M-INFLUENZA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 52, 26 November 1918, Page 6

M-INFLUENZA

A BRIGHTER OUTLOOK I DISTRICT. WORKERS LESS BUSY ! CITY. BRIGHTENING UP !■■■ TRAMWAYS RUNNING ALL DAY j ■-;.- : ■' ■ . . " i Although.:,the mortality, in connection with' the epidemic is still heavy there is now no doubt whatever 'that Wellington over '/the of -it.; vThere tfetoiany signs and"porteuts evident on all' sides- yesterday -to encourage ':>. that belief.-"The chief-■■of-tliese were ; that there ..ivere those, district committees who were woefully-' short--of help last week had Voluntary workers waiting about for tasks at ■ different times, and that the new serious cases being reported were comparatively few in number—the best of indications that the fepidemic is losing its grip on the community. Last. week will be known as "Black Week" in Wellington for a long time. Its memory will be brightened by remembrance of the steady heroic work done by the district committees, and the little armies of voluntary workers who gathered'round them. Their work is not yet done/ 1 -but the back of it is well broken, and the end of the present week should see the epidemic pretty thoroughly'scotched in the Empire City. ..Another,indication that the epidemic is on the wane is the, generally optimistic lone of business people and those in charge of our big services. There waa a. large accession yesterday to staffs generally, wholesale, retail, and professional, and business commenced to swing back into the old active channels from ivhich it had beon jerked by Tieace celebrations and the epidemic. The tramways management found itself with a reinforced staff, and was able to institute a nodified ordinary time-table that covered the usual running time up till 11 o'clock last nights This alone gave a new animation to' the streets which, in turn, had Its effect on the townspeople. Many of the business firms which found themselves under the necessity of closing their ioors last week' found themselves with staff enough to "carry on," and though pnsiness is far, from normal yet there ire B.igns that it will rapidly pick up now that the epidentic is abating. ! The tanks will -reopen to-morrow, and Joubtless the staffs will have a busy sime making up the leeway lost during ;he past week. .Though tliere have been complaints from some quarters clients have been very reasonable as a whole, feeling that the circumstances were quite inusual. / i There were no 'fewer than 207 hands jiff duty from the telegraph and telephone staffs on Saturday—the largest aumber x since the outbreak commenced. This was probably due to the extremely Sold wet weather which prevented wellfonrard convalescents from, taking anyHsks. v The situation yesterday was, iiowever, considerably improved, and it looked as.. though tne \worst of the trouble was over.' The staff is still pmtly depleted, and restrictions cannot pe relaxed until a large number of hands return to duty. . : Business at the various inhalation Aambers in ihe city fell off considerably yesterday. This is to be regretted, is Wellington is far from being out of :he wood,..and-the. need for the public Jo visit these" places'daily jis perhaps as jreat os it was a week ago. ; CHEERFUL REPORTS NUMBER OF CASES DECLINING EPIDEMIC LOSING ITS -GRIP. : That the epidemic appears to be losing :ts grip was the tenor of the various bulletins from hospitals and districts yesterday. Very satisfactory" reports :ontinued to come to hand from the :onvalescent homes. Generally, the ases are progressing rapidly towards Complete recovery, and many, patients lave left for their homes." The Salva:ion Army Training College can now acioinniodate 27 women convalescents, initead of 16, as originally intended.

, No Admissions to, General Hospital, ! "Things are much better to-day," was ;he report from the General Hospital. For two days now thero have heen no ldmissions to that institution— a sure lign.that: the back of the epidemic is 3.eing_gradually broken. Three more lurs'es, lioweyer, have been taken ill, but ieverai others'Tiove been'sent out to unlergo periods of convalescence at various lomos. •

[•--■ Busier Day in East District., : Although Sunday was a very quiet day n the- Wellington East district, yesterlay was busier, but no serious cases were >rought,.td notice.',... A few more assistants, are'available; in. that area now, thus Relieving the-strain on those who have jeen. fighting the epidemic from tho itartiV.One.admirable feature has ken '.hat,offers of help have been received for vork on Saturdays and Sundays from nen and women who have been following Sheir ordinary avocations during theiveek. The action of these generousninded folk is .lvirmly appreciated. "We have had three or cases tolay which the nurses consider should ;et . doctors' attention—that is all," iaid Mr. William Poster, when asked :o report on the position last evening. There had been no cases for the hospital luring the day, and none of.the cases lor doctors' consideration -could at the lime be considered very serious ones. In ;he meantime the voluntary workers had bepn-; kept fairly ;busy during the day .ending a hand, where there were homo :ases, and they kept going until a' late iour at night, but the big rush was liver.- . ..".'•

■ .Mγ. Foster 6aid that his two sanitary inspectors (Messrs.-i Dawson and Lattey) pad been well received everywhere they iad gone. He mentioned as an interesting commentary on the work of his lady ielpers that almost everywhere the inspectors had gone high praise had been jiven to the thorpughly practical and mgnidging work which had. been done i)y the ladies of the "E.H." brigade in ;he district. The work they had had to do on occasion was not very inviting, jut they had tackled it all with a cheeriiil spirit that was beyond all praise.

