Remember that todays different patents were originally filed as one.

This first filling must have the relevant priority date.

As far as the American 148 patent is concerned it might not be so important.

Firstly because of technical reasons, secondly because it is not worthwile to pay the fees anymore (the fees do increase extremely during the lifetime of a patent), thirdly probable license fees are still to be paid up to the expiring date even today or next year if a company had been on notice and

lastly you have to consider that it doesn't touch other fillings e.g. the European at all.

Hopefully this helps to take a little tension.

Jerry