The Aberystwith Observer

LONDON COBBESPONDENOE. | We tlotjct identify ourselves ethonr Oorre onderat's opinions The epidemic, ridiculously misnamed" the influenza, and more properly called the grip," .Y which, for several weeks, has been ravaging the Continent, has at langth acquired a definite hold upon England, and all London is given up to speculation and conversation regarding it. What are its symptoms, how they should be warded off, and how they should be cured-these form the staple of talk just now; and, were the disorder not an exceedingiy unpleasant one, there would be a distinctly humorous side to the whole affair. One person declares that nothing like frequent doses of port and quinine can be found for preventing the malady; another Z!l remarks that, once seized with the complaint, champagne and oysters form the very best cure while a third declares that all that can be needed is to go to bed immediately the symptoms become clear, and to stay there in a cheerful state of mind until they are disposed of. All this advice is excellent enough in its way, but one cannot help wonder- ing how the humbler victims of the malady are to adopt it. The fact is that, at the outset, though certainly not for long, ii the grip was regarded as peculiarly an "upper class" disease. Cabinet Ministers, ex Cabinet Ministers, and leading ambassors were the earliest to be seized but not many days had elapsed before it began to penetrate to less distinguished ranks, and the hospitals became in many cases overcrowded. For the sake of the community generally, it may be hoped that the wholesome scepticism which prevailed before it was absolutely certain that the grip" had taken up a lodgment among us, as to whether it was really the Rus- sian form that had invaded the land, will con- tinue so far as to prevent people alarming them- selves by imagining that every cold in the head springs from the genuine disorder. An old Arab story narrates how a holy dervish, wandering in the desert, met the genie n I of cholera advancing towards a city. How many," asked the dervish, do you purpose to slay ?" and Cholera, answered, Three thou- sand." Months later, dervish and genie met again, and the former upbraided the latter with Z: treachery, thirty thousand having died in the ill- fated city. "I slew only three," retorted the genie, it was fear that killed the rest." No more excellent moral than is here embodied could be preached at the present moment; though there is every necessity for caution, there isnone for panic; and in London, at least, we trust to our excellent sanitary ar- rangements, which are far in advance of those of Continental cities, to save us from the more dire aspects of the disorder, which have been so plenteously shown in St. Petersburg and par- ticularly in Paris. Good sanitation, personal cleanliness, and ordinary care will do very much to break the force of the present visitation. Now that we are well into the new year many ladies in various parts of the country are becom- ing keenly interested in the date the Queen may fix for the holding of the first Drawing Room. One day during the last week in March is generally regarded as the likeliest, but very much of course depends upon whether her Majesty carries out her present intention of going abroad for a few weeks during the spring. Times have greatly altered since the days of the earliest Drawing Rooms, not much more than a century since, for in their origin these were not so much formal presenta- tions as the actual call of leading subjects upon Royalty in what might almost be called semi- friendly fashion. As all know, Drawing Rooms to-day are conducted upon an entirely different plan, and a presentation is something so special as to be long looked forward to. It is not always that the Queen is present, and when indisposi- tion prevents her, she delegates her functions to the Princess of Wales; but even when her Majesty is there at the commencement of the proceedings, it by no means follows—and, in fact, it seldom occurs—that she receives all the ladies on the list. After accepting the salutations of the ladies of the diplomatic circle and of those who, as the term is, have the entree, her Majesty nsually retires, and leaves it to the Princess of Wales to receive the rest. The young German Emperor appears deter- mined to leave his mark upon the history of his country, even if it be only in the arrangement of Court etiquette. It has just, for instance, been gravely telegraphed from Berlin that the long- debated question of re-introducing the Court dress for gentlemen worn at the time of Fred- erick the Great, comprising knee-breeches, silk stockings, and high-heeled shoes, has at last been decided; the Emperor having issued an order that civilians of all. ranks shall, on presenting themselves at Court, wear this costume and no delay is to take place in putting this idea into execution, the new order having to be observed for the first time at tha reception to be held by the Emperor on his birthday, the 27th inst. Seeing that one of his favourite heroes, Frederick the Great, is incidentally brought into the matter, Carlyle, had he been now living, would surely have wished to write another chapter for Sartor Resartus" on this theme and he could have added yet further remarks on the philosophy of clothes," because of the recent promulgation of an Imperial order in Austria that henceforward all civil servants must appear in uniform. We have not come in England to the last point yet; but as to the German ukase, it has to be remembered that our own Court dress, in which appearances before Royalty have to be made, is almost as archaic a collection of garments as that of Frederick the Great himself. The terrible calamity which occurred at the very incoming of the New Year at the Forest- gate Industrial School, when twenty-six little lads were suffocated as they slept, has caused those responsible for the management of similar institutions elsewhere to carefully examine their own premises, in order to make sure that efficient ways of escape exist in case a similar catastrophe is threatened. It is not only, in fact, in the case of theatres and other places of amusement that sufficient means of exit ought to be insisted upon. Workhouses, prisons, schools, large hotels, all buildings, in fact, in which a great number of persons are at the same time congre- gated, ought to be so provided. In London, the effect of the Forest-gate disaster was very great, because, in these days of the rapid growth of the metropolis, that district has become almost as much a suburb as Bayswater or Brixton and the horror it inspired was all the more marked because the catastrophe had come at a moment when everyone was wishing relative or friend a Happy New Year." It is extremely fortunate for the working- classes, and especially for the very poor, that so far the present winter has not been a hard one, for coals have been steadily going up ever since the autumn to what may almost now be called famine prices. The disappointment at this in the metropolis is all the more keen because, when the London Council decided, as one of its first acts, to refrain from appealing to Parliament to renew the dnty of thirteenpence per