THE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2033, 15 April 1890, Page 3

THE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

The advice of Dr Lennox Browne, the well-known senior surgeon to the Central London Throat and Ear Hospital, as to the best remedy for influenza and other offections of the nose and throat, is worth having at this juncture. The doctor says (so tje London correspondent of the Manchester Guardian asserts) that the vapour of menthol acts as an effective check on a cold in the head, and with a certainty of success, if used in the first instance, in arresting or acting as a preventive of influenza epidemic. 1 he remedy may be employed by means of the general impregnation of its vapour through a room or house, or locally to the nostrils and air passages. The doctor says that the most convement method tor personal use is to carry a pocket menthol inhaler, which should not only be used on the first approach of the attack, but three or four times a day during the epidemic, Menthol exerts its influence in the following manner—l. It stimulates to contraction the capillary blood

r vessels of the passage of the nose and throat, always dilated in the early stages of head cold and of influenza. 2 It arrests sneezing and rhinal flow. 3 It relieves and indeed dissipates pain and fulness of the head by its analgesic properties, so well known by its action when applied externally to the brow in cases of tic doloureux. 4 It is powerfully germicide and antiseptic. It thus kills the microbe of infection and prevents its dissemination. Dr S. Morrison, of Harley street, writes ‘ The earliest symptoms usually are—a sudden feeling of prostration, with drowsiness, headache, and aching in the loins or limbs. These are soon followed by catarrhal symptoms or sharper rheumatoid pains and fever temperature. As common medicines, readily obtained by post from any homceapathic chemist, the following were of great service:—For the incipient stage, two or three pills of aconite 3x every half hour or hour, till the catarrhal symptoms of nasal discharge commence. Then two or three pilules of arsenicum 3x every hour or two, according to the severity. When the rheumatoid pains are severe two or three tablets of Mercurius Sol. 3x every two hours. For congestion of the lungs , two or three pilules of phosporus 3nl. cent, every two hours or according to the hacking cough. These are practical hints for use where proper medical aid cannot readily be obtained. Other helps are warm applications, both dry and as linseed poultices ; warmth, both of the room ann clothing ; and plenty of light nutritious foods. I haye examined specimens of mucus from patients and the constancy and simiof the germs found indicate that the disease may be due to the dissemination of germs resembling the hay bacilius, rather than to the presence of a fungus, A magnifying glass of 800 diameters shows these perfectly.’