FIGHTING INFLUENZA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 42, 14 November 1918, Page 6

FIGHTING INFLUENZA

! MEETING OF CITIZENS

•'great organisation arranged

OWN HALL TO BE A HOSPITAL

I PROMPT ASSISTANCE NECESSARY

The great war in Europe is practiely ended, and 'another grim bactlu i'al is in progress amongst us—a camiign to checK tne deadly epidenie, the nous nature of whicn can no longer be sguised. It 13 a light in which every 'dividual in'th'o Staceis personally, con'rned, and there must be no cessation ! effort to check the ravages of the nilfcnt tliitjt'is' lying so many low. At the ivi'tation of tne Mayor (Air. J". P. Luke)

J : large number of citizens met ; the Council Chamber yesterday prning to discuss means of organising ie entue city into a live force to , tight ie disease and render all assistance pusble to those in need of it.

iThe Mayor, in addressing the- gather-s-stressed the gravity of the suiap)i,.and the urgent need of quick aeon, and for that .reason had culled into msultation citizens who were prepared i actively help in the work in some ipacity or other. His proposal was iat the city should be divided off into iocks or denned areas, with ono supreme sad for each area, with a head con•ol located at the Town Hall, but the hmediate need was for helpers who ere prepared to nurse, prepare food, : otherwise help to the best of their iwers. When he said nursing he did at mean that a woman need bo a train--1 nurse, but anyone with a- knowledge :' the rudiments of nursing or who puld be generally useful to help in pines' and temporary hospitals would i cordially welcomed. Others were reaired to form vigilance committees to asirtain where help was needed. Dr. ibb, representing St. John's Church, ad generously offered St.. John's School)om for the purposes of a temporary pspital, and to find the nurses, and jnerally organise in that locality. Mrs. Falter Nathan, who could not be preint, sent an apology, and said she was repared to act in connection - .with a lock. He had also received a letter •om Mr. G. L. Stewart (secretary of the Wellington Education Bonrd), stating iat the members of the Headmasters' .ssociation and the- Teachers' Associa;on would be glad to render all po=.ble assistance in combating the epieinic.' .The Harbour Board w.is doing 11 it could. Messrs. C. E. Thmiell (chairian) and HivE. Nicholls (secretary), of ne board, were desirous of doing- nil hey could to help the undertaking, and ad forwarded assurances of their hearty propathy and help. (Applause.) , ; : - . Women | Helpers Wanted. ! Mrs..' Luke said that what was most :rgently needed was the help of women n districts as close- to their hoines as tesible to visit the houses systematic,lly, make reports, and obtn'ijr assist(Dce where there was trouble. One wojian in Kelburn who was a nurse was ooking after threo homes, and badly ieeded someone to help hor to do some if the washing up and cleaning work, ■he.could do the practical nursing work, »ut apt both. The-' best idea was to jave a' centre equipped with a telephone, b that anyone could ring up in an ■mergency and secure help. A telephone lad 'been secured for that purpose at ho Town Hall, and those who found ases requiring help should RING UP NUMBER 2364, That 'was- the emergency ' telephone lumber, continued Mil's. Luke, and puld be/available , up till 9 or 10 o'clock it night. • Su«h cases would be attendjd to as far as possible. Eood was an- j 7 ither important thing. They were al-1 : jeady making large quantities of bovril < tnd soup. Demijohns were wanted in I yhich, to send / it out to the camp;; and < iospitals. Anyone with demijohns siiould i lend them at once to the Town Hall, i riiey had sent a quantity all the way. ' io Featherston Camp on Tuesday, and I '1 jnpther.lot yestei'day. Lemons, oranges, i '■ to make cool jrtriiilts were I < jnost welcome; jellies and invalid dishes | f generally-were needed dcs. vuft'erers who I l were not in a way to provide for them-1 <' selves. Mrs. Myers was helping, active-ji ly, and Hor Excellency tho Countess of 1 1 Liverpool had , promised to tend in eggs ] and eoup, and to help in any way 6he poald. (Applause.) . '.- j St. John's Schoolroom a Prospective , [ - Hospital. v : The Mayor expressed his thanks for " the assistance given him already byMessrs. P. Fraser and- H.'. E.. Holland, T M.P.'s, 'who were present at the meet- e ing. -. : ? Tho Eev. Dr. Gibb, who had to leave, ' stated that St. John's Schoolroom would * be available and the organisation to I , manage it, if the Mayer would pirovide . beds .and bedding and the food.' (Ap- 1: plause.) " ?' i 1! . Only Six Doctors Active in Wei- d ; lington. 1 I Hr. H. Baldwin (chairman of tho Wei- il Jington Hospital and, Charitable Aid I Board) proposed that in each district tl there should be a bureaii that the work c; 6hould centre-in.- ~ The assistants should be organised' ..to ; make house-to-house ivisits, and to report to the bureau (which would always be in touch with hendquar- "j fters). Work of tho kind was already H ibeing done in some parts of the town, K Hvith the assistance of tho St. John Amtulance and Eeturued Soldiers' Bed Cross .workers, whom-ho knew had-given re- "■ '}k! on many occasions. In one house a : woman and two children had been left a ' ,with no oho to IpoK after them. The l " ;husband was in his employ, and he had at once sent him home 'to look after ;his family.' There might lie plenty of caees. that were not heard of,' and D ] ■those could only be found by house-to- £ .-Jiouso visits. If tho areas were small i>! : and well controlled a great (leal of good u 'could b'e done, and would afford a great q measure of reliai-' to the authorities. c Nurses were very scarce. Over fifty M iwere down .with the 1 complaint <it the ■ hospital, and they only had three doq- a< • tors—the rest were down with influenza. Dr. Kemp had contracted the ailment, t., 'and Drs. Lyons and Fitzgerald (of the ," ;hospital'medical staff) had to go', down- a| to it on Tuesday. They wanted further ~.( ■ assistances with r.mbulaicei. They (the C(] hospital) only had two, and -they were w ■working from fourteen to fifteen hours t n •a day. Neither the men nor the maj chines co;ild keep that \ip long. They w ; rerjtiiretl three or four more ambulances j, .to cope '.yith the emergency. As far as ns j'the hosTtital was concerned it was full, ca f-aml they could take no more cases. " fThere were 120 ca-=e3 there yesterday ' nifji-ning. . He moved t!;nt the system of ! city in blocks with a cen- r tral headquartPK at the corporation of- '~,'. , ikes be adopted. ■■