ton long levied upon coal coming within the metropolitan area, there seemed reason to hope that this commodity this winter would be more than usually cheap. Of course, a variety of causes have operated to send up the price, but these are only imperfectly appreciated by the metropolitan ratepayer, who, when he finds his rates higher because of the loss of income caused by the re- moval of the coal dues, and yet remembers from sad experience that he has had to pay more for his coal this winter than he has had to do for years, is likely to utter some bitter words. It may, of course, be said that, had he been a pru- dent person, he would have laid in last autumn, at low prices then prevailing, a sufficient r stock to last the winter; but, apart from the fact that a large proportion of ordinary folk cannot afford to lay out so much money months 1 in advance, there is the circumstance that, in f most middle-class suburban houses, the cellar accommodation is utterly inadequate for the I holding of a six months' stock of coal, when a < large family and, therefore, several rooms have to be provided for. ) Much disappointment will be felt by those who have the welfare of our auxiliary forces at heart at the knowledge that there has been a serious decrease duping the past year in the number of efficient infantry volunteers. At the time of writing, the official figures were not available; but it was understood in quarters exceedingly likely to be well-informed that the total is lower than in any year since 1884. This is a seriom state of things, the reason for which must be left to be explained by those having an intimate connection with the force but it is evident that matters cannot be allowed to remain as they are, and that the House of Commons will not have met many days before the Secretary for War will be questioned regard- ing so ominous a state of things. Rumour has long asserted that the infantry volun- teers feel aggrieved at the treatment that has been meted out to them by the War Office; and, as it is always well to have such things plainly shown, it may be hoped that full opportunity will now be afforded for the ventila- tion of the grievance. England is too proud of her citizen force to be willing to see it dwindle and decay, and a remedy for the present condi- dition of affairs will have to be sought for and found. A. F. R.

SEVERE GALE. Early on Saturday morning a great change took place in the weather over the British Isles. The frost which had prevailed for several days, and which still held in the east till late into Friday night, quickly dis- appeared, and temperatures which had been from eight deg. to 10 deg. below the freezing point gave way to readings in excess on Saturday morning, the change being felt also in France and the Netherlands. The break up of the frost was caused by a shallow disturbance which travelled eastward from Ireland, occasioning a good deal of rain in many places. As it disappeared a new and very deep disturbance was sig- nalled approaching the Irish coast from the Atlantic, and by the evening the barometer had fallen to about 29in. in the w, st, with increasing wind and sea. The centre of the disturbance fortunately kept on a northerly course outside our coasts, but in the west especially the wind rose to the force of a strong gale from between south and west in the night. On Sun- day morning the centre was off the north-western coasts, where the barometer was down to 28 7in., and the gale had spread to nearly every part of our shores. Rain, which had been general, was nowhere excessive, the largest amount registered being little more than OJin. at Roches Point, tQueenstown. Thunderstorms were experienced in Ireland during the day, and were still reported there on Sunday night, the disturbance then having passed to the northward of the Hebrides, and the wind, although strong to a gale in force, was de- creasing. Sunday was dull and wet in the metropolis, the wind in the morning blowing very hard at times. There was a clearance of the sky towards evening, but later it again clouded over, and the appearance became as unsettled as on the previous evening. The atmosphere was warm and moist, temperature having risen from 32deg. on Friday to 52deg. on Sunday night. At daybreak on Sunday a gale broke over the Anglesey and Carnarvon coasts, accompanied with heavy and frequent showers. At night the force of the wind was increasing, and several vessels in Car- narvon Bay and Menai Straits dragged their anchors. The ferry service between the Angelesey and Carnarvon sides of the Straits were almost entirely suspended owing to the roughness of the sea. At three o'clock on Sunday morning a severe storm burst over Birr and the neighbourhood. Rain and hail fell in torrents, aocompanied by thunder and lightning. About half. past six a blinding flash and a simultaneous roar of thunder alarmed the inhabit- ants, and it was found that the spire of the Protestant Church had been struck. The porch and a pinnacle were torn away, a large hole rent through the roof, and an enormous stone which had been hurled inside had destroyed a number of the seats, smashed part of the organ, and done other serious damage. The sexton had been lighting the fires in the church, and bad only just left when the catastrophe occurred. A violent storm broke over the Killarney district on Saturday evening. About eight o'clock, as two women were returning home from their marketing, driving together in a donkey-cart, their progress was impeded by a large fallen bough. They were turning back when a tcee fell upon them, and the two women, named O'Connor and Scully, were killed on the spot. At Nenagh and at Limerick the storm caused con- siderable damage to houses and other property. Some dwellings at Nenagh were partially wrecked, trees were torn up, and stacks of hay and straw scattered. Some persons were injured by falling tiles and woodwork, and one man, who was struck on the head by a slate, was dangerously hurt. A southerly gale of tremendous force was ex- perienced in Cork Harbour on Saturday night, and continued until six o'clock on Sunday morning, when the wind veered to the west and moderated. The Transatlantic liners Umbria and Wyoming, from Liverpool, en route to New York, report having en- countered terrific weather coming down Channel, and both were several hours late in arriving, as were all the incoming cross-channel steamers. Although the Umbria arrived at 2 p.m., and immediately embarked her mails and passengers, she was unable to sail till about midnight. The Canard steamer Servia, from New York, arrived off the port early on Sunday morning, but was unable to land her mails and passengers owing to the gale, and had to proceed to Liverpool. Several small craft were swamped in the harbour, and considerable damage was done to house property. During the storm, shortly after nine o'clock on Sunday morning, a signalman named Samuel Jones, engaged at the signal-station attached to the Admiralty offices, fell from the signal platform to the public road, a dis- tance of about 40 feet, and sustained such severe injuries that his reeovery is considered doubtful. He was conveyed to Queenstown Hospital, where he lies in an insensible condition.

