Home Industry and Commerce Mining Pit’s War On ’Flu – Free Tablets at Houghton Main

Pit’s War On ’Flu – Free Tablets at Houghton Main

January 1938

Leeds Mercury – Monday 17 January 1938

Pit’s War On ’Flu

Free Tablets at Houghton Main

The Houghton Main Colliery Company are distributing anti-influenza tablets free of charge among their workpeople.

It is hoped to combat the inconvenience and loss which an epidemic entails on employers and employees alike.

During the week-end each of the 2,000 employees of the firm has received a box of tablets, together with a pamphlet explaining the treatment. The tablets have been made up to a prescription provided by a medical specialist. One of these tablets taken daily for three weeks represents a course of treatment which, it is stated, should provide immunity for several months. Neat little boxes containing 21 tablets each were distributed by clerks at the pithead baths during the week-end.

An epidemic of influenza in the early part of last year caused serious depletion of mine staffs in South Yorkshire, some collieries having as many as a third of their men off at one time.

At Houghton Main, facilities for gargling were provided in the pithead baths, but the method was not altogether popular. Among the employees I discovered that the timely action of the management in issuing tablets was much appreciated, and that the men intend to give it fair trial.