THE EPIDEMIC IN ENGLAND

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 70, 17 December 1918, Page 4

THE EPIDEMIC IN ENGLAND

DOCTORS PUZZLED. Captain J. T. Marshall (retired), of Wellington, has forwarded to the Mayor of Wellington a copy of a letter received from his brother, written in Glasgow ni October G, and referring chiefly 10 the epidemic at Home. In the course of the letter the writer states:— "Wo, went for holidays at the end of August, 'but within a fortnight I was knocked over with that scourge, the socalled influenza (which is now almost an epidemic), and that in a strange house was added trouble. The old-time influenza by my (and no doubt your) recollection was a simple, if severe, cold ill the head. What the doctors mean by applying the name to a severe fever, accompanied by unconsciousness and utter helplessness, I don't know, and, what is more, I don't think the doctors know. It is all over the Kingdom, anyway, and it leaves the victim mortally weak, with the great risk of (so-called) pneumonia following it in cases of weakly people, and the doctors fear mortally a chill on recovery from influenza. Fortunately I was free of that, and got on the convalescent list very weak after a month in bed, being for some of the days at the crisis uncc'.isifious. The Jesuit was to epoil the whole holiday for all of us, but we had to stay some three weeks longer till I was strong for the journey, and wo returned hore (to Glasgow) on September 24. They toll me I was ill before I ieft, but it was hot to my knowledge, or we never would have started. The illness declared itself fully after ilie first week, so one cannot blame an infection after leaving Glasgow. This is the only serious illness I have had in nil my life. Some suggest that prisoners or refugees brought the trouble from the Continent. It attacks all classes and all ages, and lots of schools are closed, and works are seriously interfered with owing to the epidemic among the workpeople. Conditions or means or surroundings, seem to play no part in the spread of the disease, and the medical men are wondering yet. My doctor said that if the temperature rose to 103 the fever took charge, and his fight was to get that, reduced; but I am curious to know Where and how the original infection arose—the doctors look wise, but have nothing to say."

It appears that in giving the return of the deaths in Glasgow ,those who died of influenza were separated from those who succumbed to pneumonia, for the letter says: "Fifty-five died in Glasgow from influenza last week, and sixty-five from pneumonia." The letter continues: ''Many doctors in Britain try to deny that it is an infections disease, hut I see reported to-day (October 6, 1918) that the ITrench Government has ordered it to be reported as infectious. The British doctors will wake up and follow the French lend in perhaps twenty years to come, nnd, then lot themselves down easy by giving l it some new name to cloud the issue.' Up to the present it is very mysterious what the cursed thing is."