stable, or outside in 

 the open air, that is the precise time the mischief 

 is done. 



