LESSONS OF THE EPIDEMIC

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 63, 9 December 1918, Page 6

LESSONS OF THE EPIDEMIC

. r ABOLISH THE SLUMS "The recent epidemic has taught us again tho essential unity of mankind," said the Rov. Dr. Gibb at St. John's Church last night. The spread of tho disease was due to tho insanitary housing conditions of a large part of our cities and the intemperate habits of some of our citizens. The victims of alcoholism went down before it, dying ■like flies. In the filthy tenements and slums the disease swept all before it. During the days when the epidemic «•«» at its" height it reminded me of what 1 had read of the plague in the Middle Agps. •'Some of us knew the conditions that existed in our own cities. Many of us did not know, although we should have known. Those who knew and those who did not know were.alike guilty of gross carelessness in this matter. Have we not all known Unit drink is the sworn ally of dirt, disease, and death? Wo have paid the price of our i.eglcet. No man liveth to himself and no man dieth to himself. Tho disease spread. It struck tho healthiest and cleanest and most promising of our people, especially of our young men. It is pitiful, it is woesome, to think of the number of fine, splendid young men who three or four ■weeks ago were looking forward to many years of strong, vigorous and successful existence, and who aio now numbered with the dead. "When the mortality bill of these fewweeks comes to be reckoned up we shall probably find that this pestilence in three, weeks' time claimed nearly as many dead from New /.ealand as the war lias claimed in four years. 'Brothers, are we one to another?' We have learned the lesson lo our bitter cost. The epidemic swept away temporarily many barriers in Wellington. For a brief period in this city there were no rich and poor, society and non-society, cultured and ignorant. For that brief period there were only two classes of people— those who were from the dis"m.- • ami tho.io who had o'suapedit." The lesson was an old one and to us it should

bo a familiar one. But ho feared it would be forgotten again. A second lesson taught by the epidemic was the strength and the weakness of human nature. The epidemic had divided those who did not suffer from the disease into two classes—the workcirs and the shirkers, the workers and the cowards. There was for some days a panic in the city. It had been dramatic to see men and women looking round almost' as if they expected to see the plague spring out on them from some doorway or byway. In addition to cowardice the city had seen much arrant selfishness. Young men and women had played their games when .workers were desperately needed. Motor-cars urgently needed by the voluntary organisations had been used to take parties into the country. Happily there had been another side—a very splendid side. The self-sacrificing efforts of many voluntary workers had been beyond all praise. Men and women\had donn their duty by the living and the dying in stifling slum dwellings, in ambulances and hospitals. Heroines and heroes had not been far to seek. He thanked all those of his own congregation who had helped to tide over the dreadful weeks The third lesson of the epidemic was a call to action. The slums must go. That was a big proposition, since it involved questions of wages as well as of neglect on the part of landlords. Education had to play its part in reform. But the abhorrent and piggish crowding of tho peoplo into insanitary homes had to be ended. The apportionment of blame did not matter much. Action was needed, anil the people must demand that the Government move at once. A statement that money could not be found for reform could be scorned. A nation that could find untold millions to fight the Germans could find the very much smaller sum required for the proper housing of the people. And the liquor traffic must go also. The lessons of the epidemic on that point had been plain. Drink was the ally of tho slum, of disease,, and of death—death to the soul as well as the body. MAKURA'S PASSENGERS RELEASED VESSEL SAILS FOR SYDNEY. By Telegraph—Press Association." Auckland, December 8. The Makura left for Sydney at 1.15 p.m. to-day. The New Zealand passengers will land at Auckland at G p.m., the southerners catching the Main trunk express.

