SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 56, 30 November 1918, Page 4

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Advice on Diet. Some suggestions as to the food that should be given to people suffering lrom the present epidemic were nuule by Dr. Maude Fere at tliu meeting held iu the City Council Chambers in connection with the influenza epidemic, states the Christchureh "Press." She said' that when food was sent out from depots, instructions should he unclosed saying whether the food was for patients or convalescents. For instance, beef tea, though a good stimulant, was bad for patients with a high temperature. Custards were also injurious to patients whose temperature had just gone down,, for it was liable to put the temperature up again, Patients with high temperatures should be given soda water, milk and water, barley water, gruel and fruit juices if procurable. • In cases of extreme pneumonia, stimulants were also necessary. Light vegetable broths were also good, and she was sure plenty of vegetables would be given if asked for. She had found that if pneumonic cases were treated sensibly, as for pneumonia, cures could lie effected. In reply to a question front Mr. 11. C. Bishop, Dr. t Fere said that the instructions she had ' given were hot official. They were her opinions as to how tho cases should be treated. However, Dr. Chesson hod approved of them except in one small detail, which she recommended should be struck out. The Aftermath of the Epidemic. Ono of the. firm convictions which have been arrived at in Auckland as a result of the influenza epidemic and the terrible revelations that have followed in its train of housing conditions is that women inspectors must be appointed immediately to' whom legislative power must be given, to inspect the interior of houses as well as the outside premises. These women, it is considered, must wear uniforms, and there must be penalties for any breach of cleanliness. Only strict power of inspection with fear 1 of heavy penalties will galvanise some people into hygienic life, and this can only be effected by giving greater municipal 'powers. Ono well-known worker held that education of the public conscience must, be part of the programme for reform, .and the same condemnation meted out to the man who owns rotten, tenements as to the man who steals or forges another's name. Another worker held that children should be better educated in cleanliness ami thrift, while still another held that tho law should be amended so" that healthy children should bo taken away from incompetent parents and brought up by the State. It was. better, she considered, that the State should step in and bring theso children up in healthy surroundings than that they should be allowed to grow up and repeat their parents* hapless ways and become a menace to the community at large.

Precisely the -same problem confronts the people of Wellington, nnd the conditions thnt hnvo been faced by some of the women workers during the height of tho epidemic have bpen indescribable. Aged crippled people, helpless and pov-erty-stricken, imbecile;, ■ and others not far removed from imbecility have been allowed to struggle along in inconceivable squalor, filth, and destitution, while the amount of ignorance and non-ob-servanco of the common decencies of life that have been encountered in these byways of the city has been unbelievable. Wellington has, like its sister cities, some difficulties ami pressing problems to confront as the result of this epidemic.

Mrs. Marman has returned to Christchurch from ;i visit to Wellington.

Miss Kitty Doughty (ICaraka Bay), who has been doing , strenuous work in fighting against the influenza, epidemic, was herself seized w'ith the complaint a week ago last Friday, and is still laid up. With care, however, it is hoped she will soon be. about again.

Mrs. Dalton, wife of Mr. E. W. Dalton, His Majesty's Trade Commissioner, for New Zealand, who lias been occupying ilrs. P. J. Nathan's house in Kill Street for some time, leavss by the Rcuiuera for Enghnd, there to rejoin her husband wko ( preceded her a few months ago.

The late Dr. Margaret Bernett Cruickshank, 11.8., whose death took place this week from influenza, was the first lady doctor to practise in New Zealand, coming here twenty-throe years ago as assistant to Dr. H. C. Barclay, and afterwards becoming his partner. She was superintendent of tho Wai mate, hospital at the time of her death, and -was greatly beloved.

Nurse Mackie, travelling Plunket nurse, is 'at\pre,sent in charge of the Karitane Hospjtal,| Cashmere Hills, owing to the illness of the matron.

Miss Cox, daughter of Sir Owen Cox, president of the Soldiers' Entortainment Association, Sydney, arrived in Auckland by the Suffolk, en route for AVellington.

The wedding took place in Sprcydon of Miss Ellen Whelan, elder daughter of Mrs. M. Whelan, of Spreydon,' to Mr. James P. Gill, elder son of Mrs. ,T. Gill, Darfield. The Rev, Father Kennedy performed the ceremony.

Miss Jolley, A.R.R.C., has been appointed, Ma.tr6n-in-Chief of the Air Service, states "Kai Tinki." She was trained at Guy's Hospital, where she' was subsequently ward sister and night superintendent, instructress in the Preliminary Training School, and on the matron's staff. Miss Jolley has also experience as school inspector. The appointment is for six months. Up to some months ago, when she resigned, she was matron of the Royal Southern Hospital in Liverpool. She was a member of the Q.A.I.M.N.S. Reserve, was called up fpr service in Prance,at the outbreak of war, and resigned .recently from the service. Miss Jolley practically holds certificates' for every branch of nursing work, and is a, most capable organiser.—"Nursing' Times. ,,

There a.re large numbers of black troops from America enlisted to take part in tho, war in Europe. To nurso these, the president of the National Association of Coloured .Graduate Nurses offered 2000 black nurses ready trained for service at military hospitals in Europe and America. There are thirtyfour black chaplains in tho American Army.

Many will regret to learn of the death from influenza, at her residence, i) 3 Wallace Street, of Mrs. Fay (nee Miss Kathleen Gallagher), widow of the late Mr. Denis A. Fay, who succumbed to the epidemic a week ago. Mrs. J'\y was a sufferer from rhe malady at the time of her husband's death, and was not considered then to be dangerously ill, but from the time she learnt thai Mr. Fay hud died her powers of resistance seemed to give way, and she slowly sank until she passed away yesterday morning. 'She leaves two little children, who arc being cared for by Mtv and Mrs. 11, F. O'Leary, who did all thai was humanly possible for both Mr. and Mrs. Fay. It was announce}] at Ihe meeting of district health captain's held yesterday that Dr. Flatts-Jlills, of Karon, had broken down through overwork. Mr. A. M'Kcnzie, district captain fnr Karori, paid the lady a glowing tribute for the work she had ?o unflinchingly done in the district. They had supplied her with a car, liot that slio was not only too willill',' to use, her own. onjy it would not tnlco the steeper hills as swiftly as was desired under the circunislanees. The deaths occurred at Nelson late on Friday night of last week of Min Missed I'lbinson, old residents of Unit tow". Tlipv were daughters of the late Hon. J. P. Robinson, oiwo of thn province. One was 77 years c.f sijrc, and Uio other 50. I'olli had sulfered from influenza. The death occurred at Awaliuri on Wednesday of Mrs. Olim Mary Stewart, as a result of thn nreviiiling epidemic. The deceased, who is survived by her husbiitid and two children, was a sister of Mp.ssr*. 11. and G. Hammer and Miv. ,F. Hcatlie, of I'almerston, and Mr. G. Hammer and Mrs. C. Furnoss, of ■Wellington.