Work of St. Andrew's Church. ' The Kev. A. liobcrbon Orr, of St. Andrew's Church, eucouded the motion, ; and in doing so said thuMhey were already at -.vork ,\t thei" wid, and would be ,iuite willing to taki the Thorndon lend. ,'Appi.iu.si'.) ■ I Mr. Mnnro impressed on Jhe meeting i the necessity of.getting, more ambulances. .The Harbour Board had only ; one, but, as in their experience the cases ; were sitting ones; patients could be conveyed quite safely in covered motor delivery vans, if they were fixed up for the : purpose. If any new hospital ' were . opened up there should be an n'mbuI'ilance especially, attached to it. He also 1 supported the suggestion , of each district i having its own centre or bureau where people could get fumigating mixtures i and disinfectants, and where nil appli- ! cations" for: assistance could be received. , He also suggested that if tho sulphate of \ zinc and formalin for inhalation wire I provided in large quantities by the '. Health Department and made up into : packets .by local chemists, a lot of time 1 would be saved. At the Harbour Board's ; ohamber 1600 men were treated on Monj day 1157 on Tuesday. ' They wero : now getting the men to gargle with weak ; Condy's fluid.

Money No 9b]eer. , Mr. P. Eraser, M.P. for Wollinfrton Central, said that the most important

thing at present was to keep their heads. Ho disagreed with Mr. Baldwin in a way. From news obtained from a man who had been in Auckland during the trouble ho was satisfied that no arrangement of a loose nature would do, and in place of II r. Baldwin's motion lie would propose that a small executivebe appointed to confer with the Health Department and the Hospital Board, and draft a scheme for submission to a large- meeting of citizens to be held the noxt day. The Minister of Public L Health had informed him that in fighting this epidemic money wns no object, . providing a proper schema were arranged. He agreed with J[r. Baldwin about the house-to-house visits, with the Town Hall as the centre, and that the city should be divided into blocks, each block to have a medical man attached to it c- so that there should be no overlapping, lo He expressed his warm of i- what had already been done by the ie Town Han authorities. 'If the , scheme >e were adopted, the Mayor should be chair•y .man of the executive committee, in , . Practical Hataitai, '■ Mr. Tolan said that at Hataitai they ie had already blocked oft' the district in ') , groups of 50 houses (there were about :t i 500 in thp. district), and each house was >' i being visited once a day. to f> , I see if any help was needed, it As to attaching doctors to blocks, t'.'.eY s- J would find a great difficulty in getting J doctors at all owing to the scarcity. He "- related a case where a husband, wife, i- and thrift children had nii been found :- in a state of prostration hy a tradesman. o He urged the provision of an inhalation d chamber in every district; instead of e people having to ride all the way into s town in crowded tramears facilities 0 should be provided in the various subure ban districts. So should disinfectants'. e Do It Now! 1 The chairman was averse to putting j anything off_ till to-morrow that could j be done to-day. The organisation was there; why not block off the city right e away? He.called on Mrs. Luke ,to name a the ladies' committee. These were all , those present, with the following:—Mrs. j Massey, Lady Ward, Dr. Plaits-Mills, . Dr. Ada Patorson, Mesdames Walter Nathan,' Moorhouse, Preston, P. Myers, C. B. Morison, Coleridge, Hall, Crawford, Adams, Bethune, M'Vicar, and Miss ; Birch. Exploitation. 1 Mr. Priestly (a 'chemist' of 26 years' . practice) said that the epidemic was un- • questionably bacterial and atmospheric, i and he thought it would be wise for the i authorities to commandeer at once all : ' antiseptic supplies, so as to sell them : ■ again at a low cost, and so prevent any- , : thing in the- nature of exploitation. (Ap- j plause.) ' ' Mr. H. E. Holland, M.P., said that ' the situation was essentially one for organisation. Whilst all the efforts as far as they went, were good, he believed that if they proceeded in a haphazard way j there would, before long, be friction and ' inefficiency. He- supported Mr. Fraser'6 T amendment as the best proposal. It was ! necessary to know what the Health De- ' partment was doing—then they could J come back with a definite plan. It \ might be advisable to get the represeii- l tative trades •unions to organise as an J effective part of the machinery in handling the matter. One of the first things they should do was lo ask the Government to commandeer the medical profession and allot its .members to . blookr.. Lamentnble things had been occurring through, people being unable to obtain medicM attention. A lad living next to him'at Brooklyn wns now in the last stages of pneumonia, s The doctor toad been sent for on lion- 1: day morning, and had arrived at 11 p.m. o on Tuesday. - s A Grievous Error. ( . q Another awful thing was that on Tuesday, during a deadly epidemic, the whole of the telephone service had been discou- ' iiected. It would be interesting' to know what deaths had occurred- because of ■ that,, and whether it was done with the 0 I knowledge of the Minister of Public K ; Health. It would also bo well to know a [ what the Government was prepared to Ido with regard to the railway services in ~ the way of cutting them down to those ! that were absolutely eecessary, and so endeavour to localise outbreaks. There was no doubt ae to the danger. The papers were not telling about Auckland, and j Wellington would probably have been as ■bad had it-not been,for. the high winds. The. main thing now was organisation to effectively deal with the danger—an organisation which would bring all working organisations into line The speaker advocated Government control of chemists' shops, free medical attention, free medicine, and free disinfectants, and, if «i necessary, free food. °' . • A Zephyr. ' i\ At this point Mrs. Luke broke in Sl with: "I can standi it no longer. AVe a , want to got something done—help mostly 0) —and I'm very busy!" 0I Mr. Holland: "I protest! We are invited hero to discuss this question, and r every person i here is entitled to ordin- ( j ( ary courtesy.. I say, do what you can o] , in the meantime, but adopt Mr. Eraser's j )£ proposal as the better one. Hβ had f e pleasure in seconding it. * • . Mr. Baldwin thought there was very little difference in the proposals. As to f r commandeering the medical men, it was impossible. There T were only about six j 0 doctors working in town , that day—the re rest were down with-, influenza. Ol] On Mr. Eraser's amendment being put m it was defeated on the 'voices, and Mr. Baldwin's proposal to form a committee n , there and then, and get to work, was se carried. - jjl The Commiyoe. ■ m