BURNING OF THE BRITISH MONARCH. Among the passengers of the Roslin Castle Mail Company's steamer, which arrived at Plymouth on Saturday from the Cape of Cood Hope, were Captain William Morrow, two passengers, the cook, and steward of the barque British Monarch, which was blown up by dynamite while on a voyage from Ham- burg to Australia. Her cargo included 10 tons of dynamite, picked in 200 cases and stowed in the square of the after hatch, beneath which she had also 8000 cases of gin, 150 cases of other spirits, and a large consignment of safety matches in cases. She had also on board 400 pianos. The cargo was stowed simply according to the rules for balancing weights. No precautions appear to have been t?ken with regard to the matches. On Nov. 29 the vessel was discovered to be on fire. Dense volumes of smoke poured up from below, but the exact locality of the fire could not be discovered. To remain on board and try to extinguish the fire amid such dan- gerous combustibles was thought by all on board next to madness. Captain Morrow directed three boats to be lowered, and the barque abandoned. The crew, 22 all told, were distributed in the three boats, and left at three o'clock. The boats were pulled two miles away, and there remained to await the barque's fate. The following morning, at a quarter past one o'clock, she blew up. The destruction of the vessel was very complete, but the explosion was not so violent as was expected. After being exposed in open boats for 50 hours, the American whaler Can- ton hove in sight, picked up the men and their boats, and hospitably entertained them. The whaler took them within 30 m'les of the coast, and Captain Morrow and his (row reached Cape Town in their boats on Dec. 6. T here a court of inquiry was held, The Court did not consider that any blame attached to the captain or crew, and returned the captain's certificate. They, however, remarked that it would be safer to stow cases of matches in some places by themselves. One of the British Monarch's boats, containing Gemney, the second officer, and five sea- men, had not reached Cape Town when the Roslin men, had not reached Cape Town when the Roslin Castle left.

rHE EPIDEMIC OF INFLUENZA. THE DISEASE SPREADING EVERYWHERE. Influenza is still a universal topic. The epidemic las a large place in home news as well as in tele- grams from abroad. The epidemic is reducing the strength of business establishments in London, the provinces, on the Continent, and in America, to an extent unprecedented since the days of the Plague. Happily the influenza is not in any other respect com- parable with that terrible epidemic. Dr. Richardson was suddenly called upon to take the place of a Sun- day lecturer stricken with the general malady, and chose the appropriate topic," Happiness in relation to Health." Post-office officials apparently suffer more than others. In Liverpool, recipients of letters from Russia have been prostrated by the disease. I Foreign correspondents send gloomy accounts of the influenza, except from Odessa, where the disease is abating. At Paris the death-rate was, it appears, higher last week than originally stated, as many as 496 persons having died on Mon- day of last week. M. de Freycinet, the Minister of War, who is himself suffering from the Grippe, has issued most minute orders to the commanders of the Army Corps for most elaborate precautions to be taken in the army. In the French provinces the epidemic is as active as ever. Among the illustrious victims of the disease is Prince Carlos Auersperg, who was the first President of the Austrian Upper Chamber after the States Treaty. To the already long list of distinguished patients must HOW be added the names of Princess Bismarck, Herr von Rottenburg, Professor Mommsen, and the Empress Augusta. The Emperor William, who was on a shooting expedition, hurriedly returned to Berlin on being informed of bis grand- mother's illness. The condition of Dr. Dollinger is said tt be most critical. In Vienna some of the friendly societies have had to suspend or curtail their payments owing to the great calls made on their re- sources by the epidemic, wbidh has caused great misery among the families of the patients, all work- men being by law compelled to contribute to these societies. In America, too, the disease has had a marked effect on the death rates. In New York 1202 persons died last week, as against 762 in the previous week, and in Boston the deaths numbered 327, which is the largest number ever recorded. The influenza bulletins from the United States give better news of some of the operatic sufferers. Signor Tamagno, the leading tenor of the Patti troupe, has recovered, and just played in Chicago for the first time in America his original character of Otello in Verdi's opera. Herr Yogi, the famous Wagnerian tenor who appeared at Her Majesty's Theatre in 1882, has also recovered, and has made his American debut in New York as Lohengrin. Herr Kalisch, one of the leading tenors at the German Opera House, New York, is likewise convalescent; but Herr Anton Seidl, the eminent Wagnerian conductor who directed the performances of Wagner's Nibelung's Ring" in London eight years ago, has been seized with influenza. Lord Salisbury continues to make satisfactory pro- gress towards convalescence. His lordship is able to take nourishment, but is still confined to his room. The Hon. Eric Barrington, private secretary, is still at Hatfield with his lordship. Two of Lord Salis- bury's secretaries, the Hon. Schomberg K. M'Donnell and the Hon. S. Greville, are suffering from an attack of Russian influenza, and are in consequence confined to their houses in London. Both gentlemen fre- quently visited the Premier during his illness. Mr. Chaplin is laid up at Lilleshall, Shropshire, with a sharp attack of Russian influenza, and is con- fined to his bed. Mr. E. W. Beckitt. M.P. for the Whitby division, is confined to his residence, Kirkstall Grange, Leeds, suffering from a severe attack of influenza. As showing the inconvenience arising from the in- fluenza ep'demic to large commercial houses, it may be stated that on Thursday of last week at the Rail- way Clearing House there were 137 persons absent, and on Friday about 180. At the Civil Service Stores 94 weru away ill, while at the Savings Bank Depart- ment in Queen Victoria-street 90 were absent. There is also a larger percentage of sickness than has