15 ways to survive a flu epidemic ...

... from the advertising archive (and just in case of any misunderstanding, all these promises of prevention and cure date from before the days of the Advertising Standards Authority). Click on the links to see the original ads. 

Straightforward scare tactics

An Influenza epidemic is at hand - an epidemic which Doctors predict will be exceptionally severe. From various parts of the country come reports that influenza is actually raging at the present time and is spreading with alarming rapidity from one person to another

Electric shock?

The Thermega electro-radiant blanket is a new device which airs, dries and warms a bed completely and without any danger whatever of overheating or other electrical accident. IT CANNOT GO WRONG.

Wartime shortage: an apology

In view of the immense value of Bovril during an Influenza epidemic, the proprietors of Bovril are making every effort to meet the demand. The shortage of bottles is seriously hampering the endeavours to increase the supply, and it is hoped that men will now be released for the bottle factories.

Sweat it out

When you can't throw off colds or Influenza - take a Mustard Bath as hot as you can stand it

And another mustard one, just because they’re so good:

Ever since the Baron de Beef left his Influenza in a Mustard Bath the bathrooms of England have been besieged

Keep your strength up

It will be apparent that a strong, healthy person will escape contagion when the ill-nourished one will fall a victim, consequently, one's aim must be the maintenance of strength

Some things never change: just do as you're told

Don’t worry about influenza, drink Ovaltine

Burn baby burn

Flame the great purifier. Sterilise the air of your bed and living rooms with our incandescent gas burners

A healthy stimulant for teetotallers? Hmmm

Sir, I have much pleasure in testifying to the efficacy of your Coca Wine. It is undeniably a healthy stimulant and a nerve tonic, especially beneficial to one who, like myself, is abstaining from intoxicants

Scientifically proved, oh yeah

It takes less than three minutes for MILTON to knock out the Influenza germ. We have overwhelming proof of this fact

Watch out, the bishop's been on the magic mints again

Fig. 3 shows the total destruction of Influenza germs on a plate treated with saliva from a person who had sucked five Formamint Tablets. The Bishop of Bath and Wells writes: The value of Wulfing’s Formamint as a preventive is appreciated in this house

Fair enough

Remember, Influenza is about. Treat what may seem to be "Only a Chill, or Cold" with suspicion – and Thermogene

Heaven knows what’s in this stuff

Miss Elizabeth Hyde, the well-known Concert Singer, writes: "I firmly believe that during the recent influenza epidemic, my immunity from that dread complaint was due entirely to Phosferine.” Two drops, night and morning, tend to brace up the whole system … It is also invaluable to women beset with household worries and family cares.

Aha! An honest one at last

The real nature of influenza is still very little understood. Every doctor will tell you that. The most that science can do, therefore, at present, is to treat the symptoms

That’s the spirit; I'll have a pint

Hall's Wine keeps Influenza off by enriching the blood, toning the nerves and rebuilding the body generally; it gives you confidence in your powers of resistance, strengthens the weak and maintains health in the strong.

And finally, the ultimate yuck factor

Telephone message received Nov 30, 1916, by Glaxo, from a  Doctor. "Did you know that the influenza epidemic this year is affecting the stomach, preventing the patients retaining nourishment? I find my patients can assimilate your Glaxo, due, I suppose, to its flocculent curd.* You ought to make this widely known at once."

Also in the Archive blog: Ten ways to cut costs in the home

Wartime hints on how to be thrifty

Want to explore 200 years of The Times Archive for yourself? Check out the Archive homepage or  subscribe here

Comments

[Michael]

Surely we must not forget the Carbolic Smoke Ball which gave rise to that famous contract law case: Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Company!

[Christian Martin]

Whadda ya know .......
Pigs (swine) have flown (flu) after all.
What's next ?
Christian Martin

[MO]

And then there's the 15th century graverobber recipe. They handled people who died of the Black Plague, and didn't get sick. This recipe was traded to authorities for leniency when the graverobbers got caught. Funny - turned out these ARE antibacterial:
Clove oil 200 drops or 1/2 ounce.
Lemon oil 175 drops
Cinnamon Bark oil 100 drops
Eucalyptus oil 75 drops
Rosemary oil 50 drops

[starling]

But antibactirial things don't work against viruses, Mo ...

[Rex Lester]

And don't forget that aged staple... leeches!

[John Amaral]

whatever...and if everything else fail, there´s always the bleeding proceeding to end up the poor bastards life, at once.

[Austin Tassletine]

Leeches are useful in thinning blood of course (i.e. anti coagulants)!

[Pedro]

WE'RE ALL GOWWWNNNNN DIEEEEE!!

With love from mexico x *cough cough sorry i have the flu*

[Pedro swyneflew]

I have ze flu, i will be dying soon, you must come with me to the kitchen, with my prized donkey friend :) *ACHOOOO* *COUGH COUGH falls over dead murdering prized donkey in process* Have a nice life, well wots left of it :D

[Bill]

So you think the current advice is any better. If you are fortunate enough to survive the current outbreak the medics will ensure the next one passes unnoticed.