The committee appointed was as fol16ns:—The Mayor (chairman), Messrs. H. Baldwin. Tolan, A. H. Munro, M. J.' Reardon, y P. Eraser, M.P., H. Holland, M.P., Pearson, Bakowell, G. L. Stewart. Buston, Priestly, Father Hurley, • and Rev. A. Robertson Orr! Mrs. Massey urged the need of immediate assistance being granted'at tho Sydi'cy Street Hospital. The Town Hall Offered. When tho need of a more central hospital wns voiced, the chairman (Mr. Luke) said that they could have the Town Hall right away. There was nem there for some hundreds of beds, and if there were bad-cases in tho vicinity they could be brought to the Town Hall as soon as the placo could be prepared. The proposal was greeted wit), enthusiasm. Dr. Platts-Mills said that there should be a central telephone, tho number of which should be widely advertised, that anyone in distress could ring up. This would be a great boon—a place where one could in oases of urgency get into touch with doctors, ambulaiu-i-s, nurses, and fond. The speaker (who fiaid she wns. not now in private practice) told of cases who had lain in desperate need of a doctor, and others which she described as being in a very alarming anil very sad condition.

An Executive, Messrs. H. Baldwin, '3. L. Stewart, .11. J. Reardoii, I'. Kraser. and John Smith were appointed an executive to act with the Mayor. The meeting gave the executive full power to go on. The Mayor said that lie would authorise monetary expenditure, and he knew that the Minister of Public Tleaith's statement to Mr. l'raser would be backed up. The lion.' J. G. V. Aitken, M.L.C., thought the meeting was working on the. right lines. Ho knew there was any number of people ready to help. He also mentioned the offer of St. John's Schoolroom for a hospital. Miss P. Myers thought that a poster should be issued setting out simples instructions for the guidance of those concerned with afflide'.! persons, and also giving full directions respecting preven.ticj'3. Mr. G. Ij. Stewart offered the services of the Education Board's j eadinastm ami teachers, who were used to organisation and willing to do what Ihey could. Mr. Seymour said thut the Returned Soldiers" Association was desirous of rendering all possible aid. Ife advocated a card system for the recording of every case in each district, and slid that the statement that, there were, only eix doctors on their feet in Wellington was the best argument in favour of commandeering the medical men.so that they would rot bo working over tho same ground.

\ District Captains Appointed. At a meeting of the committee held in the Mayor's room at, 12.30 p.m. the

following district captains were appointed:—

i, Wellington North—Kev. A. Robertson , ; Orr. '. Wellington -Central—Mr. Peter li'rusor, M.1 , . i Wellington Eas,t-Mr. W. H. L. j Foster. , Wellington South—Mr. J. H. Parkinson. i Kelburn—Mr. T. Gray, i Urooklyn-Mr. H. Holland M.P. : .llataidii-Mr, H. W. Tolan. . . ' Island Buy—Mr. Charles Odlin. Northland—Mr. D. M. Poison, Wadestown—Mr. A. E. Atkinson. Kilbknie— Mr. J. J. Clark. Seatonn—Mr. Alex. Smith. Miramar-Mr. T. Fox. Roseneath—Mr. J'. ,T. M'Grath. Knrori—Mr. A. Mackenzie. . Lyall Bay-Mr. A. A. Gallatly. 'Mr. Priestly (who is to bo associated with the Mayor at the Town Hall) is a pharmacist of experience. He is to act with Mir. Baldwin in securing medicaments,- foodstuffs, etc. A Patent Point. It was reported that the right lo'manufacture atomising nozzles for inhaling piants wns the property of. one- man in Wellington. The committee decided to approach the Minister with the request that all brassfouuders should be permitted to make those nozzles in the present emergency. . Mir. Stewart asked that the teachers of the State school should be iittached to the district centre in which their school was situated, as, in most casts, they knew the children (and the families) in that district, and bad authority over them. Meeting of Captains. A meeting of,district captains was held in the Couucil 'Chamber at 4.30 yesterday afternoon. Some of those, present .stated that they had already heljl meetings in their districts, and arrangements were , on the way to completion. The reacting defined the boundaries of districts, and intimated where their bureaux i. l ! the districts would be. . It was suggested that the schools mijiiit be used as hospitals, but on inquiry from Dr. Gibbs it was intimated that schools would scarcely be suitable owing to lack of proper lavatory accommodation. A.big college or efon an hctoi would be preferable to a school. His Worship, 'said that beds would be J installed in the Town Hall this morning j and the surplus of serious cases could ! be sent there. ! The Sydney Street Hospital was full! up last evening, so that ! tbe urgency foT j more hospital accomodation for pneumonic cases is already urgent. Captains were given full authority to incur an i' reasonable expenditure which they might find necessary in connection with the work .undertaken. Boy Scouts. The Boy Scouts will act as messengers i for the various committees which have | been eet up, and their. ■ organisation is under tlw direction of District Commanders Phillips and Lawson, who will arrange for other officers to supervise. , Parents are assured that the boys will , not bo called upon to risk infection. , Scouts and Scoutmasters are asked to re- , port at the Y.M.C.A.; Willis Street, at \ I) o'clock this morning. , _ : -i THE CITIZENS' ORGANISATION } DETAILS ANNOUNCED. c

HEADQUARTERS AT TOWN HALL. Special attention is directed to the series >f announcements by tile Wellington Citizens'. Vigilance Committee, over which His Worship the Mayor presides, and which represents a central and co-ordinating organisation with headquarters at the Town Hall, and by the various district committees. Meetings will be held all over, the city and suburbs this morning, afternoon, and evening, in'order to arrange the working of each block of the citv and suburbs. ' Workers ace called for, • and all in need of assistance are asked to get in touch with the' various district headquarters at once. All t.h". notices should be carefully perused and acted on. MINISTERS EXPLAIN THE NIAGARA INCIDENT ALLEGATIONS DENIED, The influenza epidemic occupied a large share of the attention of tho House of Representatives yesterday. Ministers I were pressed with questions and suggestions, and the tone of the discussion snowed that the House was viewing the spread of the epidemic with considerable anxiety. References were made to the outbreak aboard the steamer Niagara, on which Mr. JFassey and Sir Joseph Ward returned to New Zealand. 1

