THE USE OF ALCOHOL.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXIX, Issue 3997, 22 November 1918, Page 2

THE USE OF ALCOHOL.

DOCTOR OFF THE NIAGARA.

HIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.

Aii expression of opinion on the subject of local moment—the epidemic—was made at Auckland' .on Tuesday by Dr. G. Metcalfe Sharp, when interviewed by a "Star" reporter. Dr. Sharp, who, at the request of the District Health Officer (Dr. Hughes) took charge of the Niagara as medical officer while she was in port after arrival with "Flu" cases, and subsequently accompanied the vessel to Sydney, where she was quarantined, has had exceptional opportunities of making study and observation of the disease. "It is beyond doubt," said the doctor, "that there were severe cases of influenza in. Auckland before the arrival of the Niagara, which was, no more the cause of the epidemic spreading than it was the cause pf** the spread of the disease to Palrfr',.- eston North or other inland towns./ The disease was endemic prior to the£ Niagara's arrival here. When the t^at was at sea, and the epidemic was IW%_ its height before she arrived at Auck- * land, there were 135 patients. Iso- .j lation, fumigation, and other drastic measures were adopted, and continued when I took charge all the time the vessel was in port. To show how effective these precautions were, I can say that only one fresh case developed after that—a period of ten days which stopped the further spread of the epidemic. A number of cases, as many as the hospital could take, were sent there. The vessel was not quite clean when the Niagara left here with about 32 cases aboard, and, with the one exception I have mentioned, there was no further outbreak, and she returned to Auckland after, quarantine a clean ship."

EFFECTIVE TREATMENT. What were the precautions taken to prevent the spread of the disease ? —"All I can say is that I took very extreme measures. The hospital and isolated blocks were locked, and 1 had possession of the key myself. While in quarantine we had every chance of making a full test of the isolation. A thorough bacteriological investigation was conducted by an expert sent from Melbourne, and we worked seven days at the microscope. Ten cases were,taken, and swabs of the throats observed before and after exposure in the fumigation chamber during that period. After the third bath or inhalation the swabs were almost sterile, indicating the effectiveness of, the treatment provided."

Asked what he thought the most effective way of preventing infection Dr. Sharp replied : 'Pending the discovery of an anti-toxin I would say that 2 per cent, of sulphate of zinc in steam inhalation is the best,. Secondly in importance I should think the moderate use of proof spirit as a gargle is effective, and, thirdly, free ventilation is a good thing."

A POWERFUL ANTISEPTIC. Dr. Sharp added: "We must not forget that ale hoi is a powerful antiseptic, and that,it is refrigerant, and anhydrotjc. In my opinion an ounce and a-half of the proper spirit taken in teaspoon doses over a period of 24 hours, first gargled, then swallowed, and followed by a.drink of water, is a very effective means of reducing the possibilities of contagion. • Personally I can vouch for that. Although exposed to infection in the confines of a ship's cabin, amongst serious pneumonic cases, when ths possibilities of infection were at the maximum, I took no other precaution than the use of spiritsl, and I have been immune from the disease. I had a similar experience in the summer of 1902 in the pneumonic plague at Calcutta, and I adopted similar prophylactic measures regarding myself with a similar result. I admit that the habitual heavy drinker is the more serious case wfhen attacked by the disease than t.he abstainer and teetotaler, but I am strongly of opinion, on my experience, that the abstainer is more readily susceptible to disease." •