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Shannon News, 4 October 1921, Page 3

just after the' mnuenza epidemic ol' 1918, Dr. P. H. McDonald, of Waikato, issued a pamphlet describing the remarkable results that had followed on the regular cleansing of the mouth and tongue as a preyentive of infection. The British, ■ Medical Journal now publishes some interesting evidence regarding the value of the use of iodine on the tongue as a preventive of influenza. ' The experiment was made in Uganda by Dr. J. A. Taylor, after the success of the same treatment in cases of spotted fever. Describing the result, Dr. Taylor says that ordinary tincture of iodine was mixed with an equal pari of native honey, and two or three drops placed on the tongue at least every three hours, or more frequently if convenient. This was in November, 1918, and in the following month, when the disease became prevalent, the Europeans who took the iodine escaped the disease, and’none of the natives died. Among the others, the mortality was high. lii one family the father, who was in' daily contact with influenza cases in all'stages, escaped altogether; the remainder of the family, who used the' iodine less regularly, had mild attacks. . One child, who took a liking for the mixture, and managed to obtain frerfuent applications of the medicine, escaped infection.