■Mr. Young (Waikato) asked if the epidemic was something, more serious than ordinary influenza, if effective steps had been taken to prevent the spread of infection, and if there had been laxity or error of judgment in connection with the permitting of passengers to land from the steamer Niagara. Sir Joseph Ward said he would like to take the opportunity to reply to a report that had been circulated throughout the country. It had been stated by some people that tho epidemic which had spread such havoc through the Dominion had been introduced bv the pnssengers who had landed frqm the steamer Niagara. A more wicked statement had never been put into circulation. Tho epidemic had been prevalent before the Niagara reached Auckland at all. (Hear, hear.) It was a sad thing that any attempt should be made in this way to creato ill-feeling against public men, who had been absent from ißuw Zealand on important public duly. Before the steamer was berthed in Auckland both Mr. M.issey and himself told the health offi-; cer and tho doctors on board the ship | that they were prepared to remain in quarantine and do exactly as the other passengers were required to do. They placed themselves entirely in the hands of tho medical''officers, who were to do exactly what was" considered lo be neces- : sury tinder the circumstances. They were told before they landed that the influenza aboard the "Niagara was not of a nature that could bo called contagious, and that the single death that had taken place had been duo (o pneumonia. They had nn communication with the Minister of Public Health on the subject at all. Sir Joseph Ward adtled that there had been two doctors aboard the steamer in addition to the ship's doctor, and these ltedicnl men of high standing had concurred in~what had been done. He resented very strongly the stories that had been put into circulation regarding the Niagara. The simple fact was that the influenza was prevalent in many parts of the world, and thnt it hud become epidemic in New Zealand before he and Mr. Massey returned to the country. There had been 120 cases in the camp at Narrow -Neck, near Auckland, some days before the steamer reached port. '

The Prime Minister said he could endorse all that had been said !>y his colleague. He had heard of the rumours only during the last two days. There mis no doubt fcliat Hie influenza hud been in New Zealand before the Niagara arrived at Auckland. Tim outbreak on board the steamer had not been regarded as of a serious nature until a death occurred the night before the vessel reached Auckland. The death had been stated by the doctors to bo due to pneumonia, which often followed influenza. He and Sir Joseph Ward made it dear aboard the Niagara that they were not going to use the least influence to avoid quarantine if the medical authorities considered that measure neceissary. Hut the doctors had agreed that the disease was pure influenza, and they released the ship after five hours' delay. The Hon. Br. Pomare would be able to endorse the statement that there were 120 wises at Narrow Neck before the steamer arrived. Mr. Massey added that, he could scarcely believe that the rumours to which he was replying had been spreafl for political purposes.

The Medical Authorities The Hon. G. W. Russell (Minister of Public Health) repeated tho statement he had made previously in the House to the effect .that he had released the fihip only when assured by the medical authorities that the epidemic aboard was pure influenza. When he first heard of the outbreak ho informed tho Gover-

- nor-Gcneral that influenza was not a quafaiitjnable disease, but that it might bo 3 necessary to hold up the ship. Tho tioi-crnor-Gcneral replied that it the jieccsr sity arose the order would be made. Later tho medical men .reported that tho • disease wa.s "pure influeiiiui, that the out: death that, had occurred had been duo ■ to bronchial pneumonia, and that only two passengers were affected by influenza. , ■ Sir Joseph Ward:! Affected by pneumonia. ' Mr. Eussell: "The information 1 received was that oniy two passengers were affected by inflnanwi." (3a the strength of that ireport the ship was cleared. The Health Officer had told him that the Minister of Defence and a number ofofficers were on the wharf and wanted to get aboard. Sir James Allen: That is incorrect. Mr. Russell: ''Well, they were waiting there, and .'had asked ■if they would be : allowed to go aboard. Instructions were given that until the ship vas cleared nobody was to be allowed to go aboard. There is no reflection on the Minister of Defence. I merely mentioned it to show that the medical .officers were doing their duty and makiug no difference between persons." During the last two or three months influenza had been absolutely rampant throughout Now Zealand. It might have taken a more severe form recently. The crux of the matter, as far as the Niagara. wi\s concerned, had been touched by a member who had mentioned the sanitary conditions of the quarters occupied 'by the crew. Sir James' Allen (Minister of Defence) stated that he had gone to Auckland to meet the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance, bat he had not pressed to get aboard the ship. He had stayed on the wharf until assured by the" medical authorities that tljeire was no reason why he should not go aboard. An Explicit Denial. Sir Joseph Ward: May I ask the Min- • ister of Public Health to state whether he received any communication of any kind from the Prime Minister or myself suggesting that any concession or consideration should bo extended to us? Mr. Russell: "No communication in any shape or form reached me from any member of the Government abcau'd the Niagara. I did r.ot heve any conimuni. cattan with thsm regarding the action ' taken in this matter." • He hod simply 1 tried to do his duty as Minister of ! Public Health. L . , ! Mr. J. V. Brown (Napier) mentioned ! that he ajd members of his family had I stayed at an Auckland hotel for n week with over forty of the Niagara's passengers. The guests and the staff were all free from influenza, and the passengers caused no 'infection. The Hon. Dr. Pomare stated , that he was called to Auckland at least ten days before the arrival of tlie Niagara in connection with the outbreak of influenza at Narrow Neck Camp. There were 120 cases in tho camp at that time. '. ' ' Railway Precautions. Mr. A. Harris (Waitc-mata) said that no precautions were taken in connection with passenger traffic between Auckland and Wellington. People simply boarded the drains aii Auckland and came through to Wellington, without being required even to pass through an inhalation chamber. Mr. Russell replied that ttio Public Health Department did not wish to isolate- Auckland unnecessarily. The disease was prevalent at many towns nearer Wellington. Ho had understood that passengers were to bo required to pass through' an inhalation /chamber. Plant had already been sent to Palmerston North for this purpose. Mr. Harris: Nothing is being done at

all. Mr. Russell: I was informed on Saturday that there was an inhalation chamber at Pahnerston North, and on Sunday some extra equipment was sent. At. C. J. Parr (Edeii) mentioned that there were poor families in Auckland lacking rfuruinjr assistance. Whole families had been stricken down.

