EPIDEMIC AT UPPER HUTT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 60, 5 December 1918, Page 8

EPIDEMIC AT UPPER HUTT

WORK OP THE RELIEF COMMIT- , Just about the time the armistice was announced the epidemic put in an appearance .at Upper Hutt. r lhe first death occurred on armistice ought, the victim being a railway shunter. During the next few • days Drj Mumo had a very busy time, end , on Saturday, November IG, 'he had to lay up. Being without medical aid for the district, the Hon. G. Jrl. Izard, M.L.C., telegraphed to bur-geon-Genoral Henderson, asking that Major Pettit, N.Z.M.C. (on sick leave without pay), mijthl. practise for a lew days until Dr. Munro recovered. On Sunday, November 17 the. constable .in charge, Jlr. L iM.'Cummings, convened a. meeting of residents at the Courthouse, by desire of Major Pettit. A committee was set m> with the head teacher of the local State school Mr. J'. \V Connell, as chairman, aud Jlr. A.. J. M'Curdy as secretary. The State school was/ insured against tire in the Mate Fire Office, and before midday on Monday, November 18, was reedy for its first patient,'who was brought in by the military ambulance. Mvs. [' e t tir - a. « rtll, - cated nurse (wife of Major Pettit), was placed, in; charge .of the ■emergency hospital.'hud was assisted by lady residents of the town district. Patients came in with « rush at the outset, bul slackened off as, the week ended-fourteen being admitted from the Hutt County and ten from the Upper Hutt town district. Of the--e two from I he county and one from the town' district have'died, being almost "in extremis" when brought in by the ambulance. Of Hi? remaining patients eleven have been returned to their homes convalescent, and ten are still under treatment.'only one of them-causing con'csrn to the "doctor and staff. There have been twelve deaths recorded in the district (including the three at the Upper Hutt emergency hospital), five in the county, and seven in the township. By arrangement with Colonel Gibbon, Colonel Potter, and the principal medical officer , ' at Trentham Camp, the subcommittee managing the hospital (Maori Pettit, N'.Z.M.C, and Messrs Connell and MCurdy) much valuable and apprecioted assistance has been obtained-order--lies to attend.male patients, military ambulance to remove patients, and muchneeded stores aud equipment. The hospital not only serves the town district of Upper Hutt. but also the MangaTcp, Riding of the Hutt. County, and it is officially recognised by the Public Health Department. To obviate establishing a hospital at Heretaunga a. suggestion made by Colonel Gibixra (Chief of Staff) was, accepted by the Upper Hutt Hospital Committee, that Upper Hutt ehould re•ceive Heretaunga (Hutt County) patients, and the Heretaunga Committee receive convalescent patients, and. accommodate them at the Golfhouse . Major Pettit has done wonderfully good'work, and .his persistent and untiring efforts, ably seconded by Mrs. Pettit, both inside and' outside the emergency hospital, have practically stamped out the scourge. Dr. Munro, the local medico, has so far recovered from the influenza and overstrain, as to resume practico last Sunday. And Major Pettit has been directed to report for duty at Trentham Camp. Major Pettit still' keeps an oyo on the Upper Hutt hospital. Mrs. Pettit has been relieved by Sister Stubbs, a formor Wellington Hospital nurse. ' 4