THE COUNTRY DISTRICTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 48, 21 November 1918, Page 6

THE COUNTRY DISTRICTS

TEMPORARY HOSPITALS AUTHORISED. The Minister of Public Health last night issued the following statement with reference to the measures to be taken in combating the influenza in the cuuntry districts. "Up to the present the main work has been in the cities and towns. In order by detailed organisation to grapple with the epidemic in the rural districts, the following policy is laid down:—Provided a doctor and a certificated matron are obtainable, any borough council, town board, or county council where 11& public hospital exists may establish a temporary epidemic hospital. The approval of the Hospital Board for the district must be obtained and forwarded by telegraph to (he District Health Officer, who will report to the Chief Health Officer, «nd -his decision will be final. "Approval having been given, the Government will be responsible for equipping and maintaining the institution .whilst required. Voluntary assistance should be sought by the, committee of management of each temporary hospital in transporting patients, nursing, cooking, and other work on the lines of the citizens' organisations in the large towns. Accounts for supplies and service for temporary hospitals must lie certified by the hospital hoards of the districts. The Government will not be responsible for sanitation work or any other legal liability of any local governing authority, but will pay expenses directly arising from the epidemic, nnd in particular forapproved emergency hospitals, doctors, nurses, drugs and food. The erection of 'buildings will not be approved. Wherever practicable, the State school buildings should be used, and the Government confidently looks for the co-opera-tion of the inhabitants in nursing, cooking, food supplies, etc." Mr. Russell added last night that in dealing with the epidemic it. was 'the detail organisation tliat would tell at tho finish. "Magnificent work is now done in the cities," he said, "and the extension to the rural districts and smaller centres of the Dominion where there are no hospitals will enable tho grip to be tightened, and, I trust, tho end of the epidemic brought in sight. "One point must be emphasised. It is useless to think of temporary hospitals in districts unless doctor* and at least one trained nurse for each .hospital are available."

AT THE LOWER MITT SITUATION UNDER COMPLETE CONTROL. The latest reports from the Lower Hutt state that the local authority and its band of helpers have the situation under complete control, and the cases yesterday were not of n serious nature. Tho committee is distributing medical comforts, medicine, etc.'daily, and where it is thought necessary quailed women or 1 men visit patients and take their ternporatures. The. visitors' reports are recorded at the Borough Chambers in order that the doctors may know where their services are most urgently required, thus facilitating quick niedicnl advicu and subsequent treatment. As the deaths so far recorded in the borough and adjacent districts form a very small percentage of the number of reported cases, it 13 the. opinion of complete observers that f'ae efforts of the committee' aro proving effective, and giving residents that confidence that is so necessary in such trying circumstances. vVv ll ;S\-^ V - RusseH (Minister of Public Health) has arranged with Mr. E l>. Rishworth (Mayor) and Mi H. lla'd;vin to give the Natives in the district immediate medical and sanitary atten-1 turn.

Ihe Borough Council official has'carried out a house-to-house inspection, and where required necessary steps have bsen taken to remove nuisances. Several good workers—men and women —are urgently wanted. Food lias been liberally given, and donations of money are being, distributed by the Mayor in all necessitous cases.

A BUSY DAY MADE BY OVER-SOLICITOUS FRIENDS. Mr. William Foster, Wellington East, reported thai yesterday was n very busy day with them, busier than Tuesday, but the number of serious cases were not so numerous as on any one of the previous three days. The activity <,f yesterday was contributed to by well-meaning t'l'icnds, no doubt with (lie best of intentions, giving in reports of cases that were really not serious, and in some instances not cases at all. ]n one case a report came in that a man and wife at a certain definite address were seriously ill. Away whirled the workers in a motor, with the means of relief, to find the house in darkness. They knocked at the door and a head was eventually poked 'through. The somewhat nervous voluntary workers explained the nature of their errand of mercy, only to meet with an indignant repudiation of tho story and a protest against being roused out of sound sleep, If people would only make finite sure before reporting it would have saved tho tired voluntary workers of Wellington East much trouble yesterday.

iMr. Foster also regretted having to report that overlapping was taking placethat others, not authorised by hnu, were visiting within the boundaries of his district. That should not be. In./one instance some people threatened to break into a person's liousse, stating that they had authority to do so unless they were admitted. Tlial was a wry serious business indeed, so serious that he had reported it to the Mayor, and he is going to issue armlets for all authorised visi.tors and helpers to wear.

A third matter ventilated by Mr. Foster was his discovery that exploitation of stocks of food was going on. Some little girls, seeing how easy it was to obtain jellies and custards, told a good tale, were given some supplies for their sick "mummy" and "daddy," ami were seen eating them with great relish in tho street. The next time they came they actually brought a note from "daddy," but there was "nothing doing." Mr. Foster asks us to mention this as, in all probability, the loving labour and generosity of many good women may be going astray. A sharp watch is to be kept ni all children talcing out food to see that it reaches patients who are actually in need of it.