Mr. Russell said the organisation in Auckland was as complete as it could bo made in the present depleted condition of tho medical service, v There were 30(1 New Zealand doctors with the Army abroad. Tho block system had been established at Auckland, and there, was a central bureau. The demand for exlira doctors was coming from every part of the Dominion. Tne Hon. W. H. Hemes, Minister of Railways, said his Department was anxious io do everything-possible to assist in checking the epidemic. Mr. Russell saitl he would accept the offer, and ask the Minister of Railways to set apart u second-class carriage on every lluin Trunk train, to be used as an inhalation chamber by. 'passengers boarding and leaving the train. The Standard Medicine. Replying to a suggestion thai. the Health Department should publish tho formula of its standard influenza medicine, Mr. Russell said this might not be advisable, since amateur chemists would try to make their own medicine. The medicine was being prepared in large quantities by hospital authorities in Auckland and elsewhere, and piaced at the disposal of the public. Mr. H. Holland (Urey) suggested that the House should adjourn for at least a fortnight,, in order to..enable members to assist in the organisation of their districts against the epidemic. The Prime Minister replied that Cabinet had considered the mntter, and 'had decided to ask the House to ujJGurn until, the fpllowiug Monday. Commission Suggested. Dr. Thaeker (Cimstchurch East) suggested that a commission of medical experts should bo appointed to investigi-.te the epidemic and devise reuiedin: lei-sures;-that inhalation chambers sticUd be placed on all trains, and that people should be 'told to disinfect their clothing. Tho fumigation of all public buildings should bo insisted upon, and the Health Department .should make sure that the avnilablu supply of drugs was adequate. HV added that.tho fact that Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward were in good health was proof that they had not brought the disease oil the Niagara. I

Mr. Russell said lie would make inquiries regarding , the supply of drugs. Mr. J. V. Brown (Napier , ) mentioned that a small steamer at Hie AVelliiigton wharf (had influenza aboard, and its sani-, tary appliances consisted of a kerosene* tin. Small wonder that the disease wns spreading. Mr. Russell said the matter concerned the .Minister of Marine. "The waterfront at the present time is a good place to keep away from," 'ho added. At Feathersion Camp, Sir James Allen said there were rumours in circulation to the effect tiiat the men at Featherston Camp were not receiving proper attention. Aβ a matter of fact everything possible was being done. Difficulty had been caused hy some doctors and nurses contracting the influenza, but others had been provided to take their places. Then a hurricane had wrecked the canvas camp at Feather, ston. The soldiers had been accommodated temporarily in various buildinge, and additional tents were being secured, since tho medical officers considered it desir--able tha: tho men should not be kept in buildings. A large number of men had been taken into hospital nt Fcnthcrston, but it should be remembered that they were admitted for the very slightest ailments. Many men were now being discharged. There were about 100 svjfrii cases. He regretted this number, ijut could assure the House that everything possible wae being done to check the epidentl?.

Mr, (1. Witty (Riccarton) asked tho Minister of Defence to see that soldiers who fell ill in camps were not penalised for the loss of their kits.

The Minister of Defence said it was necessary to be strict in regard to kits, because sonic men wore careless, but Defence Dc-r.artment wished to be just. Mr. H Holland (Grey) asked if the Government would agree to appoint a commission to inquire regarding Hie outbreak on the Niagara. Ho had just received a telegram from the secretary of the Avklaml Labour Representation Committee stating that a leading Auckland surgeon was prepared lo prove that the Niagara was responsible for the spread ot the serious form of influenza in I New Zealand. • ■' I

The Prime Minister replied that lio would have no objection lo tlio appointment of a commission. lint about an hour ago a member of the House had told him that about six weclis before tlio arrival of the. Niagara members of his family iiad been down in Auckland with pneumonic influenza.

TO CONTROL THE EPIDEMIC

I MINISTEK CONi'EKS WITH DOCTORS I. Yesterday afternoon the Minister of I'ublic ICuiilth had a conference with the British Medical Association, and «lisouest'd tho general question. The repre-senlation.-i made bv the doctor; w.n lo the clTi!i:C that it was desirable that all possible casts should be concentrated in institutions, thus enormously lu.-soniiig Hie work of tins medical profession in going frmi hoiisn to house. This polii-y tho Minister lias decided to adopt, and iipiilicat'.ou will be iniido at once to the liducntioiiiii authorities for the use of Buvernl schools in Wellington in order that thi-y mny be turned into temporary hospil;ik One will be set aside for men, nnother for women, and another for children. By this means the Minister is persuatk',l the control of the epidemic will be much more effective.

Mr. Kussoli also discussed with the British 'Medical Association the possibility' of obtaining by organisation medical assistance for country districts which are now without medical men and are feeling the epidemic severely. It Jβ hoped that by organising the city work relief may be ghen in this direction. The Minisle'r has also arranged for the establishment at \\'£linston of a bureau at which all cas-s requiring assistance will be recorded, and local doctors will bo asked to attend every case placed upon the lists.