ever been known at this period of the year in all the large warehouses in the City. A representative of the Press Association who has been engaged making investigations as to the exist- ence of the influenza epidemic amongst the employes of the large railway companies having termini north of the Thames is informed that undoubtedly the pro- pertion of absentees from business on account of illness is considerably in excess of that of recent winters. Influenza, severe cold, and bronchial dis- orders appear to prevail with considerable variation, the Great Western and the London and North- Western Companies being attacked the most severely. As yet, however, nothing has hap- pened to cause alarm, and in the majority of cases the sufferers luve been enabled to resume their duties in a few days. So far as the Great Northern Company is concerned, there is no unusual illness for the time of year, and the Midland has only been slightly affected, some 12 or 20 only out of about 400 being on the sick list from various causes. At Euston nearly 10 per cent. of the clerical staff is affected, some of the cases being undoubtedly of in- fluenza. The Paddington terminus of the Great Western is in a similar position, the audit depart- ment (one of the largest) having about the same proportion of sufferers, whilst most of the other offices in the building are attacked in a greater or less degree. It is stated that out of about 5000 persoils in the employment of the Great Eastern Railway Company in London and the district about a hundred are suffering from a mild form of influenza. The London, Brighton and South-Coast Railway Company have abiut 50 per cent. more of their employes on the sick list than is usual. In most cases the men are suffering from bad colds, and only one case of influenza is reported. In answer to inquiries at the Registrar-General's Office, Somerset House, on Saturday, it was stated that there is no present intention to follow the example of the Continental cities in which the epi- demic has appeared by issuing daily statistics. The officials point out that the death-rate is satisfactorily low, and the general disposition appears to be to treat the whole matter lightly. So far the attacks of in- fluenza in this country have led to no appreciable in- crease in the normal death-rate, and it is not likely, therefore, that the official returns will be of much service in tracing the progress of the complaint unless it appears in a much more serious form than has yet been noted. Owing to the alarming outbreak of the supposed Russian influenza in South London, the authorities at St. Thomas's Hospital set apart on Saturday after- noon the Job Ward at No. 8 block for the reception of patients suffering from the epidemic. During the past 10 days and up till Friday night of last week no fewer than 65 cases of influenza came under the notice of the house physician. On Friday night a few of the patients in the Charity Ward suffering from other causes were stricken down with influenza. In consequence of the outbreak in the ward an enter- tainment which was to have been held on Saturday evening had to be postponed. Over 80 persons were treated or admitted on Saturday, all suffering from the new epidemic. Nearly all the cases were amongst the working classes, and the ages ranged from 19 to 43 years. Arrangements were made by the authori- ties on Saturday night for the reception of patients on Sunday as on ordinary days. Several nurses at the hospital have been incapacitated from duty owing to the outbreak. On Saturday evening Mr. Baxter held an inquest at the London Hospital respecting the death of Timothy Royal, aged two years and nine months, the son of a porter, residing at Bethnal- green. Catherine Royal, the mother, stated that on Monday of last week deceased and two other children, aged nine and 12 respectively, were suddenly seized with shivering pains in the limbs and vomit- ing. She was so poor that she could not afford a doctor, but on Wednesday she did send for several, but they refused to attend, so she took the child to the London Hospital. Just as she was entering the door the poor child died. Her other two children are now lying in the hospital. Mr. Arthur Johnson Gedge, house-surgeon, stated that deceased was dead on admission. The post mortem examination showed that there was slight inflammation of the lungs, but not enough to cause death. All the symptoms were those of the present influenza epidemic, and he had no doubt but that death was due to influenza. The other children, he was glad to say, were now convalescent, although when they were ad- mitted they were seriously ill. They had no inflammation of the lungs, but their condition was such as to alarm the doctors- The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence. In the course of a conversation with Mr. Gedge, after the inquest, he stated that a number of the hospital nurses, sisters, and porters were now off duty, suffer- ing from influenza. He had had a severe attack him- self, and on more than one occasion had been so ill that he had fallen down. As many as 60 or 70 patients were attended nightly at the hospital. He did not think the epidemic was a dangerous one with grown- up persons if they kept in a warm room, but with regard to the above ease he thought the baby was too weak to stand the severe attack. Ten sufferers presented themselves at St. Thomas's, Westminster, on Sunday. The symptoms in one case were so serious that the house physician directed that the man should be detained, and the nine were placed on the books as out-patients. Two additional cases were treated at St. Bartholomew's. At St. George's there were on Sunday five new patients; two of these are nurses on the hospital staff. Neither at Guy's or at the Royal Free Hospital, Gray's-inn-road, are there any additional patients. Some of the employes of the Central Telegraph Office, who have been absent from their posts a day or two, are rapidly becoming convalescent, though others have now manifested symptoms of influenza. The fresh cases are marked by very high temperature and great prostration, and those patients who have passed the crisis within the last few hours are said to be suffering very much from debility. Complete re- covery is, however, not expected to be long delayed. During Saturday a number of the London firemen were returned upon the sick-list suffering from symptoms which