INCORRECTNESS OF THE DIAGNOSIS OF DEATH FROM INFLUENZA

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Abstract
Boards of health, as indicated by newspaper reports, very generally are subdividing their mortality reports from epidemic influenza into deaths from influenza and deaths from pneumonia or bronchopneumonia. This is no doubt based on the death certificate return handed in by the physician in charge of the patient. Is it a correct return? In my opinion it is not. The correct return should be bronchopneumonia and (epidemic) influenza. Whether the bronchopneumonia is part of the influenza or is a complication of that disease; whether the disease is due primarily to the influenza bacillus; whether the pulmonary consolidation is caused primarily by theBacillus influenzaeor is the result of concomitant bacteria are questions that cannot be answered on the basis of our present information. However, my own observations on patients suffering from epidemic influenza do justify a vigorous protest against a statistical subdivision of death reports into those dying from

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