THE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12587, 23 August 1901, Page 5

THE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

A correspondent writes: —I am just now recovering from a very severe attack of tho mysterious disease known as influenza, and I wish to give my experience so that it may prove a warning to others nob to treat influenza lightly when the first attack seizes them'. My duties lead me to be about town a good deal at night, and not much in tie day time. Last Thursday (Hurdle Day .at the Grand National Meeting), I went to town, and meeting an old trainer friend of mine, we discussed the events of the afternoon's racing. The room in which we weso sitting was well lighted, and heated, and' there was a. plentiful consumption of tobacco going on. Seated far away frcim the fire, anid en a draught ifrcitf the ■door, I felt myself clear, but as my friend spoke, my mind lapsed and making a rush, I darted out cf the room, and into the passage. Leaning against the wall I was just about to slip down when- he stopped me, and led me into the open air. By this time I had broken out, first into a violent feverish heat, which just as suddenly altered to an icy cold, clammy feeling, and a short walk freshened me up so that after a few minutes I was glad to go into a cooler room and lie dowai for a while. Had I then and there called a-cab and gone straight home and to bed I fully believe I should have mastered 'the disease. But I had to work the greater part of that night, so instead, partook of some extra good quality brandy, and went to my work, reaching home some time during the early hours of morning. Going to bed tired 'out, weak from the shock, and the effects- of the- alcohol entirely dispersed, I naturally slept well. But there was no disguising the fact that on Saturday I was an influenza patient all right. Head, eyes, nose, muscles of the back, thighs and calves, all ached their loudest, each one vicing with the other which should first- become my chief antagonist. I think in the end the head won, as-it became impossible'to lift it from the pillow at all, and tt s the eyes were hermetically closed against all light, I lay like a log all day and till late into the night when a sense of relief began to make itself felt. Since then I havo been doing; a slow—very slow—recovery, but it will be some time before I shall (so the doctor 'tells me) shake off the effects entirely. Indeed, he says few patients ca.n do that unless they go for a long sea voyage, practically the best germ exterminator known.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, As there arß sucn / ' a iar o e " number of people suffering from influenza afc tho presemi Time, I ask j-w to kindly publish, the following remedy: —A small teaspoonful of sulphur cT.cs a day, taken in milk, jam., treacle or -whisky. I 'have been a great suffereT at different time* for the las* twelve years, and during that time have tried roumberless remsdree, and at last tried sulphur and found it the. best remedy out of the scores of things I have taken. It will crjva relief withuin two .hours, and will not require more tfcara about h»lf-a-do»en "doses to wipe it cleaa out, I have Tecomroended w to those who I knew were suffering, and Wo no* OieawJ c* «■ stng-Ie failure.—l ara, iav« aw xi j CROWLEY . '