resemble those of influenza. Captain Shaw was officially informed that the officer in charge of the North Kensington station, Engineer Williams, was suddenly taken ill. fhe sanitary authorities said that the illness was not contagious, but the medical man called in stated that the illness was Russian influenza. At headquarters on Saturday night five men were on the sick-list, and over 20 men and their wives were suffering from severe colds while there were four men laid up at Shoreditch and three at Hackney, In connection with the influenza epidemic a case has occurred at Richmond. A young shop assistant at a drapery establishment was seized with cold, showing influenza symptoms on Thursday of last week, and died early on Saturday morning. Seven- teen of his fellow assistants are down with the disease. The epidemic has broken out among the railway employes, and one is seriously ill. Acute cases are also reported at Isleworth, including that of the vicar. In view of the spread of the influenza epidemic in this country, special precautions are being taken by the naval and military authorities at Portsmouth to minimise any outbreak that may occur in the port and garrison. General Sir Leicester Smyth, com- manding the troops in the Southern District, has issued an order impressing upon commanding officers that non-commissioned officers and men under their command should be sent to hospital upon the slightest appearance of a cold. The outbreak of illness at St. Mary's Jesuit College, Canterbury, is now recognised as one of influenza, the epidemic having doubtless been imported from France, with which country the occupants of the college are in constant communication. There are at the present time upwards of 70 cases under treat- ment, but the malady has not fortunately taken other than a mild form. The outbreak is, however, causing great inconvenience. Several of the fathers and nearly the whole of the servitors have been com- pelled to take to their beds, the consequence being that due attention cannot be given to the students, many of whom have been despatched to their homes for a time. The epidemic is also ripe in Canterbury Garrison, patients being admitted to the hospital at the rate of 25 per diem, and several cases are re- ported among the civilian population. The epidemic has made its appearance in Notting- ham. In the middle of last week a case was reported as existing in Alfreton-road, but on inquiry of the doctor who has the case in hand, he considered it only a case of English influenza complicated by other con- ditions. On Saturday, however, Dr. Hunter, who has a large practice amongst ths artisan class in that part of the town known as the Meadows, close to Banks of Trent, had three undoubted cases under his charge. All the patients are railway men, and they are suffering from acute pain in the back and loins, pain in the head, with a running from the nose, and great prostration-all of them symptoms which leave no doubt in Dr. Hunter's mind as to the nature of the complaint from which his three patients are suffering. It is understood there are other cases in the same part of the town. It was stated on Saturday that the epidemic had found its way to Liverpool, having apparently been conveyed by means of letters transmitted by post from Russia. Members of the staff of a leading in- surance office in the city are said to have caught the complaint in this way. The epidemic which has penetrated to West Brom- wich is causing the most serious inconvenience to the industries of that district. Some thousands of people are affected, and the absences of employes from some of the manufactories are of wholesale character. The medical men are exceedingly busy, and though no fatal case has yet been reported, there are several at the hospital. Mr. Spencer, the borough member, is prostrated by a severe pulmonary atrack, and has had to forego engagements with his constituents, in- cluding the opening of the Conservative club. The American sloop of war Enterprise, Captain Kellar, arrived in Plymouth Sound on Saturday with the majority of her crew suffering from influenza. So severe is the epidemic on board that six of the ship's company had to be removed to the Royal Naval Hos- pital for treatment. The Enterprise is en route to Antwerp for the purpose of conveying the body of tho United States Minister at Berlin to America. She was last from Lisbon. Serious outbreaks of influenza are reported from Lincolnshire. An outbreak has occurred at the vil- lage of Nocton, some eight or nine miles from Lin- coln, and many children and young persons is the village are affected, but the disease up to Saturday ha.d not attacked many adults. The first cases made their appearance in Christmas week, but the cases were only regarded as ordinary colds in the head. Since that day the spread of the infection amongst children has been so rapid that it was deemed advisable to close the schools. There are on the registers the names of nearly 100 children, and more than half of these have been attacked, many being confined to their beds. The disease is believed to be of a benign nature, for up to the present no fatal cases have been recorded. The epidemic has also been very prevalent in Wragby, Lincolnshire, and the greater part of the population of East Bark- with and Panton, villages adjoining, have suffered from a severe form of influenza, in consequence of which Panton school has been closed, and in some cases farming operations have been suspended in this locality owing to the usual workmen being in- capacitated. The influenza epidemic continues to spread rapidly in Colchester Camp. On Sunday there were over 100 fresh cases, and although six vacant huts in the infantry lines have been utilised as hospital wards the accommodation is wholly insufficient, and numbers of patients, after treatment, have been sent back to their quarters. General Buchanan, C.B., visits the invalids daily, and has ordered an extra supply of coal and blankets to be issued throughout the garrison. The medical staff are working hard and zealously, and the surgeons and orderlies on leave have been recalled. Several hospital orderlies have themselves been invalided. The women and children have not been attacked. Quinine and the free use of diaphoretics form the basis of treatment adopted in the garrison hospital. In Dorset a number of persons have been attacked, in some cases the symptoms