The Times Australia
The Times World News

.

People dropped whisky into their noses to treat Spanish flu. Here's what else they took that would raise eyebrows today

  • Written by Philippa Martyr, Lecturer, Pharmacology, Women's Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia

We’re researching COVID-19 in a fast-paced world[1] with new data[2] becoming available all the time. We track which interventions work well and which ones don’t.

But in 1918, during the Spanish flu pandemic, the world was a different place. No one was entirely sure what caused influenza[3]. By the time health authorities began to find out, it was too late.

Our knowledge about viruses was limited in 1918, but we knew about bacteria. People who died of flu had bacterial infection in their lungs. However, this threw researchers off track[4] because these were secondary infections[5], not caused directly by the flu.

With this lack of knowledge, it was still an anything-goes medical research world. There were unregulated vaccine trials[6] and lots of hype for the latest “cure”, even in respectable medical journals.

More than 100 years on, controversial “cures” for COVID-19, such as ivermectin, are making the headlines[7], being reported in medical journals[8] and are being promoted by doctors[9] and politicians[10].

Here’s what we know about the Spanish flu “cures” of the day, whisky included.

Read more: I asked historians what find made them go ‘wait, wut?’ Here's a taste of the hundreds of replies[11]

Doctors, pharmacists and nurses had cures

Doctors developed and used some of these cures for the flu. Sydney’s chief quarantine officer, Dr Reid, treated patients[12] in March 1919 with 15-grain (1 gram) doses of calcium lactate every four hours, and a “vaccine” containing influenza and pneumococcus bacteria. In 203 cases, he had no deaths.

Calcium lactate is used today to treat low levels of calcium in the blood[13]. But Dr Reid’s doses are well above the current recommended daily level.

People dropped whisky into their noses to treat Spanish flu. Here's what else they took that would raise eyebrows today J R A McAlister’s treatment ‘cures influenza at once’. Trove Digitised Newspapers, Guyra Argus, September 11, 1919, p2, National Library of Australia

Chemists were also busy[14] making and selling their own influenza cures[15]. J. Reginald Albert McAlister of Guyra in regional New South Wales advertised his 1919 patented mixture as curing influenza at once[16].

People even listened to nurses — who at the time were usually the least important people in the health-care system[17] — about cures for the Spanish flu.

Nan Taylor, a New Zealand nurse, advocated[18] whisky — lots of it, including gargling and drops up the nose. She also recommended quinine and castor oil.

Nurse Kate Guazzini cared for Spanish flu patients in South Africa in late 1918, and caught the flu there before moving to Sydney. She said[19]:

I was kept alive on brandy and milk for six weeks […] That, with quinine and hot lemon drinks, were found to be the only effective remedies.

Food manufacturers linked themselves to flu cures. In 1919 a brand new beef extract[20], Bonox, had just hit the Australian market, and the flu epidemic was a great marketing opportunity. Bonox was advertised[21] as a sure way to recover your health and strength after the flu.

People dropped whisky into their noses to treat Spanish flu. Here's what else they took that would raise eyebrows today This Bonox advertisement promised a robust recovery. Trove Digitised Newspapers, Herald (Melbourne), April 26, 1919, p9, National Library of Australia

News of ‘cures’ spread far and wide

In much of Australia just after WWI there were often no doctors close by[22]. So many people were used to dosing themselves with homemade potions and remedies[23]. They shared their prescriptions in the pages of local newspapers.

Between 1918 and 1920, Australian newspapers were flooded with Spanish flu cures of all kinds.

In October 1918, a journalist at Victoria’s Bendigo Independent lamented[24]:

Cures? My goodness me, the vast amount of cures on the market are positively frightening, and everyone has a favorite cure. I pin my faith to one, you to another. There’s a certain influenza mixture that, taken in the early stages, is regarded as a certain cure by one large section […] Asperin [sic] is the cry of another batch of victims, and they tell you that that drug does the trick. ‘Try whiskey and milk taken hot and taken often,’ is the advice of others who have had it. But one and all end in the same way: ‘Go to bed and stay there till the thing leaves you.’

People dropped whisky into their noses to treat Spanish flu. Here's what else they took that would raise eyebrows today Aspro advertising, Telegraph (Qld), 30 July 1921, page 14. Trove Digitised Newspapers, National Library of Australia

Aspirin was very popular as a Spanish flu treatment worldwide. But people sometimes took it at dangerously high doses, which may have boosted the number of deaths[25] attributed to the flu[26].

In the absence of many other treatments, government authorities promoted aspirin[27], along with quinine and phenacetin[28].

The pain killer phenacetin[29] is now banned because it’s linked to kidney and urinary tract cancers[30].

Like aspirin, its overuse might have boosted[31] the Spanish flu death rate.

Read more: 100 years later, why don't we commemorate the victims and heroes of 'Spanish flu'?[32]

They’re using it in America

Like today, Australians were also eagerly reading about overseas experiments, and wanting to try these cures locally.

In June 1919, the Richmond River Herald reported[33]:

On Friday we published the following New York cable: — ‘Dr. Charles Duncan, at the Convention of the American Medical Association, said the cure for influenza was one drachm of infected mucus pasteurised and with filtered water injected subcutaneously … Yesterday (says Tuesday’s Tweed 'Daily’) a youth was seen inquiring for a chemist, having in his hand the above clipping and sixpence, his object being to secure that amount’s worth of the ‘cure.’ Several others, it is understood, have also been inquiring into the same matter, with a view to ‘having it made up’ locally.

Some of these cures lingered

Once the Spanish flu pandemic was over, many of the cures remained. Most of them, like aspirin, incorporated the threat of influenza into regular advertising[34].