Denis M'Cleod, aged 35, a seaman, who was. removed from the Makura on'Tues-' day, died at Quarantins Island on Friday night. A telephone message from Auckland states that there are at present 38 of the Mnkurn's influenza cases on Mrituihi Island. One is dangerous, and there tra 18 sarious cases. TROUBLE ON THE DORSET FIREMEN OBJECT TO GOING TO WELLINGTON. By Telegraph-Press Association. , Auckland, December 7. The firemen of the steamer Dorset left the ship and ..assembled on the wharf as a protest against some of the engineroom hands being put into the stokehold in order to get the vessel to Wellington. They also objected to going to Wellington as an infected port. The military guard and police were called up, and the objectors were persuaded to return to the ship. FULL PAY FOR INFLUENZA LEAVE THE RAILWAYMAN'S DEMAND. The demand being made on behalf of the railwaymen of the second division of the service to full pay during the time that any of their number have been off duty during the epidemic was mentioned in the House on Saturday afternoon. When last the matter was referred to in the House the Minister of Railways said that the question would have his consideration. Mr. Wright asked in the House on Saturday whether the Minister was in a position to say what decision had been errived at.

Mr. Hemes said that the Department had come to the decision to give halfpay, and this had been done. The men were not entitled under the ngrceniuiit to any pay for sick, leave. If the demand for further consideration of the sick pay question was made by the secretaries of any of the railwaymen's societies he would be glad to consider it. In the meantime the half-pay would' stand. . "A SERIoIIsIIATTER"" In the Legislative Council on Saturday notice was given by the -Hon. G. Jones to ask the Government if they would establish a better control over the patients in the St. Anne's Convalescent Hospital who visited the public bars and became inebriated, thus imposing painful duties on nurses who were already overworked. "It is a very serious matter," said Mr. Jones, "and I do hope that something will be done." SYDNEY SERVICE"EN¥RELY SUSPENDED The Union Company advises that the Sydney service being now entirely suspended, all reservations of accommodation in the Moeraki and Manuka for any dates which may have been previously "pencilled" are cancelled. Fresh applications must be made after the service is resumed. In the meantime a sufficient number of applications for "first steamer" have been received to almost fill either the Moeraki or Manuka in the first-class.

THE SYDNEY QUARANTINE CAMP TROUBLE OVER' VISITING CLERGY. (Rcc. December -8, 5.5 p.m.) Sydney, December B.' The quarantine reports continue to improve. The number of cases is being reduced daily. In addition to various allegations as to organisation and treatment, in tho quarantine camp and an outcry against the lirJiip's proximity to the city, another scandal has arisen owing to the authorities refusing admission to a Catholic priest to attend a dying nurse. Archbishop Kelly threatens personally to demand admission unless the embargo is removed immediately.—Press Assn.

GENERAL NOTES During the course of tho epidemic 121 "hildren have passed through the Kelburn children's home, four being Chinese. They were disposed of as follows:— Remaining at ICelburn, 525; transferred to Miramar, 34; sent home, 56; distributed to private homes, 5; and treated in Normal hospital 1. A touching tribute was paid to those who have died in Auckland as tho result of the influenza bv Dr. J. 1\ Frenley, Deputy Chief Health Officer, at the. meeting of the Citizens' Committee, last week. When responding to the presentalion. that had been made him he said:—"Since I was last in Ibis room, accompanied by tho Minister, of Public' Health, it is well known to von that ninny souls have passed to tho Great Beyond. I feel flint I certainly for one have tried to prevent more'than theso going to the Great Beyond. I would ask before I speak of personal matters that vrw all rise and stand in silence for a few moments." ■ This was. dono, the doctor ending with deep feeling, "Penco be with them, and may the path of the widows and orphans be made smooth."

With overworked staffs and positions requiring intimate acquaintance with routine filled by persons not accustomed to tho duties, it can easily be understood that painful mistakes might easily bo made at hospitals during Hie- influenza epidemic. Such a blunder appears (o have been made at the Chrislchureh Hospital. Tho head of a family was seized with influenza, developed pneumonia, and was sent lo the hospital. A few days aqo his wife was advised that lin had died, and made arrangements for the funeral. An . undertaker was engaged, and the services of friends secured as pall-liearers. The nest day her daughter went to the liospilal to make nrrancrcments for removing the body and was informed that so far f'-im her father being dead lie was actually mnkinir' considerable imnrnveme'it. What had happened was that another inmate of the hospital with a namo verv similar had died, and someone at (he hospital had made a blunder.