Earthquakes and Influenza.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5211, 19 March 1895, Page 2

Earthquakes and Influenza.

The connection between earthquakes and influenza is sot apparent ; but as " up-to-date " medical science has declared that they occupy the relation of causa find effect, sufferers from the distressing malady must make up their minds to " grin and bear it" until Buch tims as an infallible earthquake pill is invented. The height of medical superstition in Africa or China surely never reached a more irrational conclusion than this, which is gravely put forth in a book by Dc Creighton, an English physician who has devoted many years of his life to a Btudy of epidemics and their causes. When treating of diseases, like cholera, .typhus and diphtheria, whose genesis has been fully demonstrated, Dr Creighton seems to be very " wise after the event," but when he comes to discuss the probable causes of influenza he is no more scientific than the Negro or Chinese doctor. It is safe to affirm, negatively, that '-influenza is not an infection which lends itself to a simple theory of its nature, or a neat formula of it 3 cause. * * * * Something broad, comprehensive, steady from age to age, telluric, not ooemic, must be sought after." But Dr Creighton doe 3 more. He goes on to examine the evidence in favour of the theory that earthquakes are tbe cause of influenza. He findß thatatßarbadoesia 1732 an earthquake was followed by influx nza. In 1755 irfluerza both preceded and followed the earthquake. In 1783 there were violent earthquakes, but they came after the influenza. Bub the earthquakes had been preceded, and were perhaps connected with, prolonged droughts, as was the case in 1755. Finally, after discussing other inetances of fevers and influenzas supposed to have been caused by earthquakes, Dr Creighton eeems to incline to the theory of some miasmatic influences let loose in greater force than usual by earthquakes, or other disturbances of soil and air. Such a conclusion seems to ua the veriest childish superstition. A. theory" of that sort is tha invariable refuge of people who ara ignorant and are ashamed to admit it. It is on a par with the hypothesis that the Government ia responsible for low pricas, or that Radical agitation ■■' fills the butchers' shops with big blue flies." It is no doubt distressing, and a severe reflection on medical science, that the causa of influenza is unknown; but it only makes matters worse to 'connect it with another " unknown" in the shape of earthquakes.