OURE FOR INFLUENZA.

Colonist, Volume XLI, Issue 9109, 1 March 1898, Page 2

OURE FOR INFLUENZA.

The fo'lowing appeared in the * Border Post,' Albory, daring the last tpidemio ol influenza in that town (14th December, 1897) \r-

A qualified medical practitioner writes :— «> Having read about the epidemic outbreak of influenza in your city, I wish to state my experience with that malady, and leave it to the public whether they wish to avail themselves of the remedy I am going to suggest or not; During the last epidemic of influenza in London I was engaged as medical officer in St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, and during the short time it lasted treated a considerable number of patients, finding that especially the nervous symptoms, such as headache, extreme weakness f restlessness, etc., were greatly improved by the following medical treatment : — I had an ordinary wide mouthed magnesia bottle filled with boiling water, and poured upon this 20 to 30 drops of extract of eucalyptus, and made the patient inhale the vapor thus produced as long as there was any smell of eucalyptus to be detected; These inhalatiotts to be given three times daily. Besides this, I ordered the patient to take the following mixture ;— Extract of eucalyptus and rectified spirit of wine equal parts ; 10 drops in half a wineglass full of milk every two hours. I may state that I used Sander and Sons' preparation exclusively, having found that it was the only one to be relied upon. The cases treated in this manner recovered quickly and without the occurrence of any complications, " Since I am in Australia I heard frequently the objection raised that eucalyptus is depressing the circulatory system. In my experience it is the least depressing of any antipyretic drug, and when a pure pre* paration is used in the manner indicated above, greater benefit is derived from its administration than from that of any other remedial agent. If we consider the cause of the malady, it being an infectious disease due to the infection of the mucous membranes of the bacilli of influenza (Pfeiffer, Kitasato : Berliner Klinische Wochenschoift, 1892, page 28) we can easily understand the modus operandi of the remedy suggested. We all know that a refined and uniform preparation of eucalyptus, like Sander & Sons', possesses great germicidal properties, Professor Lister pro nouncing it to be three times as strong in that direction as the strongest solution of carbolic acid that can be employed with safety. If now the germs are removed, the poisonous products of their metamorphosis (tachnicaily called ptomaines) also cease to be created, the irritation or the different tissues by them is stopped, and^ the nervous system has a chance of recuperating itself. I trust the publication of the above may prove beneficial to your readers."