.Fourteen Empty Beds at St. Patrick's. : "Things are going very , well indeed; the patients aro improving wonderfully ,ind the work is progressing just Al," ivas the encouraging report received from 3t. Patrick's College Hospital. There were fourteen empty beds in that hospital yesterday afternoon, and five con'went out in the morning.

j Situation in .Central Easier. ' "The position generally., is" better,"; ivas tho report from Wellington 'Centml.{ Very few fresh'cases had'been reported, but'some patients had had', slight re-> lapse.?, probably due to the .change in the temperature on Saturday. On .the ivhole, though, the situation was much easier. . .

St. John's and Wellington College. : St. John's Hospital reported a distinct improvement all round, the Estate af affairs haying quietened down very considerably. -■....< A report received last night stated that ;hings were still progressing favourably, ind the ambulance cases were fewer, ivith, inquiries- about normal. ".Mr. A. VI. Hall, one of tho special sanitary inspectors recently appointed, has had' to fake to his bed, suffering from illness. ; Fewer 1 cases were admitted to Wellington College Hospital yesterday, and' during the afternoon eleven patients were lischarged. There were still a few bad pases in the hospital, but taking them jU. round were doing very well. > ! Wellington North. ; The operations in Wellington North A'ere of a more cheerful Sharacter, and lomo of fhe workers have been released !n- order that they may go ,back to their business. Four V.A.D. nurses were sent ;o' the Johneonviile temporary hospital, jome of the inhalation plants havo teeii, dismantled in order to send ithem [q , other parts of the city. It was iniended to close tho telephono room at nidnight and not reopen it until 7 i'clock this. morning. This is the first Jccaaion that the .room has closed Jince the depot opened on the night of

November 12, so that this will be rather reussuring to those who have been very anxious about the inroads-of the enidoiitic. Arrangements, have been made for convalescents to go to n private home, where they will bo cared for until they are able to resume their ordinary occupations. This home, of course, is not for hospital patients (who are to go to Department homes), but for those who have taken ill in private homes and who need such care. The late Dr. Cahill's residence oil The Terrace has beeiv secured, and will be utilised as a home for healthy children whose parents are unable to give them proper caro just now. The committee will still continue to receive soup, food, etc., which will be of great-value in building' up convalescent cases. There is nlso a need of suitable literature for use in hospitals and convalescent homes, and another need is for motor-cars to help in the transport of nurses. There is a staff of 48 V.A.D.'s at the Normal Hospital, nearly 30 V.A.D. nurses at Sydney Street, and these have to be. conveyed to and from their homes for hospital duty. Applications for admission into the private convalescent home and into the chiklren's homo will be considered at any time in St. Andrew's Schoolroom from 7 a.m. till midnight. The committee acknowledges with thanks the following donations:—"Anonymous," M; Mr. R. Brown, ,£2 2s. (also literature); Mr. D. Henshaw, XI; Hiss Archibald, £l; Miss F. Harnett, £\ 10s.; Miss Perry, £1. The committee will be pleased to receive donations towards the convalescent and children's homes. ' The Work at Hataitai. The health inspectors for the Hataitai district complete) their task to-day, and their, report will be forwarded to the authorities to-morrow. Statistics have also been gathered relative to the epidemic. The constant calls last week upon volunteers, nurses, and assistants resulted in a thinning of the raiiks, but others have come forward, and general help has been forthcoming when -most required. The motor-car service and the invalid diet department maintain a high standard of efficiency, and have helped the city also. The Boy Scouts continue to do excellent service by undertaking deliveries and messages. The co-operation of Drs. Gibbs and Shand and Sister Jessie and the volunteer workers is most satisfactory. Very few new cases were reported on Sunday and yesterday, although the calls for doctors remain steady. Sister Jessie returned yesterday to her work among the Maoris. At a late honr on Sunday night those who could gathered at headquarters to say good-bye to the nurse, who has a wide circle of wellwishers in Hataitai, who will ever remember her splendid work among the sufferers. ■

The Campaign in South Wellington, . Mr. H._ A. Parkinson reports that the outlook in the Newtown urea is much more cheerful. The work at St. Thomas's Hospital is going on well. A dozen new cases were brought in yesterday, but the number of severe cases is appreciably less. The Newtoivn Committee would be very glad of the services of three or four men volunteers as early as convenient this morning for "a Lit of hard but very necessary work" that wants doing. The committee is still hamperedi by a shortage of care to take the workers'round to the places where help is required. It is suggested that now that the work is slackening off in Fome districts . the motor-car workers from those districts might volunteer for work where .the fight is still going on, find so hasten the end. ■

