THE SO-CALLED "SPANISH INFLUENZA"

BY JAMES JOSEPH KING, A.B., M.D.

NEW YORK

CAPTAIN MEDICAL CORPS, U. S. ARMY

We desire to present in this preliminary note a
consideration of the similarity of the present epidemic to
the epidemic of pneumonic plague which broke out in
Harbin, China, in October, 1910, and spread rapidly and
continuously throughout Northern China at that time; and
to suggest that this epidemic may be the same disease
modified by racial and topographical differences. The
origin of this epidemic was suggested to the writer soon
after its outbreak in our camps by Mr. Guy M. Walker, an
eminent American authority on Chinese affairs. This
suggestion led to an investigation of the reports of the
pneumonic plague in China and there is sufficient likeness
of that epidemic to the present one prevailing in our
cities and army camps to warrant a consideration of it.

In the latter part of 1910 the pneumonic plague first
appeared in Harbin a town in Manchuria under Chinese
control. Harbin is on the Trans-Siberian Railroad, and was
the original hotbed of the disease. The plague had
prevailed in Russia previous to November, 1910, but the
Russians, alert to its danger, took immediate action and
stamped it out. It was believed that the plague was
carried into Harbin by the fur dealers and by the Chinese
laborers returning to their homes to celebrate New Year's
Day, a custom universally observed in China. From Harbin
the plague rapidly spread in all directions, usually
following the lines of traffic along the railroads. It
spread as far south as Chefu, a seaport town, probably
having been carried there by Chinese coolies returning
from the north.

* * * * *

This plague has been very serious. The mortality has been
fearfully high. It has spread throughout China. Wherever
the Chinese coolies from the North have traveled they have
carried this disease. From 1910 up to 1917 China has not
been free from it. The writer has heard of several cases
being present in Peking last year.

In the early part of 1917, about 200,000 Chinese coolies,
collected from the northern part of China, where the
pneumonic plague has raged at intervals since 1910, were
sent to France as laborers. Part of them were sent around
through