Since the outbreak of Mexican swine flu last month, the world has been waiting to see just how the virus will develop. So far, it appears not to have spread as quickly and catastrophically as feared – but it is still early days.

Almost 100 years ago, however, a Spanish flu pandemic turned out to be the gravest medical disaster of the 20th century – comparable in scale to the great plagues of the Middle Ages.

The 1918 Spanish flu – caused by the same virus as swine flu – killed at least 50 million people, many times more than the First World War. Over the course of two winters, a third of the world’s population became infected with the virus – and, like today’s swine flu, it appeared to affect the young, healthy and fit.

In July 1918, The Craven Herald reported on a subject that was to occupy the minds of its readers for the next two years.

Next to stories about the impending end of the First World War and the numbers of Craven soldiers who lost their lives were tales of warnings from medical officers, the closure of schools and cancellation of public gatherings.

In an attempt to ward off the virus, people were advised to take menthol “snuff”, whisky or claret – which led to an increase in the cost of wine and whisky and a shortage of supplies.

“The present visitation of ‘Spanish flu’ is about the last thing that we would have expected during a dry summer,” the paper informed its readers. “Since the plague of 1889-90, influenza has appeared epidemically in some parts of the British Isles, but it is unusual in June and July. The name ‘influenza’ is of Italian origin, but in 1889 the disease was known as Russian Influenza and now we give it the Spanish label as it now seems to have come from sunny Spain.”

However, the paper warned even then that the disease was not to be taken lightly.

“From whatever quarter the malady may have come, it is always a most unpleasant form of malaria and, unlike some diseases we can only have once, one attack of influenza appears to pre-dispose the victim to another. Many people believe in menthol snuff as a precaution against it. The real antidote, however, has yet to be discovered.

“This particular bacillus is extremely virulent and active in forming toxins, which continue to poison the system after the feverish symptoms have disappeared. It is the action of this poison on the vital organs that causes the very often prolonged and serious after-effects of influenza.”

In August 1918 there were 22 names listed in the paper’s death columns, including men and women in their twenties and thirties and the youngest, a three-year-old child.

In Gargrave, the correspondent reported: “Sufferers from the influenza epidemic are very numerous in Gargrave, as adjoining villages.”

In November 1918, schools in Silsden were closed – the same month that the paper reported the end of the world war and that 1,500 Craven soldiers had been among the heroic dead.

A Skiptonian, writing to the editor in November 1918, said he was concerned about the announcement of school closures and asked why evening schools had not also been suspended.

“The elementary and secondary schools in Skipton are closed on account of the prevailing epidemic and we all agree as to the wisdom of the measure,” he wrote. “However, I would like to voice one or two concerns:

* Why does not the responsible authority issue its closing order in time to be inserted into the papers on Friday? Failure to do this involves hundreds of parents in the necessity of getting their children ready for school on Monday, only to find the school gates locked. This leaves out of account the impossibility of acquainting teachers with the closure and involving train journeys for at least eight teachers, some of them 20 to 30 miles unnecessarily.

* Why are evening schools not closed during the same period? The evening classes are going ahead, which seems to me a foolish policy. At least one student has died from the epidemic.”

In Barnoldswick, the paper reported that there had been 12 deaths in just one week – and the epidemic was showing no signs of abating.

“The medical staff and nursing staff are being very hard-pressed to maintain even casual visitation, though the situation has been helped by the return of Dr Arnott, who was recently released from Germany,” the Herald said.

Settle, too, was reported as being “in the grip of influenza, with a very great number of inhabitants infected”.

The paper reported: “Though only a few cases so far have proved to be fatal, the majority are such a severe form to cause great anxiety and the local doctors are being severely taxed to cope with the increasing number of patients. All amusements and gatherings are, for the moment, taboo.”

In Long Preston, the epidemic was “more prevalent than any other previous date” and the weekly Wesleyan Guild meeting was cancelled.

In December 1918, the medical officer for Skipton reported that the number of deaths in the town for November had been 14 – exactly double the number in November 1917.

Dr FE Atkinson, the medical officer for Craven, issued advice through handbills and posters.

“Ill-ventilated and over-heated rooms” were the biggest supporters of the epidemic, he said. “People should refrain from attending dances, entertainments and other public gatherings. People should also abstain from railway travelling.” Train compartments were, he said, like “travelling incubators” and should be avoided at all cost.

“The best antidote is good, wholesome food, exercise and fresh air – and fresh air is cheap enough for everybody. Above all, bedrooms should be kept well-ventilated, but not draughty.”

Dr Atkinson also called for the cancellation of all public gatherings – including the political gatherings of potential MPs who, at the time, were seeking election. The paper reported that the prospective candidates agreed to cut down on their meetings, although those in the larger towns went ahead as planned.

Meanwhile, in a letter to the paper, a George Deacon, of Carleton Street, Skipton, wondered why medical experts had not informed the public of a prescription that he claimed would cure anyone with the illness.

Mr Deacon, who as early as 1918 was claiming that the epidemic had already killed many more than the war, said he had been given the prescription from a “highly qualified physician”.

He went on to list the ingredients – which included ipeac [a herbal syrup that induces vomiting] and carbonate of ammonia and instructions that it be taken four times a day.

Redundant gas masks were also put to use and were adapted for people to wear to protect themselves against the virus.

“The disease has proved far more deadly in this country than all of the German air raids and bombardments put together, but as yet we are content with the closure of schools and the banning of public meetings,” reported the paper.

“No doubt conditions will have to get much worse than they are before the public will assent to a general anti-influenza muzzling order.”

And it wasn’t just people who fell victim to the virus. In Hawes, a farmer lost 20 of his sheep to the ’flu – their deaths to the virus were later confirmed by the Board of Agriculture.

In February 1919, Craven experienced a resurgence of the virus – following a respite of several weeks. The paper reported: “The latest outbreak of influenza which is being experienced throughout the country is leaving its mark on the villages and towns of Craven, many deaths having already been reported.

“During the previous outbreak a few months ago, a Skipton family lost two children and the three remaining – the father, mother and daughter – have been carried off by the renewed outbreak.”

The paper also reported on a family higher up in the Dales: “When the doctor paid his visit, he found the farm man had taken on the duties of nurse and that he was attending to his patients in a way that would have done credit to a woman.”

Elementary schools were closed again – or about to be closed – and fresh warnings were issued by the Local Government Board.

“The popular belief that a spell of brisk, cold weather is an antidote appears to be fallacy. On the other hand, the climatic conditions are conducive to the spread of the malady, in as much as they tend to reduce vitality and thus lower the individual’s resisting power.”

The instructions were again to avoid crowded places and provide proper ventilation in all rooms: “Whisky is recommended as the most useful agent in the warding off of attacks and medical men are also advising the public to drink wines, especially clarets, as a precaution.

“The worst of it is many people cannot afford to buy either wine or whisky. The present exorbitant prices and those who can afford to buy it then have the utmost difficulty in obtaining supplies.”

* Would you like to write a history feature like this for the Craven Herald? Send an email to lindsey.moore@cravenherald.co.uk or call her on 01756 794117