Lurgy

I'm hoping a Scotsman/woman can help me out here. Colleagues in my office refuse to think that lurgy/lergy/or similar such spellings is a term for the sniffles or colds. Anyone agree or have the etymology of the term?

Thanks!

The 'dreaded lurgy' is a well know expression in the UK for any form of mild illness. I guess it's a shortening of the 'dreaded allergy'.