INFLUENZA 135 



transparent spots, like tiny drops of dew. The 

 bacillus of influenza possesses little resistance to 

 drying, to heat, or to chemicals. 



Influenza Infection in Man. — B. influenzae usu- 

 ally invades the air-passages and is found in the 

 sputum and nasal discharges, more largely in the 

 bronchial mucus; but is almost never found in the 

 blood. Influenza bacilli are often found in the bron- 

 chial and nasal discharges for weeks after recovery 

 seems complete. The varied symptoms of influenza, 

 which seem to be almost innumerable, are due to the 

 toxins produced by the bacilli and not to their local 

 effects. 



Pneumonia, meningitis, inflammation of the middle 

 ear, gastric and kidney disorders, and many nerv- 

 ous manifestations very commonly accompany in- 

 fluenza, and "are probably to be referred to the 

 selective action of the toxin in different individuals 

 rather than to localization of infection." (Jordan.) 



Pneumonia, due to B. influenzw, and influenza 

 as a secondary infection in pulmonary tuberculosis, 

 are both grave conditions. 



Pulmonary tuberculosis is not infrequently a 

 sequence of influenza. 



The methods whereby the bacilH of influenza are 

 transmitted in the sudden and appalling epidemics 



