THE RIGHT WAY WITH INFLUENZA.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 55, 11 April 1914, Page 6

THE RIGHT WAY WITH INFLUENZA.

HOW TO AVOID AN ATTACK. The influenza microbe is still active, and the only successful method of avoiding it is to Keep away from sources.of infection. For mc,st people this is not practicable, but everyone may go a long step in that direction. By going" less among crowds, especially indoor crowds, we lessen the risk of getting influenza. We can also do something by not directly facing an infectious person when talking to him, and by holding up a newspaper when sitting opposite him in a train. Some people pin their faith to sniffing a little eucalyptus from the palm of j;he hand, others find protection by taking a small dose of quinine every day when brought into contact with a'sufferer. When attacked, says A. F. Hopkirk, of Jena (in "Influenza," a book issued by the Walter Scott Publishing Company), "no matter how mild the symptomsmay appear to be, there is always, the possibility of serious complications in the acute r stage, while the severity and danger of the after effects that may supervene b«lr no relation to the violence of the epidemic seizure. _; The Best Advice. ".Consequently the best advice that can be given to anyone presenting the initial symptoms of influenza is to 'go to bed and send for a doctor and a nurse.' Even in the mildest attacks bed is the proper place until there has been an absence of febrile symptoms for at least two or three days." - • There are three radical errors of management, says

this .writer, namely:— 1. Neglecting to send a patient to bed early enough. 2. Allowing a patient to get up too soon. 3. Permitting a patient to.leave the house before convalescence is completed. The sooner a patient goes out the greater is the risk of bad. consequences. How is one to know if he is getting or has got influenza? Dr Hopkirk says that, after one to three days' incubation, it "usually starts with chilliness, shivering, a sensation as of cold water running down the back, unbearable headache, pains in the back and loins,, malaise. The temperature generally rises rapidly to. 102<leg. or 103deg. Fahrenheit, and hot and cold fits alternate. . Some of the Symptoms. "In very mild cases these symptoms disappear, after profuse sweating, in forty-eight hours, leaving more "or less lassitude and prostration, which may last for some time. "In other cases the onset is followed by loss of apiietite, furred tongue, constipation, with the addition, of a short, dry, harassing cough, without expectoration. The pains in the head become very severe. Profuse, perspiration is a common symptom." But there are several types —the febrile, the respiratory, the nervoiis, and the gastro-intestinal; and each has itSvOWHi peculiar manifestations. Some .attacks, therefore, may begin with sneezing, running from the nose, burning pain in the eyes; others With severe pains in the head, back, and loins and great weakness, without any catarrh; others with vomiting, pain in the abdomen, jdiarrhcea, and. collapse. It is obviousthat self-drugging lis a.msitak-e and that a doctor should always be seen.

! The food to. give an influenza patient during the feverish stage is milk. It is best given hot, and he should have three to four joints daily. ' It must be given in small doses, in some eases as small as a wineglasful (2-ioz.). Later on the quantity is increased to a teacupful (ooz.), given every hour. A little added seltzer or lime-water makes the milk more .easily'idigested." ]Jf Diet During Convalescence. ; .luring convalescence the patient should* be well nourished. Dr Hopkirk recommends half a pint of mijl£;;|he first thing in the morning. '''The breakfast (8.30) of the convalescent may be chosen from the*following:— Eggs, boiled or poached; whiting, plaice, or sole; sweetbreads; tripe boiled in milk;, "toast, rusks, or stale bread; butter, sparingly used. ■ ' ,

At 1 1 a.m. he should have a light meal, such as eggnog, milk punch, milk jelly, oysters, biscuits, and a glass of port or champagne. At luncheon (1.30) he may have eggs, whtie fish, boiled' chicken or rabbit, and a little mashed potato, with cauliflower, vegetable marrow, or celery. At dinner (6.30-7.30) he can take soup and fish or meat with vegetables, and pudding. On going to bed he should have a cup of warm milk, with a little brandy, or one of the various invalid foods.

Dr W. F. Wilding, of Withingtou, Manchester, giving evidence at an inquest on his daughter Doris, aged 21, to whom a doctor was not summoned, said that both he and his daughter were Christian Scientists. She was cured of hip disease by Christian Science 13 years ago. The medical evidence was that it was'.verydoubtful if a doctor could have prolonged life, and the jury returned a verdict of "natural causes."

I In response to the appeal for £250,000 made by SiF JBobert Baden-Powell, the Chief Scout, for forming a •permanent endowment fund for the Boy Scouts, £IO,OOO mas been allocated to it by the Commercial Union Assurance Company, acting under powers entrusted to them by the will of Sir William Dunn, former M.P. for 'Paisley. ' -