Some, like quinine[35], have made a reappearance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

And one of the most commonly recommended cures — whisky taken at frequent intervals[36]hasn’t lost its popularity[37].

References

  1. ^ fast-paced world (theconversation.com)
  2. ^ new data (theconversation.com)
  3. ^ what caused influenza (www.history.com)
  4. ^ this threw researchers off track (www.clinicaloncology.com)
  5. ^ secondary infections (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  6. ^ unregulated vaccine trials (www.clinicaloncology.com)
  7. ^ making the headlines (theconversation.com)
  8. ^ medical journals (theconversation.com)
  9. ^ doctors (www1.racgp.org.au)
  10. ^ politicians (www.abc.net.au)
  11. ^ I asked historians what find made them go ‘wait, wut?’ Here's a taste of the hundreds of replies (theconversation.com)
  12. ^ treated patients (trove.nla.gov.au)
  13. ^ low levels of calcium in the blood (www.drugs.com)
  14. ^ Chemists were also busy (trove.nla.gov.au)
  15. ^ their own influenza cures (trove.nla.gov.au)
  16. ^ curing influenza at once (trove.nla.gov.au)
  17. ^ least important people in the health-care system (nursekey.com)
  18. ^ advocated (trove.nla.gov.au)
  19. ^ said (trove.nla.gov.au)
  20. ^ brand new beef extract (web.archive.org)
  21. ^ Bonox was advertised (trove.nla.gov.au)
  22. ^ there were often no doctors close by (www.mja.com.au)
  23. ^ homemade potions and remedies (recollections.nma.gov.au)
  24. ^ lamented (trove.nla.gov.au)
  25. ^ which may have boosted the number of deaths (www.sciencedaily.com)
  26. ^ attributed to the flu (academic.oup.com)
  27. ^ promoted aspirin (www.gp.org.au)
  28. ^ quinine and phenacetin (trove.nla.gov.au)
  29. ^ phenacetin (pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  30. ^ kidney and urinary tract cancers (www.iarc.who.int)
  31. ^ its overuse might have boosted (trove.nla.gov.au)
  32. ^ 100 years later, why don't we commemorate the victims and heroes of 'Spanish flu'? (theconversation.com)
  33. ^ reported (trove.nla.gov.au)
  34. ^ into regular advertising (trove.nla.gov.au)
  35. ^ like quinine (www.pennmedicine.org)
  36. ^ whisky taken at frequent intervals (trove.nla.gov.au)
  37. ^ hasn’t lost its popularity (www.wearethemighty.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/people-dropped-whisky-into-their-noses-to-treat-spanish-flu-heres-what-else-they-took-that-would-raise-eyebrows-today-167525

Times Magazine

Headless CMS in Digital Twins and 3D Product Experiences

Image by freepik As the metaverse becomes more advanced and accessible, it's clear that multiple sectors will use digital twins and 3D product experiences to visualize, connect, and streamline efforts better. A digital twin is a virtual replica of ...

The Decline of Hyper-Casual: How Mid-Core Mobile Games Took Over in 2025

In recent years, the mobile gaming landscape has undergone a significant transformation, with mid-core mobile games emerging as the dominant force in app stores by 2025. This shift is underpinned by changing user habits and evolving monetization tr...

Understanding ITIL 4 and PRINCE2 Project Management Synergy

Key Highlights ITIL 4 focuses on IT service management, emphasising continual improvement and value creation through modern digital transformation approaches. PRINCE2 project management supports systematic planning and execution of projects wit...

What AI Adoption Means for the Future of Workplace Risk Management

Image by freepik As industrial operations become more complex and fast-paced, the risks faced by workers and employers alike continue to grow. Traditional safety models—reliant on manual oversight, reactive investigations, and standardised checklist...

From Beach Bops to Alpine Anthems: Your Sonos Survival Guide for a Long Weekend Escape

Alright, fellow adventurers and relaxation enthusiasts! So, you've packed your bags, charged your devices, and mentally prepared for that glorious King's Birthday long weekend. But hold on, are you really ready? Because a true long weekend warrior kn...

Effective Commercial Pest Control Solutions for a Safer Workplace

Keeping a workplace clean, safe, and free from pests is essential for maintaining productivity, protecting employee health, and upholding a company's reputation. Pests pose health risks, can cause structural damage, and can lead to serious legal an...

The Times Features

Prefab’s Second Life: Why Australia’s Backyard Boom Needs a Circular Makeover

The humble granny flat is being reimagined not just as a fix for housing shortages, but as a cornerstone of circular, factory-built architecture. But are our systems ready to s...

Melbourne’s Burglary Boom: Break-Ins Surge Nearly 25%

Victorian homeowners are being warned to act now, as rising break-ins and falling arrest rates paint a worrying picture for suburban safety. Melbourne residents are facing an ...

Exploring the Curriculum at a Modern Junior School in Melbourne

Key Highlights The curriculum at junior schools emphasises whole-person development, catering to children’s physical, emotional, and intellectual needs. It ensures early year...

Distressed by all the bad news? Here’s how to stay informed but still look after yourself

If you’re feeling like the news is particularly bad at the moment, you’re not alone. But many of us can’t look away – and don’t want to. Engaging with news can help us make ...

The Role of Your GP in Creating a Chronic Disease Management Plan That Works

Living with a long-term condition, whether that is diabetes, asthma, arthritis or heart disease, means making hundreds of small decisions every day. You plan your diet against m...

Troubleshooting Flickering Lights: A Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners

Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik Effectively addressing flickering lights in your home is more than just a matter of convenience; it's a pivotal aspect of both home safety and en...