322 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



which I quote the following comment from the London 

 Daily Telegraph, Jan. i, 1890 : " Can this country be con- 

 gratulated upon having escaped the influenza epidemic 

 which is now raging in continental cities ? The facts are 

 difficult to ascertain, for, whilst it is circumstantially affirmed 

 that at least three deaths have already occurred in the 

 metropolis, such fatalities are officially unknown to direc- 

 tors of public institutions and to leading physicians who 

 are in the best position to hear of an outbreak of the 

 disease. It is stated that Kensington, Belgravia, and Dul- 

 wich, are the districts chiefly affected, but there is reason 

 to believe that exaggerated reports of infection have origi- 

 nated in panic, for there is a great dread of the appearance 

 of the trying complaint in London. Unfortunately, it 

 cannot be denied that influenza cases of an epidemic type 

 have developed in the West-end and suburbs. One emi- 

 ment physician of large practice has treated no less than 

 seventeen patients, but careful investigation shows that all 

 these, directly or indirectly, either contracted the illness in 

 Paris themselves, or from persons who have recently 

 returned to England suffering from influenza. The symp- 

 toms in these instances were identical, the aching of the 

 limbs being marked, with a high temperature and exceed- 

 ing dryness of the throat. The great danger is caused by 

 the keenness of devitalisation which is induced, making 

 the victim liable to consequent pneumonia. All sorts of 

 remedies are recommended, including camphor (which is a 

 capital antiseptic), and quinine ; but a medical man of 

 high authority declares that the best things to strengthen 

 the system which has fallen below ' par ' against attack 

 are oysters and champagne. He further adds, by way of 

 reassurance, that we have had no epidemic of influenza 

 here since 184.8, and it is very well known that frosty 