A standard influenza mixture is being ■ forwards! to all hospital boards, to bo made, up in bulk and disposed of to the ■ public at cost price, or free m necessi- • tous cases. The prescription will also be 1 availabb to all chemists, but in every ; town there will be central depots where the public may obtain the mixture ■ through the hospital boards at cost price. : HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S ACTIVITIES The Health Department in Wellington has been notified of 135 cases in which pneumonia and other complications have supervened on influenza, butonly about ten of these notifications concern Wellington City. Waipukurau and Marlborough supplied most if the notifications. The figures us regards Wellington give no indication of the state of affairs, and if.-may not be possible to compile statistics immediately. The Department's staff is working at very high pressure, and in the absence of figures the impression is ! thst' the epidemic is spreading in the city. Dr. Watt, tho "Wellington ■ District Health Officer, who was stricken with influenza, is reported to be improving. MEDICAL MEN RECOVERED. Drs. Elliott, Gilmer, and Giesen, who have been suffering from influenza, are again ill harness. Dr. Pollen if» still far from fully recovered, but is showing more hopeful sighs than for some days past, CLOSING HOTEL BARS ADDITIONAL POWERS CONFERRED. A Gazette Extraordinary was issued yesterday conferring' oil all health officers additional powers under Section 18 of the Public. Health Act to close all or any hotel bars, chartered club bars, or other places within their districts for the purpose of more effectually checking or preventing the spread of tlio disease. This power to be exercised only with the approval of the Minister of- Publio Health. Clause IS of the Act provides that the power thus given may bo exercised cither in respect to a health district or any part of it, and it will bo possible for health officers to close hotels in 'districts.that are seriously affected without clow:g s othep in districts that are comparatively free. The Minister hits called the attention of health officers throughout the Dominion to the fact that by tho authority now given it will be possible to close the hotels in all boroughs whore population is great and leave ' unaft'eot'.yl accommodation houses and so on in oilier districts whore the necessity for closing may not exist. The matter, however, will bo under • the control of the Minister, who will exercise his discretionary power very carefully. SCHOOLS AS HOSPITALS OFFER OF ST. PATRICK'S COLLEGE. Tho Minister of- Public Health inform- . ed a Dominion representative last, night. 1 that he was arranging for (ho opening up of n number of schools foil- hospital purposes. In this connection an offer ' had been made for the use of St. Patrick's College! The Minister stated that the offer was very highly appreciated -by him, and would be given every consideration.

It is understood that the offer of (ho use of tlio college will be accepted, St. Patrick's Collego is well adapted for the purpose of a temporary hospital, for it lias a number of spacious corridors and rooms that can be fitted up as wards. Provision can thus bo made for the accommodation of a very lairge number of patients. SICKNESS IN HOTELS . PEOPLE SHOULD KEEP WARJI. In n number of hotels and boardinghouses the list of sick, both among the boarders and the staff, has presented a serious problem, which Ims been accentuated by the fact that, difficulty has been experienced in a number of cases in procuring medical aid.

Asked for a statement as to what precautions should be taken to meet emergencies of this character, the Minister of Public Health (Hon. G. W. Russell) stated to a Dominion reporter last night that persons who realised that they had contracted the disease should at once consult a doctor. • If unable to (lo so. they should take to bed at once and keep warm.' By taking the prescribed medicine, which was rivailablo through the hospital bounds or chemists, and observing thb precaution as to keeping ininii, the crisis of the trouble would pass over by 'the third day. That was the most critical period, for when peoplo thought they had recovered and look liberties with themselves the Teal danger arose through pneumonia setting ill. Tn all cases the safest thing was to keep warm the pjtients at the same time realising that Ihey must undergo complete isolation and rest. If they followed out that advico there was littlo risk of serious trouble arising. ON THE WATERFRONT SEVERAL MORE SEAMEN STRICKEN Twenty-five fresh cases of influenza were yesterday conveyed in the Harbour Board ambulance van to hospitals. Twenty-two of the sufferers were taken to tho hospital ship Takapuna, which now has over CO patients. In one big steamer eighteen members of the crew were affected, and admitted to hospital. The "number included four officers: Messrs. P. Turner, P. Ball, W. V. AnsCQinbe. and W. H. Duke. An engineer on the Komatn (Mr. J. Dulling), and u member of the Xgntoro'.; crew, were suddenly attacked. A case was also taken from the Paloona, while from a sailing vessel three sailors wero transferred to the Takapuna. A seaman 011 the Mararoa was admitted to a hospital 011 arrival of the ship at Wellington from Lyttelton yesterday morning. Other members of the ship's company are also "down," including the third officer (Mr. W. Freeman), whose condition, however, is not serious. A young girl, while strolling along tho •wharves yesterday afternoon, was suddenly stricken, and was removed to her home. . . , The third ship to put into Port Nelcoli with sickness on board is the Anchor Company's steamer M'aimea, which a telegram reports as linvinxr reached there on "Tuesday night while bound from ■\Vauganui to Tarakohe. The inlmlition chamber 111 the Harbour Board's luggage shed was well put-, roilised yesterday. Gargle is now being supplied* free#of charge. Mr. James Moore (Sjcniwm s Miss-.yt-er) again "-Mies t" thank (lie public for their" contributions of eggs and other dtlicncies for these seamen jit i.esent suffering from influenza. ' Such goods, he point's out, are particularly wonted on the Takapuna, on which vessel there are a number of convalescent cases.

WORDS OF ADVICE

"DON'T WOKKY, J3K 1 CHEKRY," The following advice, to persons who suspect inuy imve contracted iiihueii/ii, or to ciioso idling ill, lias uuun prepared liy the Acting-Chief Health wlhcer (jJr. J. i'. i'reiigicy; and by the JJisiriet lleiilth Officer (JJr. T. J. Jlnghes)::— 1. Uo to bed uiiecily you led symptoms liko i«iiu in hand mill limbs, or ii "colli." 2. Uo to bed in room not occupied by a person wlio is well. Stay m ted till temperature normal. 11. Oil going to bed, tiike drink of nny kind as liot as possible, remove sheets, and lie between blankets. 4. Take light die;, such as milk, beef lea, soups, gruel. 5. Won't depress, yourself by looking at tue bad side, 6. itcmember, the large majority of persons who take ill get well. 7. Only one member of the family or house should visit patient's room. 8.. Don't allow people to come into your room and loiter about there. 9. If no doctor has prescribed (or you take nmmnniatcd quinine' in half to teaspoonful dose in plenty of water every four hours. 10. Add one teaspoonful of horic acid or borax, one feaspoonful of baking soda, and one. teaspoonful of salt to a largo tumblerful of hot water. Sniff up this solution as hot as can be oasily borne through the nose; then gargle your throat villi solution «s hot us can be borne. Brush your teeth with the same solution or with nny antiseptic toothpaste. Do all these three times a day 11. Jf you sneeze or cough try to pul your handkerchief before your nose (ii mouth. I?ompmb?v Ihe minute , drnnlpfa pnssinu from you in sneezing or coughing carry the gprms ;>f ("feotion to ot!i"rs. 12. Keep in Ixwl till you yourself feel yon nre otiile able to set nbnut. This "■ill be when your temperature is down to nnminl.