being of an alarming type. In the vicinity of Dorchester in one instance an entire family are prostrated. Dr. Russell, chief officer of health in Glasgow, was interviewed on Saturday regarding the influenza epidemic. Dr. Russell says there were never more people suffering in Glasgow from pulmonary disease than now, and this is most unusual, seeing that the weather is so mild. He believes influenza exists in Glasgow, but has not yet emphatically shown itself, and he would not be surprised if the wave came at any moment. An influenza epidemic has not visited Glasgow since 1848, and the mortality was heavy. The Glasgow authorities are prepared for the disease, and will open hospitals. No real cases of Russian influenza have, however, been yet reported. The epidemic continues to spread in Dublin. Many compositors engaged in the large printing offices and on the newspapers are suffering from severe colds. Fourteen compositors in the offices of Alex. Thorn and Co., Limited, and several employes at the Guinness brewery are down with influenza. At the General Post Office inconvenience is caused by the fact that some telegraph clerks, 57 letter-sorters, 14 postmen, and 21 telegraph messengers are ill with the disease. Among the victims of the influenza epidemic at Belfast the names are reported of a newspaper pro- prietor and leading editor, Surgeon Fagan, Professor Sinclair of Queen's College, and several doctors. Dr. Morrison writes During the earlier part of my medical career I was in the thick of an influenza epidemic in the Colony of Tasmania. There the I deaths were chiefly due to bronchitis in Europe they seem to be more especially from congestion of the lungs, following the bronchial irritation. A bad feature in connection with epidemic catarrh is that it rouses into activity constitutional tendencies, especi- ally those of congestion and consumption. Each epidemic has its distinctive characteristics. Some of the present sufferers are attacked by vio- lent catarrhal symptoms, quickly followed by physical prostration, high fever temperature, and bronchial complications; while others commence with rheumatic pains, either in the limbs, loins, head, or eyes, the catarrhal symptoms being more or less absent. It is of no use for business men to make light of a sharp attack. The wisest thing to do is to keep in the warmth, take warm sustaining foods and drink, and to use warm applications or linseed poultices freely. Should an attack com- mence with sneezing, camphor should be taken either internally or by inhalation, and for the early febrile stage aconite. Other medicines will soon be required, but early care may either avert an illness or lessen its severity. Lowering measures and heavy dosing with merely fashionable drugs should be avoided. The four stages may be briefly summarised as having: 1. Catarrhal symptoms; 2. Vital pros- tration 3. Rheumatoid achings 4. Lung complica- tions and relapses are common. Epidemic catarrh bears the same relationship to ordinary influenza that an outbreak of malignant measles does to the ordi- nary form of the disease. A Vienna correspondent telegraphs that among the recent "caths from influenza, or affections induced by this, are those of Prince Adolph of Thurn and Taxis, and Herr von Kallay. On the whole, however, the epidemic is not believed to be spreading in Austria. The Archduke Albrecht and the Queen of Roumania, who have been suffering from the epidemic, have both had relapses. The condition of the Dowager Empress Augusta continues to cause anxiety, her Majesty being still feverish. From other parts of the Conti- nent the epidemic is reported to be about the same. In London there was on Tuesday reported a great increase in the number of persons attacked, and several of the medical and nursing staffs at the various hospitals are suffering from the epidemic. Reports from the provinces also show in- fluenza to be rapidly spreading throughout the country, but happily the cases are generally of a mild character. A telegram was re- ceived at Bristol on Monday from Mr. Prideaux, Q.C., the Recorder, staring that owing to a severe attack of Russian influenza he would be unable to preside at the Quarter Sessions. At Aldershot 108 patients had been admitted into the Cambridge Hospital from Friday (when the first case occurred in camp) to Tuesday morning. Brigade-Surgeon Scott, who is act- ing principal medical officer of the division in view of any further spread, has made complete arrangements for temporary hospitals to be established in bar- rack rooms, and has done everything possible to ensure those affected receiving proper treatment. Fourteen cases have been reported among the 1st Life Guards at Windsor, and some of the soldiers of the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards at the Victoria Barracks have also been attacked. In the town and neighbourhood 50 persons are suffering from the epidemic. In the military barracks at Carlow, where a troop of the 4th Hussars is stationed, the number of soldiers attacked is largely in excess of the hospital accommodation. Amongstthe railway employes, espe- cially signalmen, on the London and North-Western, Midland, and the Great Western Railways, the malady is very prevalent, the reports of leading officials in the Birmingham centre representing the case as excep- tionally serious. The North-Western Company in this district have called out all their reserve men to fill the places of absentees, and their resources are strained to the utmost to accommodate traffic. Six- teen clerks and 10 messengers were absent from work at the head telegraph office at Brighton on Monday. Three of these have been certified as suf- fering from influenza. From several business estab- lishments also come reports as to assistants being laid up with the complaint. The most illustrious victim of the influenza re- ported on Wednesday morning from the Continent was the aged Empress Augusta of Germany. A Paris correspondent says that the influenza appears to be subsiding in the capital, but continues to spread in the provinces. Fresh reports of its continuance come to hand from various places on the Continent. The physicians of the London hospitals have to record a. large increase on Tuesday and on Wednes- day morning in the numbers of influenza patients, and reports from ths suburbs state that the epidemic continues to spread more widely. It has also ap- peared