INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 42, 13 November 1918, Page 7

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC

A RUSH ON THE CHEMISTS

SERIOUSNESS REALISED

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE

AFFECTED

The seriousness of the influenza epidemic is now fully realised in Wellington. Precaution is the order of tlie day, and yesterday the chemists were besieged by people wanting disinfectants. The shops sold out of some of the mostfavoured prescriptions and customers had to bo satisfied 'with substitutes.

It is feared that some harm .may have been done by the congregating of the people yesterday and last night particularly, as the weather was favourable lothe spread of the disease. Gatherings of children were prohibited, but thousands of children took part in the general celebrations.

Wellington Hospital, though it has taken in only the serious influenza cases, is full, and Alexandra.Hall, -which was secured as a temporary hospital to carry the overflow, is now taxed to its utmost capacity. The Health Department, forced to look round for more hospital accommodation, has taken' over the Soldiers' Club in Sydney Street, which has been converted into an emergency hospital.

One of the serious sides to the trouble is the : fact that many doctors and nurses have Been stricken. Among the medical men are Drs. Pollen, Barclay, Xolmes, Giesen, Gilmer, .Watt, and Elliott. About forty nurses at the Wellington Hospital have contracted the complaint, and others outside the public institution are down with it.

The Health Department is unable to give figures showing tho hold the disease has on the city and suburbs. Only eases' in which complications supervene on influenza are notifiable, and at the present time there is little chance of preparing statistics. However, it is consid. ered certain that hundreds, probably thousands, are afflicted.

Inconvenience to-those engaged in figlitlng the epidemic was causcd yesterday by the cutting .'jut of all telephone communication. The opinion was generally expressed that si sufficient start to deal with urgent calls might have been kept on duty. The stuff has been-cut down by about one-third as a result oi' tho epidemic, and people using the telephone are asked to ring only whoa absolutely necessary. A MAYORAL APPEAL ■ ' MEETING TO BE HELD THIS MORNING. In accordance with the communicationof the Minister of' Public Health (Hon. Ct. W. ltussoll) regarding efforts to bat the influenza epidemic, the Mayor and Mayoress (Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Luke) will bo pleased to meet all who who are willing to assist in nursing- or preparing food and comlurts for the afflicted, and others to visit' houses where the necessity is such as to require assistance; and, further, to block tho city and appoint vigilant committees for organised effort. Meetings for this purpose- will bo held in tho Council Chamber at 11 a.m. to-day, and 11 a.m. to-morrow. Returned soldiers (particularly exmembers of the Medical Corps) who are able to render any assistance in coping with the epidemic are requested to communicate with the manager of tho Returned Soldiers' Club at once, - A. voluntary aid detachment has been formed amongst the ladies of St.. Andrew's Church to give such assistance as may be possible in the Thorndon district, where help is required. An announcement to this.effect appears in the advertising columns, where extra helpers and supplies are solicited. Mr. P. Eraser, M.l\, made a tour of the poorer parts of the city yesterday, and reports that ho found a great amount of sickness, and a large number of people were not being attended to. 11l some instances adults who were laid low were being looked after by children. It was impossible to secure medical attention, and some volunteer organisation wa-s urgently needed. Mr. Fraser stated that the Minister of Public Health had informed him that no expense would be spared if things were properly, organised, and lie hoped that there would be a big response to the Mayor's appeal for volunteers, FACTORY STAFFS REDUCED Influenza in ordinary and septic pneumonia (its deadly coadjutor) have been busy among the Wellington factories during I lie past few 1 days. This week has been disastrous to many hives of industry in t-lie city and suburbs. One very big wholesale'clothing manufactory has had one-third of the staff on sick leave, and a large boot manufactory has had its staff reduced by about 20 per cent. The AVcllingtou Woollen Company's mills at Petone have been managing with only halt a staff this week, and as the result the output will be considerably reduced. THE CITY BY NIGHT The comparatively few people who ventured intol tho city after dark on Monday evening must havo been struck by the remarkable change effected by the compulsory closing of . the theatres. Gone were tho brilliant entrance illuminations, with their vividly melodramatic reflections of the goods to be seen within; gone were tho high globes of white light from the balconies overhead; and missing were the throngs of gay people who so cheerfully pay for them month in and out. It was as though tho eyes of tho city had been bandaged, and tho glow of its social soul had been eclipsed. ON THE WATERFRONT i No abatement of tho epidemic is reported on shipping in port or among local nautical men. A good many -of those who were first affected have recovered and are seeking employment. The Union Company's Karamu put into Wellington last night, as one of her firemen is laid up with influenza in a mild form. He is now being cared for on the Talmpuna. There are at present about forty patients on tho hospital ship Takapuna at the Clyde Quay Wharf. When the shops closed yesterday morning it was found that the ship was practically without provisions, and those in charge had a busy time in obtaining food and provisions. Books and periodicals for the men on board would be welcomed. ' INHALATION. CHAMBERS.' Among those who did not desert their posts to join in the armistice jubilations vesterday were those in charge oi the public inhalation chambers, and rignt through the. joyous clamour of the memorable dav there were always plenty ot people waiting for treatment. Lyon whilst the Ministers were speaking at the Town Hall the steam jets in the back-rooms-shot formalin and sulphate of zmo into the nostrils and mouths of apprehensive citizens of both sexes. •\ chamber was fid nn in the infants department of the Clyde' Quay School yesterday, and wart made available until 9 o'clock last night. GREATLY IN NEED OF NURSES NEW CRISIS APPROACHING IN AUCKLAND. Hy Telccraph— Press Association. Auckland, November 12. A new crisis in the influenza epidemic is appruaeliing, particularly in relation to district nursing, through nurses either going down with the malady oi' collapsing from exhaustion. Tho great need is for skilled nurses to fill tho gaps, otherwise patients will be neglected and the old pbsition reverted to. St. Mary's rebuilding bazaar, which was to 'have been opeiied to-morrow night, has been postponed indefinitely on account of the influenza epidemic.