1-1. Don't tro mitdonr« pxe»ot ii"t>* your nitarrli o" "cnlrl in Hip lip.tl." if you hi)fp had this $ymp l "ni. i« nn'to gone." Don't worry! Don't worry! Be cheeiT.

MALADY ABATING IK AUCKLAND

BUT DEATH-ROLL STILL HEAVY.

By Telegraph-Press Association. Auckland, November 13. Ihe influenza is not holding: Auckland so strongly to-dny. The abatement of the malady is small, but noticeable. The calls for assistance are aiaiiy, but not so many as on Monday. Serious eases still occur, but are attended with much less delay, and mild attacks are being dealt with before they become serious. Tlie death-roll is still heavy, but not so heavy as it has been. The theatres will be closed for another week. The undertakers" cannot cope with the burials, and thp authorities do this where private arrangements are. impossible. There are two special trains daily to Waikumete Cemetery to ensure prompt burial.

The onward rush of the epidemic in Auckland is being gradually, but surely, checked, states the "Star." Its hold since Monday has relaxed very little, if at all, but the entire position is verv much brighter, and while.there are still many very great obstacles in the face -of the relief work, nevertheless that work is gaining ground, and there is no question that the crisis is past. More and'more accommodation is being prepared and thrown open, and ■ there are patients waiting, to fill every bed. The staffs of assistants and attendants are slill terribly overworked, and a new development will surely occur within a very short time, because the available work'ers have been fighting hard for a long tLino now, and aro within measurable distance of collapse, unless more help, miich more help, is offered right speedily. Nature imposes definite limits upo'n human activity. The workers everywhere to-dny, hundreds of heroic women and dozens of strong men, are nearing the limit of endurance. If they do not 'get help, relief, more assistance, there is no reason why the disease should not once moro'attain the ascendancy, for it is not an epidemic that dies easily. Spain has had it for eight months now, and still it holds that country in chaos. It is prevalent all over the, world, and it is present all through the Dominion of Now Zealand, steadily increasing in virulence as it spreads.' The end of the time of trouble for Auckland is not yet. If volunteers offer in sufficient numbers, this end will bo soon. If people will not come forward, the condition of things will be worse than it was five days ago.'

There nro nbout a hundred and ten thousand people in Auckland! Jinny thousands of them are ill, nianj- hundreds of them 'nre in serious condition, more than a hundred and fifty of them have died. This means that the* deathrate to dnto is scarcely one person in every \ thousand—a surprisingly small percentage when -'men remember wlmt awful havoc the illness has caused otherwhere—in Spain, in Capo Town. The malady is infectious, it is borne from man to mnn in many ways, and it would be well for those who are being held ■from giving- assistance by fears for ner- t sonal safety to bear in mind that by forgetting their duty to their fellows they are lessening not In the slightest their own liability to contract the illness. On the contrary, they increase it, for the mind morbid, fearful, tends to make the physical condition, loss resistant ""to illness than flic mind actively engaged, and at work all the time. Volunteers are called in the name of humanity, so that the city will not drop bac(c to a plnco lower than it was n week ago. .

Reports from the north indicate that the epidemic is spreading there, and many of the native settlements are seriously affected. The hospitals aro overflowing, and schools have been converted into private hospitals. •■" •WTIjEWAIKATO SEVERAL DEATHS REPORTED. By Telegraph,—Press Association. Haffi'lton, A r .-ve:ii/'f>r 13. Ii ihienza is still raging, and there aro 'hundreds of twes. Some whole families a-.t dowii. Romp help is being orjuu'.sed to take charge of'homes which are a - - fected. A public inhalation chamber m,s been establishs.l. Several deaths Lave occurred. BUBONIC PLAGUE RUMOURS EMPHATICALLY DENIED BY DR, FBMNGIEY. Rumours are still current that some of the people who have died have been stricken, not with influenza, but with bubonic plagiie, says the Auckland "Star." This is emphatically denied bv the Acting Chief Health Officer' (Dr. J, P. Frengley). Dr. Frengley states :— "There still appears to be a feelin? among the public that tiio present epf-' demic i? something in the nature of bubonic plague. .There is no foundation i'or such <i belief. Everybody knows that in a European '.community such as New Zealand bubonic plague is spread by the agency of rat fleas, and obviously in this district the rate of spread of influenza is greater than could be possible by the agency of these fleas. Again, tlio time of year is not favourable to such spreading agencies. Briefly, this is not'pestis, or plague, to use a betterknown term. Plague very definitely affects nil persons who contract it, whereas in this epidemic, as all Aucklanders know, a very largo proportion of the persons get the present trouble exceedingly mildly, and are about again in a few dnys, a etatc of things not possible, with bubonic, pneumonic, or septieaemic plague. Persons who are suffering irom the influenza, and who can possibly remain in their own homes or rooms for an extra few days, are urged to do so in order to lessen (he possibility of spreading the disease to other persons who are well. Above all, recovered persons should spend as much time as possible in the open air." Excessive Use of Alcohol. It is pointed out by Dr. Frougley, too, that his action in closing the bars of hotels and clubs is intended in the 1 first instance to prevent close contact of possibly infected persons with healthy persons, and, furthermore, he is endeavouring to prevent any excessive ingestion of alcohol at the present'time. Taking at random ri series of 77 per cent, of deaths from influenza and its complications, as registered with the Registrar of Deaths at Auckland, ho finds that 51 of; , these aro males and 26 females. He docs not suggest for ;i moment that stimulants are not required for the persons suffering from influenza or pneumonia.

