A DISCRIMINATING EPIDEMIC.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 441, 15 April 1890, Page 2

A DISCRIMINATING EPIDEMIC.

The influenza epidemic has a strange way of marking for its victims those who might fairly be expected to escape. According to the experience of Melbourne the doetors are rnora liable than other

persons to be seized by the infection, with perhaps the exception of policemen. The chief officer in the Victorian Health Department had just issued a manifesto to all the health authorities in the colony as to the way in which they were to set about stamping out the “ grip,” when, as one writer facetiously put it, down he fell on the broad of his back, with the grip on his throat. Much the same thing happened in the case of Dr Gresswell, who was attacked in England by the influenza just a week after he had received information of his appointment as chief medical officer of Victoria. The Melbourne Standard concludes an article on the subject in this playful strain :—“ It is our duty still, of course, to combat this ’ weird and mysterious thing that seems to act with such diabolical intelligence ; but, apparently, there should be nothing ostentatious in our looks or language ; for it seems to manifest a curious penchant for carrying the war into Africa, and strikes ! out straight at the man who dares to challenge its advance.”