INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 125, 20 February 1919, Page 5

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC

NATURE OF THE DISEASE ;

EVIDENCE AT THE COMMISSI j , . i By Telegraph-Press Association.'. • J 1 Auckland, February 19. ; At the Epidemic Commission, Dr. Ben- ; nett gave evidence of influenza at the garrison at Fort Devonport, where tho ; Hospital ward opened on October V. | There were twenty-one cases, two of i which 6liowed pneumonic symptoms. ; . l)r. Dryer said that before the Niag- ■ ara arrived 'lie encountered a number of ■! cases, the first being in May. He could ; now. positively identify. these as of epi- | demie type. lie was always opposed to the use of the term influenza. ■' -He pre- j ferred to call the disease epidemic, pneu- i monia. No one really knew what- : the I disease was—it was jipt true.pneumonia, hut was brought about by a failing j heart. ;

Dr.. Itorton said that 60 per. cent, of the population was affected by the epidemic germ. The name influenza was quite inaccurate. From post-mortem examinations he considered it a form of blood-poisoning. On August 12 he saw a case -which resulted fatally.

Dr. Hughes, District Health... Officer, continuing his evidence, said that in connection with"tire arrival of the Niagara lie was advised ortv October 11 by the Union Company thiit -' the' vessel would arrive next day. A wireless message received by the Union Company had asked them to advise the Health. Department nt Auckland that Spanish influenza was on the vessel, and. that the number of cases was. increasing daily. The message stated that over 100 of the crew had contracted the disease, and asked for accommodation- for 25 6erioue cases.' Witness rang up the secretary of the Hospital Board, and-asked that Point Chevalier Hospital be equipped. It, was agreed that this would be done. Witness then sent a wire to the authorities in Wellington asking for instructions. On October 11, he leceived a reply as follows:—"Niagara arriving in Auckland noon to-morrow; notifies * Spanish influenza aboard; increasing. Over 100 of the crew down. Urgently -requires hospital- accommodation for twenty-five eeriious cases. Please arrange hospital accommodation for cases. Administer inhalation 2 per cent, zinc sulphate to all on board before disembarking; Repeat daily while ship is in. port.' ..Instruct those disembarking to report to health authorities in home towns for' further treatment." On the same day, Dr. Hughes advised the Wellington authorities that he had arranged to liaj-e Point Chevalier Hospital equipped, and that there was no accommodation, at the general hospital. J.ater he was informed that the Hospital Board had not equipped the Point Chevalier ward, but that accommodation had been arranged at the isolation block at the general hospital. The assistant; superintendent at the hospital, Dr. Grant, had told him that they could not nurse cases at Point Chevalier. Tho Niagara arrived at Auckland, and came alongside the wharfe on October 12. He was with the Port Hfalth Officer at the wharf just before the gangway was put down. Another telegram was received from the Minister of Health as follows"Before the Port Health Officer clears the Niagara or any communication with the ship is permitted,., he is to report to me through you and .await in* structions, (1) number of deaths, if any, on the ship since leaving Vancouver, and if from influenza; (2) whether the disease is or is not pure influenza; presenting the same indications as that '.which has prevailed in the Dominion for some time past." On October 12, Dr. Hughes, wired to Mr. Russell advising him that one death from broncho-pneumonia after influenza had occurred on the ' Niagara, and that the disease was purely simple influenza. When witness went aboard with the Port Health Officer, they were met l>y the doctors on the vessel. The Port Health Officer and Dr. • Mackenzie (one of the doctors on board)' made the rounds of the patients on the vessel. A conference was held later as. to.tne diagnosis of .the disease. There were two cases of undoubted pneumonic influenza on the vessel, and one or two others with crepitation in the lungs. After discussing (lie situation, witness and other two doctors came to the conclusion, that tho disease was ordinary influenza." Dr. Russell, • the Port Health Officer, told witness that he had, a case of pneumonic influenza ashore that was worse than either of the; two cases on the vessel. It was considered that in the condition under which influenza had been developed on the Niagara it would be natural-to expect one or two cases of pneumonic symptoms. ' Dr. Gibb presented the report of the Home Mission Committee. ..He stated that the position in regard to vacant stations was serious. A scheme for sup-' plying the vacancies had been drawn up, the financial needs of which totalled between .£3OOO and .£IOOO. The report was adopted.