GENERAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 50, 23 November 1918, Page 8

GENERAL ITEMS

FRESH km, PLEASE! Notwithstanding the advice, entreaties, commands, and even threats that are be- , in# spread broadcast, people. still seem to be ignorant of the life-giving properties of pure, fresh air. Nurses and visitors of stricken people all brine back the 6ame reports: "Wo found the windows shut in nearly every .houso we visited." Thie dread of fresh air is by no means confined to the members of any, particular class. Rieh or poor, educated or ignorant, a certain percentage prefer to keep their windows what cnemists usnrl to call "hermetically sealed." The fresh air movement was started here nearly half a century ago—and that seems a long time in our short history—by a well-known medical practitioner of Dunedin, Dr. Richardson. A severe attack of Gcai'lct fever was rampant in Dunedin, and the doctor carried a large hammer with him and a pocket full of nails. Jtoch patient he visited got the same shock, for the first thing the doctor did was to ignore the invalid, and walk over to the window, which ho rapidly forced open. ■ Then he took his hammer, like Joel of old, "in his right hand," and nailed that window open! How many of our nurses lately have longed for plenary powers and to be able to do the same. Onlv the other day a busy overworked doctor hud an urgent call. He went as soon as humanly possible, and found a woman in a bed which had been pushed into a tiny, heavily-curtained recess. Tim window was snut tisrht and jammed,- thfl air was foetid, and the patient was in a state of semi-collapse. The doctor was a man of action. First of all the bed ■>"is dragged out into the middle of the room, the window for-.'ed open, and the door keiit aiar. Iu less than five mi'iutes the woman was breathing naturally, and there'was really very little the matter with her—fright and lack of fresh air had caueed all the mischief.

SICK THEATRICALS. Nearly the whole of the members of J. and N. Tnit's "Peg p' My Heart" Company have been smitten with influenza during the past week. The case of Mr. Gerald Henson (still in hospital) is the most 6erious, but he is reported to have taken u turn for the better. Mr.Maurice Ralph is almost well again, and iMiss.Sara. Allgood is up and about.' Mr. Lionel Walsh is still confined to his -bed, as are Mr. Wilton Powers and Mr. George Chalmers, but all are well on the way (6 recovery. As there is no prospect of a steamer leaving for Sydney for some time to come, the- company is likely to remain here for at least another week. Mr. John Tiiit lias cabled his sympathy t6 the members of the company wlm have been laid low. CHINAMIIN GET OFF FREE. So far there has been no serious cases of influenza among the Chinese population ot Wellington. An inquiry made yesterday elicited the information that there. had been one or two very mild cases, but in no instance were they anything approaching the more malignant form of the disease. , On Thursday 4100 passed through the Harbour Board's inhalation chamber. Mr. W. Allan, of the firm of Messrs. Vouch and Allan, drapers, Cuba Street, takes exception to the published statement that employees of firms which have closed down to enable the employees to enlist for voluntary service have not carried out their obligations. Mr. Allan told a reporter yesterday morning that he himself was giving all his-time to helping- in tho common cause. Seventyfive per cent, of tho staff were laid up with influenza, and the remainder were devoting practically all their spare time to helping their stricken colleagues. The warehousemen- were doing splendid work; the proprietors had h'nt their business ciivi and chauffeurs for ninlntInnce work, and the members of the Commercial Travellers' Club had_ nlso rendered valuable service, both in resnect, of personal endeavour anil in raving the use of cars. Of his own knowledge, he was siwp.ro that employees of other firms had given very ready and valuable assistance. The people of Sentoun Inke exception to file rroorf 'hat iwo people have died in the'' , hospihl. ■ So far only one (lentil has been recorded, which is a stilenilid tctipinnial to the (wd work l-'hnl i« being done in Mimmar floronuh. On'v Hiiro new-ensrs wore reported vps-| lenlny, nnd n«-» «•(>« s"i-i"i«. ,|,| wp i v'.r" Iw'vo r- ; ifiV-'» in Hie hospital last ii'"M—n't dni'i'j wo'!. Tt iinprars that the ninn fonnil herded tnuellipf in a house in Uaining Siroet- :•■! reported n dav or two i-go—were Hindus, not Assyrians. Mr. Peter FniPer, M.P., captain of the WYllinglon Central Group, found liim-si-U with ii temperature -yesterday, mid he has hail to lake to his bed. Mr. Kraser has don excellent work in the most congested district of the city tlur-

ing *he past eight or ten clave, and liis guiding hand will be missed.

])r. Hector, of tho Lower Hutt, was attacked with influenza yesterday. This leaves only one medical man (Dr. Mirains) to attend U\ Hie whole of the district.

Major Keenan, who was Pent up to Pliininurtoi: by the Government to report on the position there, found that the rumours as to the ravages of the epidemic had been greatly exaggerated. Ho left for Hawcra. yesterday morning to lend a hand in that town.

Only one 'suspected case of influenza was reported on shipping in port yesterday.

The epidemic is well in hand (says our Greytown correspondent), and only an occasional new case is reported.

To the great relief of the Town. Hall kitchen workers, the inhalation chamber has been moved away from the front of their qliartws to tha committal) room just inside the Mercer Street _ entrance, which is a much more convenient place for thn public

The position on tho waterfront continues to inißVovc day by day, and the epidemic siloes signs of disappearing from thero completely. Only one case was admitted to the clearing station yesterday, but it was one of such a mild nature that the patient was held for purposes of observation only.

The portion of the city between Buckle Street, on the north, Sussex Street unci Adelaide Eoad en the east, John Street on the south, Wallace and tributary streets and Taranaki Street 0:1 the west, have now- been added to tho Wellington East district. Residents are requested to notify 491 a of. any eases of influenza requiring visits from nurses. .1

More volunteers are appealed for by the Johnsonville Vigilance Committeo to reinforce those at present engaged in volunteer work.

The Karori epidemic centre is the Borough Council Chambers, tho telephonenumber of which is, day 221)1,. night 3701. The inhalation chamber in the Council Chambers is open daily from 1(1 to 12 noon, 2 to i p.m., and 7 to 8 p.m., including Sunday. /

The inhalation chamber established by the General. Post Office, in Nathan's building, Foatherston Street, will bo available for use by the public on Sunday between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.. Persons wishing to avail themselves of tho' convenience are requested to bring their own towels.

The City Counsil appeals to all patients who have been discharged from hospitals to exercise every care to prevent a recurrence of sickness, and to remain indoors unless the weather conditions indicate security from colds.

Nurses and nursing assistants are urgently requested to enrol for service in the convalescent homes at St. Anne's, Nowtown, and the Salvation. Army Training College, Aro Street. ' .