UNCLEAN GLASSES AND CUPS A note in yesterday's Dominion staled that SO prosecutions were made in one day in New York for selling drinks in unclean glasses- This ovif exists in our midst, and there is no inspection worth the name to clifcek the practice. Even in these, days of hygienic plumbing and simple hot-water systems tho old dip-

bucket or bath exists for rinsing out the glasses in ninny establishments where refreshments are purveyed. It is generally i> rinse, in cold water, ami but rarely n good wash in fairly hot water with (ioti|>. It is nut iinlil an epidemic breaks out that we discover how unclean many of the practices of everyday life are. How simple would it be to insist on the provision of proper hot and cold water-sinks under counters, so that the glasses or cups could bo really washed, instead of being rinsed in doubtful water. "Yours are the dirtiest trains I havo ever travelled in," i;aid an Australian visitor to a Dominion renortor recently. "If our trains in New South Wales or Victoria were run on your lines there would be a general onlcry from one end of the Sto to to the other. I have never in my life—and I have travelled a good deal—seen such filthy lavatories and wash-basins. They are enough to put a man off limine a was)) on a train. It is generally difficult lo get an ample, supply of water, and the towels, ugh! Well,'l carry my own now. In Sydney, as the result of an agitation some months a?o, people will not drink out of a chipped or cracked cup. Tt was then slated that one of (he most likely sources of infection was in the dirl which accumulated in the cracks and chip-holes of a oup. As you know you c.p alv-vs sprit a crack in a c>n by its dark colour—that colour is dirt, nnd that dirt, mav be germs of anv kind, comi"g info direcb contact with the liquid. On that ar<nim«nt Hie public now shies at cracked china."

POSITION IN OTHER DISTRICTS REASSURING REPORTS FROM AUCKLAND. By Telcgrapn.—Press Association, - Auckland, November 20. Very few cases ol influenza. Have been loi-orted since Sunday. Reassuring reports nave bean receued from the various hospitals. During the tweuty-iour hours to midnight tnoru were twelve deatlis in the Hospitals', against twenty in ,uie previous: twenty-four hours. There are tcwer calls for nurses, and some have been released to meet culls from the country districts. The block committees report that the position is now well in hand in the city and suburbs. CHRISTCHURCII OFFICIALS HOPEFUL. Christchurch, November 20. Though available statistics regarding the iniiueiiza epidemic show no evidenco of a falling oil in virulence, the general tone amon.g oflicials is hopeful. Admissions to the hospitals yesterday (62) showed an increase over the previous day, but this is regarded as the result of organisation, every serious case being known. Many business places arc closed down till further notice, and others open in the morning only.

Yesterdays deaths included that of James Siieate, lharriccl, aged -16, wl\Q committed suicide by hanging, following mi attack of influenza, while the death is announced of Joseph Esliek, a well-known tobacconist.

One doctor advocates the adoption of cremation to meet the difficult}- caused by the epidemic,

DISEASE WELL IN HAND AT TIMARU.

Timaru, November 20. Timaru appears to have erected its defences against the epidemic in good time, both official and voluntary workers now expressing the opinion that the disease is well in hand. The hospital reports one death during the last twentyfour hours. . At present there are forty cases in the institution, three of which are described as severe.

HOLIDAY CROWD SPREADS INFECTION.

Waimato, November 19. Most of the Wniiimlc influenza cases came from Christchurch, where the Show Week crowd spread the infection disastrously. There lias been only one death here from influenza. Ther'o are not many serious cases, but every precaution is being taken. The town is almost deserted. Tho shops are closing oyery day at 3 p.m. to enable tho employees to take exercise. Rain set in on Sunday and has been continuous. It has been a godsend for farming and settling, the dust.

GORE TAKING STEPS TO COMB IT THE DISEASE.

T . Gore, November 20. influenza has been prevalent in Gore tor the past month. It has bee'n much accentuated during tho past week. A temporary hospi(;il lias been established at tho Gore racecourse. The local authorities and Vigilance Committee are taking all possible steps to combat the pest. Business is practically .at a standstill, all shops closing at 4 p.m. Dr. Mat WS . 'l , am ? ,lf? the victims ' Inst night tho to al deaths in the district that lvcre attributable to the complaint were reported to be about a dozen.

EPIDEMIC SPREADING IN INVER CARGILL.

I nvercargill, November 20. ■Ihe epidemic is still spreading in the town pt Invercargill, also through the district generally. The tram an, train services are curtailed, and business is Among the deaths reported is .that of Senior-Sergeant Bun-owes who joined the Police Force in 18S1. ORGANISATION COMPLETED IN NAPIER, ti,„ •,. Na , pkr ' November 20. The organisation by the Borough Counoil. lie Red Cross, the Women's National Reserve, and the Citizens' Committee has been completed, and though about a thousand eases have been reported, with a fair! number of deaths, the epuemic 15 stated to be well in hand Bigness, of course, is disorganiserl, but it is hoped that the apex has boon passed. position~\Fnelson.

,_. Nelson, November 20. riiero are now 39 cases of influenza in the hospital, the number having varied little during the ..past three days Of these three are dangerously, rnd fourteen seriously, ill. Up to date there have (Men twelve deaths in the distri-t There are many cases in the city, but generally they are not of a very'severe type.

OUTLOOK BRIGHTER AT GREY MOUTH.

Greymouth, November 20. Tho po3ihon here, which looked most serious a few days ago, now seems to be brighter. The hospitals are still taxed to the ulniost, but tho dangerouslv ill list shows only about -six eases', five deaths have occurred since yesterday. A special train ran over the Otira line to-day accompanied by willing helpers, to bring any dangerous cases to town. Factories and certain business places will reopen to-morrow. ■

BUSY DAY AT DUNEDIN,

Dunedin, November 20. It has been a very busy day at the hospital, the admissions exceeding those of yesterday. Sister London, of the nursing staff, died to-day. This was the busiest day yet experienced at the Central Inquiry Bureau. The doctors will adopt a modified block system from tomorrow.

The influenza notifications for Ofago and Southland to-day totalled 35—onu more than yesterday. The number of cases iii Dunedin Hospital is '208, an increase of four. The position is well in hand.