A TRANSVAAL EPIDEMIC.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 10 December 1912, Page 4

A TRANSVAAL EPIDEMIC.

There is at present in Johannesburg an epidemic, of illness of a somewhat peculiar character. A doctor described it to a representative of the Transvaal Leader as a form of "glorified influenza." What ever it is—and the .germ has not yet been discovered—it I has afflicted dozens of people, who, on recovery,'speak of their experience as one distinguished by extreme distress and complete prostration. So , far, no name has been, given the comi plaint, which in its initial stages is associated with a sore throat. This is followed by a general constitutional disturbance, and at the height of the . illness the . temperature goes up as high' • as' 105deg. The glands of the I neck and throat become swollen, there is great difficulty in swallowing, and ' there are excruciating pains all over the bodv, which appoars to be slightly paralysed. The patient 'oses bte appetite, and can only consume "soft" food, which he does with difficulty and obvious renugnance. There is general lassitude and weakness. The conplaint is aggravated by the night air, dust, and even the sun'g rays. The last-named, which in most troubles are comforting, in this present epidemic seem to increase physical pain and foment mental irritation. In its main features the complaint resembles influenza, but it is said to be even more distressing, if that is possible. Once a member of a family is affected, it is almost a certainty that all the others will suffer in like manner, and the neriod of the illness is from a fortnight to throe weeks.