the Mediterranean; some, perhaps the majority,
were sent across the Pacific, and then through Canada and
America, to be transported across the Atlantic to France.
Trainloads of these coolies were sent in solid trains
across the United States to New York and thence to France.
They made splendid laborers in France, and were in back of
the lines during the German drive of March, 1918. No doubt
many of them were captured by the Germans at that time.
Hence the outbreak of it in the German army and its rapid
spread in Spain.

So far as we know, this disease first broke out last
spring, in the German army, where it is said to have been
very serious. We next heard of it in Spain, hence the name
Spanish influenza. The name is really a misnomer, but it
has stuck probably because it is the first epidemic of
influenza that Spain has ever had. Since our soldiers and
sailors have been returning from the battlefields of
France it has become very prevalent and serious in our
camps and cities all over this country.

* * * * *

... It seems possible that the _Bacillus pestis_ may have
been present in a non-virulent state in the Chinese
coolies, and assumed new virulence, vigor, and a somewhat
different form, when transplanted into virgin soil. The
high mortality and infectivity of this epidemic strongly
suggest it.

On this basis the epidemics which have followed all great
wars may be explained. If a nation or tribe can survive
any disease long enough it will acquire immunity to that
disease. When, however, foreign people commingle freely
and intimately, as in war, epidemics will break out. The
inactive, non-virulent organisms in one race will become
virulent in some other race which has not acquired
immunity to that specific organism.

Transcriber's Notes:

Author's name is spelled LaMotte (title page) or La Motte (cover and
introduction). The appearance of the original text has been preserved in
each case.

List of illustrations, 5th entry, "Peking car" changed to "Peking cart"
to match caption under illustration.

Inconsistent hyphenation of words in text preserved. This occurs
mainly in the transliteration of Chinese names. (Lao-Hsi-Kai, Lao Hsi
Kai; Li Yuan-Hung, Li Yuan Hung; Shan-tung, Shantung)

Abbreviations: sometimes a space between letters, somet