THE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 458, 29 March 1890, Page 5

THE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

SUPPOSED CASE OF LA GRIPPE IN AUCKLAND.

Auckland March 25, VVhat appears to be a case of la grippe occurred in Auckland this morning. The shorthand reporter who has attended the Sweating Commission through the South, was suddenly seized with sickness this morning. He just entered the room and made some remark about being unwell, when he appeared to be attacked with dizziness. He was at once assisted to a sofa that was in the room, and here he lay apparently quite exhausted for a few minutes. A cab was procured and he was sent home again. The secretary to the Commission expressed the opinion that it was a case of “la grippe,” and stated that he had been similarly attacked before he came up to Auckland. He stated that the sickness lasted from five to six davs in hxs case, with aches all over the body. POSSIBILITY OF A VISITATION. In view of the possibility that influenza will become epidemic here, we give below a few extracts culled from English papers while the disease was at its height there. It is as well to remark, however, that a few cases may occur in a town without the occurrence of an epidemic, and that people should not alarm themselves, the ailment not being of a very serious nature, unless in the case of persons of greatly enfeebled constitution. MODES OF TREATMENT.

The “Chemist and Druggist” of January 11th, when the epidemic was supposed to be at its height in London, contained the following references to it : “The newspaper literature in reference to the invasion is colossal, but not much new comes forth day by day. No one can doubt that to these articles in the daily papers almost as much of the epidemic in this country is due as to the poisonous germs. Many of the cases, indeed, might be more correctly described] as daily-tele-graphia than as influenza. But that the genuine article is here, too, is beyond doubt. The “ Telegraph ” has interviewed a number of physicians, and a few have given useful j advice. One “whose name, were it given, would carry great weight,” says, “On the appearance of the premonitory symptoms the patient should go to bed, and do everything in his power to promote perspiration. The temperature of the room should be maintained at 65 degrees Fahr. The various sudorifics should be taken, including warm drinks, such as soup, beef-tea, warm milk, gruel, and the like. The medicines should consist chiefly of salines. Alcohol in any form should be avoided at the outset. When all pains have disappeared, the skin is acting freely, and the elevation of the temperature has ceased, the introduction of alcohol is advisable in the shape of warm brand}’ and water, or even champagne. The sufferer should remain in bed until all fever, pain and signs of catarrh in the lungs have abated ; and he should then return to his ordinary diet, in combination with a good tonic, such as quinine, small quantities of alcohol being also desirable.” A “ Pall Mall Gazette ” young lady visited several leading physicians on Tuesday and secured prescriptions from them in anticipation of getting the complaint. She told Sir Oscar Clayton she had a sister suffering from it, and felt like getting it. The eminent gentlemen wrote for her the following prescription, assuring her, in answer to her question, that it would do for anybody who has influenza :

Carbonate of ammonia ldrachm Bi-carbonate of potash . 1 do Tincture of orange peel... ... 4 do Orange flower water ... ... 3 do Water to make up to eight ounces. “ You will take thi3 three times a day,’’ Baid Sir Oscar, “in a tablespoonful of lempn juice. If [I were you I should eat two oranges a day. Oranges are an excel lent thing in influenza. They keep it from the chest. A very good thing indeed. you have a little fish or chicken ; and have two glasses of port wine a day made into negus. You know what negus is ? Yes. Put the spoon in the glass, you know, orelseyoq’Jl break it. Add a bit of lemon of nutmeg. Take plenty of strengthening food sago or tapioca pudding. Put your feet in warm water every night, with a teaspoonful of paustard.” " Sir Morell Mackenzie advised his patient to gq home and goto bed if she felt bad, 3pd he gave her the following prescription : Take of— . Nitrate of Potash (Saltpetre) 1 drachm Spirits of Nitric Ether (Sweet Spirits of Nitre) 4 do. Liquor of Acetate of Ammonia 14 ounces Water, to 6 do. A tablespoonful with one of water every four hours. Take of tincture of quinine one teaBpoonful in a wineglass of water, twice daily, before meals. “ You will,” said the famous specialist, “ take this days. No. 2is a little tonic to take when you get better. No doubt if you are a victim you’ll feel a little weak for some time.’ Diet: Plenty of beef tea and some milk, and there can be no objection to a little fruit. Dr. Robson Roose told her he was attending sixty patients at present, from Cabinet Ministers downwards. Recommending her not to alarm herself, Dr. Roose wrote the following for a mixture to ward off the disease : Dr. Robson Roose gave the following as a prescription to ward off the disease Take of— Disdlphate of Quinine ... 12 grains Bromide of Potassium ... 14 drachm Dilute hydrabromio acjd ... 14 drachm Tincture of Orange Peel ... A ounce Water, to 8 do. Mix: Let a mixture be made. The eighth part (two tablespqonfuls) twice a day.

The following provincial reports show that the epidemic was not universal in Great Britain:—

Birmingham.— The leading chemists in the city- have had an unusual run upon their cough mixtures during the last fortnight, and in many cases have been asked for “ something to prevent influenza,” but neither from doctors’ prescriptions nor any other sources have cases of unmistakable influenza come under their notice. THE SYMPTOMS. Liverpool.—Up to date only two or three cases which have been verified as of the Russian or Asian type have occurred Sere- The symptoms are, “ splitting headche,” aching' of the eyes, especially when turned Sideways, coughing and sneezing, not very pronounced at first, but soon becoming violent, loss of appetite, with a great feeling' of emptiness, temperature 100 to 103 degrees, or over, usually higher in the : evening than the'morning. A hot bath, two ( or three days in bed, quinine and a moderate quantity of good champagne Beems to be the best treatment, ' 'Dr. Alffed Leach writes The name flven to this’Epidemic' ig 'misleading 5 to : c.i i-i-. I 1 v| » 1 »*>.- > ■ *t'

the public; the symptoms of a typical, uncomplicated, acute attack resemble rather those of ague than those of an ordinary influenza, or a bad cold. Chance has brought a considerable number of cases under my notice during the past fortnight, and a few days ago I had a very sharp personal experience of the disease myself. The unequal course of these cases persuades me that valuablo time is lost, and some harm done, by sufferers who, being misled by the word 1 influenza,’ wait for the appearance of catarrhal symptoms before_ subjecting themselves to the modicum of treatment required. From first to last I neither coughed, sneezed, nor was troubled with catarrh, and in 24 hours I was well again, but very weak for a day or two. The following are my interim conclusions :—The disease, as now occurring in London, is certainly infectious, especially if allowed to become complicated by catarrh, etc. ; it has an incubation period of about three days; it is a very trivial malady, if taken in hand early; if neglected it may prove quite tho reverse. The ordinary domestic remedies for a bad cold are of more than doubtful value to sufferers from this acute specific fever.” “ Auckland Star.”

Masterton, March 25. ATTACK AT MASTERTON. Influenza has broken out here, but in a mild form only.