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Hokitika Guardian, 22 November 1918, Page 2

The figures given yesterday of the local mortality in connection with the epidemic, suggest that the district has had a more fortunate escape than some parts of the Dominion. The latest reports seem to indicate that the complaint is now subsiding, and following the experiences elsewhere this would be expected at this time. Even in South Africa where the death-rate was so high, the real virulence of the disease was confined to a period of about seven days. In Auckland parallel conditions seemed to prevail also, and the same experience is noticeable in other New Zealand centres. Assuming this to he a general condition, it would appear that with the week gone by now, the more virulent stage of the epidemic has passed, aiul matters should continue to steadily mend. This hopeful outlook should not lead to the abandonment of any of those preventative measures the community or individuals are taking. On the contrary, they should be maintained with even greater vigor, the more quickly to stamp out j the fell disease. Prevention should yet 1 be. the motto, instead of the more cost- , ly process of cure. It is still a word in good season to convalescents to remind them that they should not he in a hurry j to expose themselves, or otherwise en- | danger any section of the community 1 by a premature return to business or duty. Care and watchfulness must-be continued, and by due precaution assist the,.quicker in the final stamping out of the. epidemic. Its toll has been quite large enough, and it might well end with its present range of victims. j

Although the war has ended, the toll of tlie war still goes on, claiming lives. In this country the epidemic is carrying off scores of men in camp, who had gathered there for service to their country. To-day in our own town a returned soldier was laid to rest, “his duty done.” He bad served gallantly at the front, where lie commoted an insidious complaint, and returned to his friends broken in health. The country played its part in an all too feeble way bv providing all too brief treatment in a sanatorium. The fact was that the acwmmodatien for returned soldiers st]f-

feeing from pulmonary complaints is too inadequate, and the lor.:, severe cases have to make room for the more severe. Being in the former category, the local soldier was discharged relieved, hut lor from cured. Travelling in tlie present times is not conducive to immunity from infection, and although he returned here apparently somewhat improved, he soon fell a victim to the epidemic, and his general health was such that he was less able to fight .the new visitation, and in end succumbed. The ‘authorities in this country have been slow in establishing recuperative quarters for returned soldiers with tubercular complaints. It was manifest from the early stages of the war that .the. very life at the front and the conditions to pass through, would increase the spread of pulmonary diseases, yet the medical side of the Defence Department has been again too slow in facing the inevitable. It has been the same with other military epidemics, the Department has proved to he quite unprepared for the exigencies of a critical situation. Those charged .p ith the‘public health certainly have grave responsibilities, a fact well evidenced at such a critical lime as the present.