"THE DREADED FLU."

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 10 April 1919, Page 3

"THE DREADED FLU."

Persons of a pessimistic turn of mmd —and there are plenty of theft} in Anc'dandy-are predicting 'thnt'V.o' are booked for another' inflqenza epidemic in this part of the world, and that we can't hope to dodge it. Well.

if it is to be i^ will be, I suppose. But I for one do not believe in putting up my umbrella before it rains. Let us " wait and see." One thing is certain : those who are continually worrying about sickness of any sort are generally the first to be attacked. Worry predisposes to disease. Keep a stiff upper lip. Look after your general health, and "never trouble trouble till trouble troubles you." By the way a good many medical men in this country are firm believers in the efficacy of whisky in influenza. Giving evidence before the Influenza Commission at Wei-' lington the other day Dr. Fyffe said : "The most invaluable drug in the epidemic was alcohol. My experience was that people who were in the habit of taking alcohol in moderation did not take the disease. A hopeless' soaker would, of course, die straightaway. But the man who took two or three whiskies a day did not, as a rule, take the disease:" Two or three whiskies a day? That is a precription a good many people are in the habit of following whether there is influenza jabqut. or not. It recalls the story of the woman whose husband was ill. She was told by the doctor to take the invalid's temperature when he went to bed, with a clinical thermometer and telephone Hie result to him (the doctor). When she sent the message next morning she said she couldn't find the thermometer, so she had to do as well as she could with a barometer. She said : " I just laid it on his chest, and it said ' very dry.' So I gave him a quart of ale, and this morning he's gone back to work. 1'