1918 Flu in Mesopotamia

[PhilB]

Those of a medical bent may be interested in the report from Pte E.Roe`s diary (6 E Lancs, Mesopotamia) on the flu epidemic of 1918. In September, two thirds of the battalion were down with it. As a preventive, the doctors invented a sniffing parade for the whole battalion at 5pm daily. Each man took his mug and was issued with a gill of Condy`s Fluid (potassium permanganate dissolved in water) which they had to inhale through the nose and spit out through the mouth. The disinfectant properties were supposed to deal with the flu germs around their port of entry. He goes on to say that nobody in his battalion died and attributes this to the dry warm weather! I`m still trying to work out how they did it! Phil B

[truthergw]

Those of a medical bent may be interested in the report from Pte E.Roe`s diary (6 E Lancs, Mesopotamia) on the flu epidemic of 1918. In September, two thirds of the battalion were down with it. As a preventive, the doctors invented a sniffing parade for the whole battalion at 5pm daily. Each man took his mug and was issued with a gill of Condy`s Fluid (potassium permanganate dissolved in water) which they had to inhale through the nose and spit out through the mouth. The disinfectant properties were supposed to deal with the flu germs around their port of entry. He goes on to say that nobody in his battalion died and attributes this to the dry warm weather! I`m still trying to work out how they did it! Phil B

Noisily and unwillingly!

[Dave Phillips]

Not a parade I would like to be present at!!!

I wonder how widespread the sniffing parade was in the Army?

Dave

[aconnolly]

Now if only we could teach chickens to do it.......

Andrew