among the troops in the Home District. From country districts also accounts come in of the malady having shown itself pretty generally in the provinces. In the present widely-diffused alarm as to the epidemic of influenza, which has undoubtedly made its appearance in our midst, it will be interesting for the public to pursue the opinions as to the character and proper treatment of the disease, which are here subjoined. The opinions deserve all credit, as they come from physicians whose private practice has put them at the head of their profession and who have gained the widest experience in hospitals. The various suggestions may be epitomised in a few leading recom- mendations to all who are either suffering or expecting to suffer from the prevalent malady. The first point is to avoid all foolish panic, for the influenza with wh:ch this country is visited is not apparently of a very virulent form. In the second place, should the expected calamity take place, the sufferer must not pin his faith to drugs, but go to bed without any at. tempt to fight it out, and send for a physician, be- cause the incidents of the malady vary with each in- dividual case. His best course is to keep himself as warm and as quiet as he can, and cultivate the virtues of patience and endurance. Nor should any at- tempt be made to leave the bedroom until all the catarrhal symptoms have disappeared, for the pulmonary affections and pneumonia which are some- times its heritage are often more serious than the dis- order itseif. In the last place it is suggested that the best means of preventing the attack is not to have re- course to stimulants, but to increase, if possible, the nutritive character of the food. It is doubtful, ap- parently, whether alcohol should ever be used in the earlier stages, but it is permissible in the period of con- valescence. One unfortunate result of the panic on the subject is that every cold in the head is instantly surmised to be the dreaded influenza; but it should be remembered that, while this is by no means the first time that the so-oalled Russian disease has visited our shores, the usual premonitory symptoms are pains which have a family resemblance to neuralgia and rheumatism. On the whole the opinions of those who have most right to be heard on the subject will, we believe, do something towards pacifying and reassuring the public mind. T ,Ie influenza is causing a great increase in the New York death rate. The telegrams state that the number of deaths rose from 146 on Monday to 235 on Tuesday, 135 being ascribed to the results of in- fluenza, while on Wednesday the unprecedented figure of 250 was reached. Visitors are reported to be leaving Paris rapidly. Dr. Doellinger is better. It is estimated that in Vienna. 45,000 persons have suffered from the epidemic. The number of influenza cases under treatment at the General Post Office in London on Wednesday night showed an increase of 200 on the previous day. Among telegraph boys the cases average one in nine of the total employed. Taking the postal service as a whole, one member in seven is absent from duty. Among those suffering are the controller and two assistant-controllers of the t3legraph department. The troops at the various military centres are also suffering, and the divisional parade at Aldershot had on Wednesday to be abandoned. From the Rocky Mountains to Quebec the influenza prevails with more or less severity among all classes of the popu- lation. Several fatal cases are reported.

PETROLEUM SHIP ON FIRE- An alarming fire occurred on Wednesday after- noon on the Wear at Sunderland, resulting in great damage to shipping and the death of one man. The steamer Wildflower, which carries oil in bulk, was lying at the Manor Quay for repairs. It is supposed that the oil tanks became leaky, and allowed the oil to get into the bilges, as in pumping out the bilges there was a sudden flare of light, caused, it is sup- posed, by a heated rivet from a ship in course of construction. Flames immediately rose to a great height, and spread for about 300ft. The vessels in the vicinity suffered severely. The steam tug Earl of Dumfries was completely gutted, the steamer Douglas had her mast and batches burnt away, besides sustaining other damage, the steamer Deronda was damaged, and 50 yards of the quay were destroyed. While the flames were at their heigh- a sailor leaped from one of the burning ships into the river and was drowned. The fire was put out in about half au hour by the police, but the river was thronged with people for a. long time, and pre- sented an unusual appearance.

DEATH OF EMPRESS AUGUSTA. Influenza has claimed another illustrious victim. The Empress Augusta died of inflammation of the lungs, following an attack of influenza, at half-past four on Tuesday afternoon, at the age of 78. All hopes of saving her life were abandoned at an early hour on Tuesday morning. Her grandson, the Emperor, and the Empress Augusta Victoria, and all the Royal princes who were in Berlin, assembled at her bedside. The hoisting of the Imperial Standard half-mast high on the Palace announced the sad news to the dense and sympathetic crowds outside the Palace. The Empress Frederick and her daughters left Rome on Wednesday for Berlin. The news of her Majesty's death was received everywhere with great regret, even in Paris, where her love of French litera- ture and her efforts to soften the lot of the con- quered after the great war of 1870, were known and appreciated. Marie Louise Augusta Catherine, German Empress, Queen of Prussia, and Duchess of Saxony, whose de- mise is recorded above, was born on the 30th of Sep- tember, 1811. She was the eldest daughter of the late Grand Duke Charles Frederick of Saxe-Weimar, who died in the summer of 1853, and of the Grand Duchess Marie Paulovna of Russia, a daughter of the murdered Czar, Paul Petrovich I., and was nearly seven years the senior of her brother, the reigning Grand Duke Charles Alexander. Before she had com- pleted her 18th year, being at that time equally renowned throughout Europe for her beauty and her piety, she espoused Prince William of Prussia, the beir presumptive to the Prussian throne and one of the handsomest men of his day. His Royal High- ness was the second son of Frederick William III., and his elder brother, the Crown Prince of Prussia (after- wards Frederick William IV.), was also a man of splendid physique, whose