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Show KNOWN AS THE DISEASE OF MYSTERY. Spanish influenza is a disease of mystery, although known for centuries, centur-ies, and the Scientific American quotes physicians as stating that, in a mild form and often unrecognized form, it is always with us. But the question is asked, why does it suddenly flare up in u huge conflagration, which spreads rapidly over tho greater part of the globe? And the other unanswered unan-swered questions are: Why. unlike other respiratory diseases dis-eases which are mainly prevalent in winter and early spring, do epidemics of influenza so frequently occur in pleasant weather in summer? What causes the epidemic to spread apparently regardless of the usual measures for controlling epidemics? Why, durjng the present outbreak was the disease far less prevalent in New i York, where schools and theaters wore J allowed to remain open, than in Bos- ton, Philadelphia, and Washington, , where thoy were closed? Why is tho diseaso often of a very mild type, and at other times so rapidly rap-idly fatal? Why, unlike ordinary pneumonia, has this disease spared individuals at both extremes of life, affecting chiefly individuals In the prime of life? What is the relation of tho streptococcus strepto-coccus and pneumococcus to the severe se-vere cases? Is the disease primarily caused by a filterable virus? According to Paris dispatches Nicollc claims to have demonstrated dem-onstrated that, the disease Is caused by an ultra-microscopic virus. Such viruses are so minute that they pass through the minute pores of unglazed porcelain filters, and hence are called "filterable viruses." And, lastly, does not attack afford immunity or does it make the individual individ-ual more susceptible? These are some of the questions aroused by the present visitation of this disease of mystery. ' Can germs of a disease of this kind be cultivated and, through a deliberate conspiracy, spread throughout the world? oo |