Tlmt aspect, he slates, is one upon which t.ho. patient should accept guidance entirely from his medical attendant, but ho does hold that pneumonia of any type is a. very fatal illness among those who lire addicted to taking alcohol excessively. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES EPIDEMIC REACHES SOMES j . ISLAND. 1 Somes Island is among the latest places to be attacked, by th'j disease, both prisoners and guard having been affected in large numbers. The Germans are : generally in good spirits, and have be- ■ haved well since the outbreak. The guard has tiirncil.ro the extra work of attending to patients cheerfully, and many have worked long hours. One serious case, Lieutenant Jack, who has developed pneumonic symptoms, was brought across in the Jnnie Seddon yesterday morning for treatment at Victoria Hospital. HATAITAI RELIEF COMMITTEE. A meeting of residents called by the Hataitai Ratepayers' Association in connection with the influenza epidemic, and in response to the Mayor's request, was well attended. Those present formed themselves into a vigilance committee, and at a meeting to be held tu-day it is hoped to add many more names. Mr. H. W. Tolan was appointed organiser, and Mrs. Corson secretary. The committee consists of Mesdames Shorney, Dowlin? (ladies' supervisor), Roberts, West, King, Fielding, Jl'Whannell, Halliday, Jfiilhane, Grnbb, Misses Mitchell and Godfrey, :ind Messrs. HaleMunro, Dowling, Roberts, Barnett, .Mulhane, Seville, Hathersall, Kinniburgh, Halliday, Travels, Gaudin, Shornley, and I'lemming, and it was decided to deliver circulars giving instructions and information to every household, to try and secure the services of ladies who could undertake nursinj or assist with housework, to arrange for an inhalation chamber, secure disinfectants, ambulances, and arrange tor delivery of goqde to the houses affixed. Tlie Bowling Club pavilion will probably be the headquarters. The meeting supported the suggestion of the block system. An offer of assistance from the Boy Scouts was gratefully accepted. ■

d MEETING OF SCHOOL TEACHERS. )f Mr. G. 1. Stewart presided at a meetIβ ing of school teachers held in the Edu)t cation Board's building last evening in :s connection with the influenza epidemic, h Hγ. Stewart outliued what was decided ■g upon by the general meeting of citizens s. held at noon yesterday. He asked the 10 teachers to be good enough to volunteer 11 to do what work they could to help the > authorities during the present crisis, d and explained how the teachers could > be of sptcial value in the districts to e which they were attached through their e schools. The proposal was sympathetically received, and all cheerfully agreed to do what they could to stem the n ravages of the epidemic. - » ', The meeting was attended by the 0 Minister of Public Health (Hon. G. W- , Russell), who Impressed on the meet:i ing the gravity of the situation,, and )' I how they must be up and doing to fight e off the epidemic. Mr. Russell also niens tioned that it was likely, if (he epi--1 demic continued to develop, that they 6 might have to commandeer five or six 1 of the schools as hospitals. It was not s a thin? lie liked lo do K butMhe stern f necessity of the hour might make such - an extreme''course necessary. i DISINFECTING MACHINES AT -THE POST OFFICE. j ' Tlie Telegraph Department advisee as ] ! follows:—There are two disinfecting j 1 machines in the General Post Office for I • ' tin; use of the staff. The public are in- j 1 vited to use these machines as oppor- ' tunity offers. During the time the ' Post and Telegraph Offices are closed to- j ' day, the machines will be at the disposal j ' of the public, in the Money-Order -Office | 1 at the Chief Post Office, in the room on : the left-hand side of the vestibule. This I ' room will be kept open until 5 p.m., and Sir Joseph Ward, Postmuster-Gencrnl, hopes the public will find it of service under the circumstances. This form of disinfector makes a fine spray, .which envelopes the head and shoulders of the person using it. The public should, if practicable, bring small towels to protect the clothing from the damp, although there will bo protectors near the machines. ■• The new inhalation station at Clyde Qiiny School, undor the control of a committee of teachers, dispensed hygienic sniffs to a, large number of people. There was no crowding or waiting about and everything worked smoothly. It is hoped that a similar etation will he in working order at Newtown School this afternoon. SEVERAL DEATHS AT NAPIER," By Telegraph.—l'ress Asnocintion. Napier, November 13. There have been several more deaths locally from the epidemic, and donbte are expressed if the influenza has been rightly diagnosed. PRECAUTIONARY- MEASURES IN OTAGO. ■ " • •, By Telegrann.—Press Association. Dunedin, November 13. The Health officer received 13 notifications of influenza this morning; 12 being .pneumonic. The schools in Dunedin and suburbs, Oamaru, Balclutha, Mosgiel, nnd Milton have been _ closed" for a week. All places'of entertainment in'Otngo nnd Southland, including halls, theatres, and billiard saloons, have been closed for a week, and race meetings are prohibited. The Health officer intends to appeal to the managers of churches to cancel next Sunday's services. EIGHTY HOSPITAL CASES ON THE ATUA. Sydney, November' 12. There are eighty hospital cases in quarantine from the steamer ■ Atiia, which recently arrived from Fiji, via Auckland. One European and three native members of the crew have succumbed. So far, no cases outside ordinary influczn have been reported ashore.—Press Assn. TWO MORE DEATHS. (Rec November 13, 10.5 p.m.) Sydney, November 13. 'There have been two more deaths nuiong the quarantined influenza patients.—Press Assn. In ' response to urgent appeals from many parts of the country and from the Public Health Department, the Ohigo Medical School has decided to accept volunteers from among tlie students for (ho work, nnd Hie first batch of six whs to leave for Auckland on Tuesday. All final-year men being on active service or already on duty in the hospitals, the services of senior medical students arc being accepted. Fruit, particulmrly oranges and lemons, '] is urgently needed at Tre-ntham Military ~ Hospital. Owing to , the disorganisation J of business during the past (civ days .. supplies have not reached !he Ciunp in very largo quantities, and at ptweiil ) there is an absolute dearth of fruit, j which is wauled badly for patients who (■ are convalescing. Donations of fruit, j from the country districts as well as n from the city, will be gratefully appro- „ ciatciL and should be sent forward with- r_ out delay. j. The Women's National Reserve lias of- \ fwed its services to the Mayoi\ during t I lie indue , .™ epidi niic. The office in li Featherston Sbreol hns been closed until (urilior notice-, and all committees and iv.embers nv? earnust-y requested to assist. The officer in charge will be found at the Town Hall or on telephone 23G4. ti