THE INFLUENZA SCOURGE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 115, 8 February 1919, Page 6

THE INFLUENZA SCOURGE

A PATHOLOGIST'S OPINION. By Telegraph—Press Association Chrlstchurch, February- 7. Dr. .A. D. Pearson, pathologist at the Christchureh Hospital, gave an address at the Science Congress to-night on influenza. Dealing ivith his Oirislchurch experience, from a bacteriological point of view, lie skid that in the winter months there were rather more than the usual number of influenza cases, but few if auv ~ serious. At the.end of October the cases admitted here became 6evere, with some' pulmonary complications. After Decern- • l)fi' 0 there were'very few admissions, but up to the present patients had come in with other illnesses, noticeably infliimmntion of the pleural cavity, as a late complication pf the influenza. Prom hossital records it was seen that from November 1 to December 16 there were G3B' cases of influenza at the Hospital, with 222' deaths. Taking into, consideration the desperate state of practically, all of these patients he thought the 'hospital staffs and V.A.l).'a deserved • very great praise for their efforts in keeping the deatli-r.ils down to f his comparatively low figure. From bacteriological tests he had mado .he found that, the staff had to deal with three types of illness:.(l) .True influenza, bronchitis and pu'eiimonin, (3). pneumonia, f\itd ' septicaemia. The .general opinion of the medical and the. .nursing staffs was favourable to the result of the use of vaccine in tlia treatment of in- ' fluenza cases.