The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-02-15
HAVE YOU A BAD COLD
Simple Remedy for Grip to be Found In
Every Household.

WILLIAMSON, S. c., Feb. 4.-To
the Editor of The State: A year ago,
when the influenza or grip was so
prevalent, noticed a report on the
disease from one Of the best hospitals
of Europe. This hospital is in Edin-
burgh, Scotland. At the time Of the
! report hundreds Of influenza cases had
been treated there. After fighting the
epidemic with varying success, a happy
accident led the superintendent to
adopt an alkaline treatment with an
extreme case that was brought in. A
full dose of salaratus was given every
two hours. Although the patient was
in convulsions when brought in, she
became quieter short, time after the
first dose; and only three doses were
given before the patient was clearly
on the way to recovery. In three days
she was counted we'll. This same SIM
pie treatment was then followed with
a thousand, not one of whom died.
Best of all, not only was the influenza
promptly cured, but there were no un-
pleasant or dangerous symptoms fol-
lowing recovery. It has been observed
that not more die Of the influenza than
of what may follow it.
From some work in my chemical
laboratory, carried on before this re-
port came out, I had concluded that
the influenza was at least associated
with: excessive acidity of the system,
if it was not caused by this abnormal
state. I was so certain of the correct
ness of this view that, on being thrown
in bed myself with the Influenza, l
treated myself only with alkaline
drinks to counteract the acid. The
rasult was that instead of two or three
weeks of punyness, missed only one
day from work:
The success with my own case was
so astonishing that I have been called
to treat other cases; and of about twen-
ty-five treated, very few have had to
give up work for more than day
some not at all.
Not being a physician, I should feel
some hesitancy in offering my cure, if,
after had begun to try it, it had not
received the high endorsements
quoted.
At first, I used the carbonate of
lithia, which is the best of the alkalis
for the purpose. But as my practice
(all charity enlarged, I left so expen-
sive drug, and contented myself with
the carbonate of potash and soda.
These I found practically as good as
the lithia.
For the sake of the suffering public,
I would say that the dose I have used
for grown patients has been level tea
spoon of baking soda, dissolved in
plenty of water, taken every two hours
until soreness and headache are gone,
and then one extra dose for good meas
ure. It is not best to take a dose just
before or just after eating. I have
rarely found more than four doses
needed.
Since the system is in an acid state,
calomel is of course very dangerous
medicine, and many deaths from inf1u-
enza are, without reasonable doubt,
traceable to the use of caiomel in the
disease.
It is interesting to note that, when
all else failed, our grandmothers used
to cure the worst colds with "fre-cold
tea." This was simply a crude saleratus
treatment. So there is nothing new
under the sun, and our wise theory
simply proves the soundness of an
other of their old practical ways.
W. TERTsH LANDER.