AN OLD ENEMY.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 November 1918, Page 7

AN OLD ENEMY.

KNOWN SINCE WlO.

■precautious and treatment;

To a Wellington Post reporter the other day, a very well-known Wellington medical man gave some interesting information ocncernlng the malady. "Influenza," he said, "is an infections disease which has occurred at various intervals from the 'first accurately described outbreak—that of 1510. It is really a pandemic (universal epidemic) disease appearing at regular intervals, and characterised by extraordinary rapidity of extension and the large number of people attacked. Following the pandemic there are as a rule, for several years, endemic, epidemic, or sporadic outbreaks m different regions. Great pandemics of influenza have been recognised since the 16th century. During the last century there were four, with the succeeding epidemics, viz., 18303, 1838-7, 1547-S, and 1380-90. I was through the 1889-90 epidemic in England, and then came to 'New Zealand, and struck the pandemic here in 1891. The pandemic to-day ib no different, nor is it any more serious thari was that one to which I refer.

THE SPECIFIC CAUSE,

"The specific cause is generally believed to be a ibaeillus described in 1892. This bacillus is found in great abundance in the' sputum of affected persons. Normally the bacillus lives in the respiratory passages, but it sometimes gains access to tiie Mood. The incubation period ia from one to four days, and the onset usually abrupt with fever and its associated phenomena."

TREATMENT OF SUFFERERS.

"Patients attacked should he isolated and secretions thoroughly disinfected. In every case the disease should be regarded as serious, and the patient should remain in bed until the fever has disappeared. The treatment should be supporting; patients should be carefrilly fed and nursed. Depression of spirits is often an unpleasant and obstinate feature- The remedy put out by the Health Department is a good one, and safe, and should be the only one used if the patient is not under medical supervision. For food, milk, cereals, milk toast, beef juice, broths, eggs beaten in milk or soft-boiled, are good.

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES.

"Precautionary measures should be very carefully used, and on no account should irritants be used. The use of formalin, strong permanganate of potash, sulphur, and other like articles which are irritants is apt to do mischief. The best preventive is to keep away from crowds and company as much as possible. Gpt plenty of fresh air; keep your spirits up and be cheerful. I recommend the use of one teaspoonful of salt in half a pint of warm water for use as a nasal douche or gurgle. If Condv's fluid is used it should only be in a very faintly pink color. The very best preventive remedy, if remedy is required, is ammoniated quinine. , If quinine is taken as a preventive, not. more than two grains should be taken once a day, but in the ease of ammoniated quinine one teaspoonful in water may be taken, but not more often than throe times a day."