[I flu back]

I lika the comments! Just back from flu central - Pedro did I have dinner with you and the wife the other night? Yes it is all common sense really even though I thought the masks in Mexico city were for the pollution. The best was being checked for temperature on release from the country ( I like mine well done please) only to be given an advice leaflet by the Port health authority on arrival then thrown out into the throng of the arrivals and baggage hall with the rest of the world. Still its solved the holiday pressies - a bag of pork scratchings and a packet of parcetamol!

[Hugh E Torrance]

Or there is my Mothers panacea ... she would say... "you will just have to keep it til its better"

[Ronnie Ince]

Regrettably the famed Mrs Carlill did finally die of influenza - but at the age of 95 not entirely surprising

[David]

The swine flu is the biological catastrofy bin laden warned the west about

[Baxter Rhienhart]

Mo - re. the graverobbers remedy - Eucalyptus oil in the 15th century! How deep could those gravediggers dig?
I didn't think Australia was discovered until by Cook until 1770!

[micheline]

ja,dat ziet er goed uit

[Amanda Crowe]

H1N1 (referred to as “swine flu” early on) is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. Symptoms of swine flu are similar to those caused by other influenza viruses. Health authorities across the globe are taking steps to try to stem the spread of swine flu after outbreaks in Mexico and the United States. The World Health Organization has called it a "public health emergency of international concern."

[Shaun]

The Media and most of the folks behind all of this are backwards thinking B*****. They play on peoples FEAR as always! But hey what can we do.

Everyone just needs to stay fit and healthy. I've have been following a strategy which i shared with all my readers yesterday which might help, i'd recommend it! Again...stay safe.

Bugs rule #6 Exercise prolongs life. People who exercise regularly live longer.

Shaun
http://www.stayfitbug.com

[Terry]

Hi there, I'm feeling great at 75 years young.
I remember well the names and usage prescribed of every one of the remedies listed.
At 75, I have not suffered a single cold let alone influenza for the last 20 years.
This maybe due to my having lived on a small Greek island with only goats, sheep, cows, vipers, scorpians, my wife and my children for company.
My children have now departed to live in far off lands where they will willingly suffer the flu in return for the nearness of Tesco's and Next.
Realising that you can't have it both ways, I intend to live until I am at least 100 years old and to enjoy life via my computer and satellite TV....Liverpool for ever say I, despite my wife loving Man U to distraction.

[John Parsons Group Manager]

Hand Hygiene will always remain the most important discovery in medical history - Hand gels that guard your staff from the spread of germs resulting in illness and paid time off. We have them around our UK offices and the results are amzing. We have fewer staff off now that we insist on company policy including regular cleaning of hands with the gels. We could not carry on sustaining a fallen work force with sometimes 20% off ill. -

Super Hygiene supply products used in Hospitals, Schools, Councils and Offices throughout the UK. --there motoClean hands save lives- think about it- all your staff spreading illness- throughout the firm. Super Hygiene provided us with an information pack that we sent out to all our staff so that they became aware of what unclean hands do. we were amazed at the response. As a thank you to Super Hygiene we said we would place a community notice. But after reading your article and comments made we thought this would be the best place. John Parsons Group Manager Berkeley Group.

[Ron Graves]

"Everyone just needs to stay fit and healthy. I've have been following a strategy which i shared with all my readers yesterday which might help, i'd recommend it! Again...stay safe"

Yeah, right!

Fitness will not grant immunity to a virus - any virus - the 1918 pandemic, which carried off the young and fit by the million proved that.

[Anthony Horwood]

I find that abstaining from kissing, or other intimate contact with, pigs has protected me from Swine Flu.

[Jack]

I hope the swine flu vaccine is ready by mid-September 2009.

[charlesandrew]

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG HERE, BUT I HAVE COME TO SAY THAT DR. WATSON AND I HAVE THE ANSWER.
"THERE IS NO SUCH THING...JUST PESKY MORMONS GOING DOOR TO DOOR SELLING ANTI-VIRAL VACCINE...THEY CAN'T SPELL EITHER...SO CHECK THE LABEL.
THINK ABOUT IT......COWS MAYBE, BUT I CAN'T SEE A PIG GETTING MUCH HIGHER THAN 6 INCHES.

[charlesandrew]

CHECK THESE FOR CUT AND PASTE...SOME ALMOST SEEM LITERATE.

[LNSu]

A true cure for a cold/flu has been around and used in America since people started nosing around here. Sassafrass yup the stuff they flavor Root beer with. It is true.
To true we have used Sassafrass tea for years. (there are some reports of LARGE dosages causing liver damage, um ya but how much worse is all the chemical crap)

[LNSu]

http://www.healthtips101.com/learn-about-the-history-and-health-benefits-of-sassafras-tea
sorry link didn't show

[Revisionist]

With respect to the supposed flu epidemic after the First World War - I thought by now everyone knew that the deaths were caused by hunger, malnutrition, poor water, lack of soap, lack of fuel and other events which correlate with war (unless you're well-off, and keep away from the acton!) But death certificates have to be filled in and 'impoverishment, hunger- , cold- and injury-related illnesses' just takes too long to write and sounds as though the doctor lacks 100% faith in the authorities.

Perhaps I can also point out with reference to polio that the supposed polio virus is widespread, in, for example, reservoirs. There is a dastardly conspiracy theory that polio was caused by DDT in water. Why not check it out?