Kelburn Report Satisfactory,

Tho report from the Kelburn district was very 'satisfactory. The number of cases requiring attention was diminish-, ing. One patient 'was'sent to hospital during the day. "Altogether things are progressing very well," was the comment on the situation;. Sailors' Friend Hospital. Four beds were vacant yesterday at tho Sailors' Friend Emergency Hospital, where the remaining thirty inmates were reported to be doing well. The position there is regarded as satisfactory. Northland and Kalwarra. In Northland there are a few serious* case 3, but the epidemic shows signs of abating. Mr. Albert' Edwin Taylor has been appointed sanitary inspector for the district, and he is rnakin? a thorough inspection' of all backyards. A donation of ,£5 by Mr. T. Eoss Burt, of Messrs'. A. and T. .B.urt, Ltd., towards the Northland ■-Vifiilance Com-' mittee's funds is acknowledged. Good work has been done in Kaiwarra, where all the houses have been thoriighly disinfected.- There have been J good many cases in the district, but very few have been serious. The Island Bay Report. The official supervisor of the Island Bay organisation (Mr, C, C. Odlin), reports that the epidemic is well in hand, but there is still need for a continuance of thfe work, as a few fresh, cases (generally ,of a mild, type) are reported daily. The need of the moment is more voluntary motor-cars. Unfortunately two of the helpers have been laid aside by the epidemic, and help in this direction is needed, both for fighting the epidemic and for-gjving outings to convalescent patients from Wellington Hospital and the Home of Compassion. Visiting is well carried on by volunteer workers. Two of the 'hardest workers, Messrs. C. 'M. Coi and B. Bell, have hail to take to their beds, but the Rev, Mr. Wood is carrying -on and doing excellent work. The Sisters from the Home of Compassion, Nurse Balmer, and a few other volunteer workers are also doing very fine work.' Supplies of tho standard mixture cousrh medicine and oranges and,lemons are still to be obtained at the headquarters at> the bowling , green. Supplies, of bef tea, mutton broth, jellies, etc., are etill wanted, and will be gratefully received, No new eases were reported at Berhampore yesterday. , ■••

Marked Improvement at Lyall Bay. The Lyall Bny committee reports a considerable diminution in the number of cases in the district, and a marked improvement in tho condition of patients. A meeting of the Lyall Bay committee was held last night. It was resolved that'a fund be established for the relief of cases of_ distress in connection with the epidemic where families have been left without breadwinners or are in straitened circumstances. The sum of •EU-ivas promised in the room,' and arrangements were made for procuring subscriptions by canvassing." It was resolved to call upon (he City Council fo pass a more stringent by-law to regulate the number of persons residing in a dwelling. Position in the Hospitals. Tho Public. Health Department reported yesterday afternoon that the position in tho various hospitals in the city then was as follows:— ■ Beds vacant 52 N Admissions /.. 53 Discharges 31 Regarding the convalescent homes, the following report was issued by the De.partinent:— • Beds vacant 51 Admissions '. 15 ' Discharges 21 It was explained that the reason why such a large number of beds was shown as vacant was that a new convalescent home had been taken over, nnd had not been fully occupied. / ' Waterfront Cases. The wharf clearing station had nine mild cases of influenza under observation last night". Five -men were yesterday admitted—two from the Kini and two from .the Port Alma., The'fifth case was one of pneumonia from the Kini. There was one discharge yesterday. This morning a woman cook from the Putiki will bo admitted. There are four vacant beds in the Sailors' Friend Emergency Hospital, and the thirty inmates are reported' lo 'be doing we 11.., There was only one death on Saturday, and It cases were discharged, while the admissions yesterday were five. Tin? position is regarded as very satisfactory. Airtight receptacles, into which all refuse from the galleys is placed, have now been put on all vessels in port. These are cleared at 9 o'clock each morning. Five New Cases Amongst Soldiers. The position at the camps in the Wellington district continues to grow brighter day by day. Only five influenza patients were admitted.to hospital yesterday. Altogether 798 men were in hospital in the three camps. It is not

possible to givo the total number of serious cases owing to -"Mails' on this head not having come to hand from Fcatherston. The figures of the men in hospital show a very great decrease compared with the totals for the corresponding day of the previous week. Detail* of the health reports nre:— Awapuni. Paraded sick 0 la 'hospital 14 Serious cases ... 0 Featherston. ■ Paraded sick 7 Admitted to hospital 1 Tn hospital 288 Serious cases ... Not available Trentham. Paraded sick G Admitted to hospital i ■ In hospital 496 Serious ;-ases 27 More Convalescent Homes, yrhe Training College for Teachers, Kowhai Road, Kelburn, has been offered for use as a convalescent home for children. The building has been reported, by the medical authorities as being eminently suitable for the purpose, and it is believed that the offer will be accepted. A convalescent home has been 'established in the South Wellington vSchool, and patients were being sh.fted into.it yesterday.