early marriage, however, had hitherto proved childless, and was considered likely to remain so. Prince William's union to the Princess Augusta of Saxe-Weimar was the result of family arrangements, prompted by reasons of State rather than of mutual inclination. It was celebrated with extraordinary pomp on June 11, 1829, at Berlin; and a tournament was held in honour of the youthful bride, upon whom the soubri- quet of The White Rose had been bestowed by German chivalry of that period. Amongst the knights who for three days held the lists on her be. half against all comers was her stately husband, the gallant Prince William, who 31 years later succeeded to his brother's crown, subsequently became German Emperor, and died, at the great age of 90, to be fol- lowed to the grave two years afterwards by the august lady who so long shared his throne. Only two children were born of the marriage: the German Crown Prince, afterwards Frederick III., Emperor and King, our Princess Royal's consort, and the Princess Louise, wedded at the age of 17 to the reigning Grand Duke of Baden; The late Empress, like the lamented Russian Czarina Marie Alexandrovna, her niece by marriage, devoted the greater portion of her life to works of charity and benevolence, and was deeply, though unob- trusively, religious. She was the patroness of schools, hospitals, refuges for the homeless poor, soup kitchens, and philanthrophic institutions without number in every part of the Prussian realm, and gave her per- sonal attention, as well as her pecuniary support, most freely and generously to all sorts of charitable undertakings. Her loss will be deeply felt throughout Germany, more especially by the poorer classes, to whom she was a faithful friend and judicious pro- tectress. The daily life of the Empress during the last few years was very regular, and in some respects even monotonous. When she was in Berlin she daily took an hour's drive through the Thiergarten to the Bellevue Castle, where she alighted, and walked for about a quarter of an hour in an enclosed part of th) park, which was laid out as a garden and surrounded by high hedges of firs. On her return she receive.' people of rank or representatives of charitable institu- tions. In the even ns? only a few persons were with her, and thers was either reading or music, and by nine all was quiet. The greater part of the year she was away from Berlin-Baden Baden, Ccblenz, or the Castle of Babelsberg being her favourite resi- 1 dences. At Coblenz, from the time when she was Princess of Prussia, she devoted all her time to charit- able institutions without distinction of rank or con- fession, and therefore she was most popular in the Rhineland. Eight grandchildren and nine great- grandchildren in the reigning Hou?°s of Prussia, Baden, and Sweden mourn her loss. The remains of the late Empress Augusta have been embalmed, and Professors von Werner and Plockhorst have taken sketches of the mortuary chamber for pictorial enlargement. On Thursday night, after a second religious service, the body was to be removed to the Palace Chapel. From there it will be taken to the mausoleum at Chariottenburg. The Prince of Wales, the Cezarowitch, and the Prince of Naples may, as well as the Empress Frederick, attend the funeral. It was rumoured on Wednesday that Prince Bismarck would go to Berlin, but as he did not attend the funerals even of the Emperors William and Frederick it is not likely that he will risk a long journey at this time of the year. The Emperor has received messages of condolence from all parts of the world, including one from the Queen. Tho Queen has been pleased to command that the Court shall be in mourning for four weeks from Wednesday for her late Imperial Majesty the Empress- Queen Augusta of Germany and Prussia, The Court mourning, therefore, which would have terminated on Thursday, the 23rd inst., will be prolonged to Wednesday, Feb. 5. The Court will change the mourning for her late Imperial Majesty on Wednesday, the 22r.d inst. -U'

ENGLAND AND PORTUGAL. LOlW SALISBURY'S NOTE. Lord Salisbury has addressed another note to the Portuguese Minister for Foreign Affairs, which is said to be very firm, and calculated to bring the existing difficulty to an almost immediate issue. His lordship demands that; the Government of Portugal shall at once give orders to its agents to prevent the recur- rence of acts similar to those attributed to Major Serpa Pinto, which might interfere with the tranquil discussion of the matters in dispute. The answer from Lisbon, which is expected at the end of this week, wili, it is hinted, express willingness to comply with this request, provided Great Britain gives similar orders.

DESTRUCTION OF A THEATRE, The Theatre de la Bourse in Brussels was totally destroyed by fire on Tuesday morning. The house was a new one, built only a few years ago. Three hours after the performance on Monday night, the the&tre was discovered to be on fire, which spread so rapidly that when the Fire Brigade arrived the whole building was already in flames. All that could be done was to protect the surrounding houses and the adjacent Hotel Central. About 100 persons were sleeping in the latter, who could only save their lives by a, hurried flight in their nightdresses. Seven shops in the Rue Orts were greatly damaged by the fire a.nd water. Only the walls of the theatre are now standing, and will have to be demolished to pre- vent danger. The buildiDg was insured, but not the machinery, stage properties, and other accessories of the value of 400,000 francs.

OVERWHELMED BY AN AVALANCHE. A young couple, Dr. Kempt and his wife, who were on their wedding tour, had a narrow escape from instant death while sleighing along a mountain road from Tarvis to Predil, in Corinthia, the other day. The driver suddenly espied an avalanche descending the mountain side directly from above them, but, instead of stopping, be thought by diiving on more rapidly to get out of reach of danger, and he I accordingly urged on his horses at their utmost speed. Unfortunately by this he only made the case worse. The avalanche descended on the sledge, sweeping it and its occupants below. The two horses were killed and the sledge dashed to pieces. The coachman got off unhurt, but a man-servant who was attending the travellers was killed, while the doctor and his wife escaped with their lives, but each had several broken bones.