INFLUENZA COMMISSION.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 March 1919, Page 3

INFLUENZA COMMISSION.

J (»ER FKfc'Bß AbSOOIATION. —COPYRIGHT.] I CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Dr Irving, in his evidence to the Influenza Commission said he had seen nothing similar since the London epidemic about 1891. He could suggost no better method of combatting future attacks that that adopted in Christchurch last year. At St Helen’s Maternity Hospital there were fifteen women, but not ono had influenza, which he ascribed to thorough ventilation, and* : antiseptics. j Dr Chesson recalled, said TiT order to work the district efficiently, it was ne- . cessarv to appoint one, and probably two assistants to the District Health Officer. The West Coast was a very difficult portion of the district to work. Districts should be of such size that they oofikl have administrative and medical head and assistants who could devote time to investigation of epidemic and other special work. The service was grossly underpaid. It was not difficult for a medical man to earn £2,000 He received £BOO, but he could earn double or treble that in private practice. Dr' Fox, Medical Superintendent at Christchurch' Hospital, said members of the nursing staff were ill of ordinary influenza early in October, but when isolated the trouble waned. In August there were eighteen eases of pneumonia in file hospital. The patients were either children or old people. Later the epidemic particularly attacked young and vigorous adults. The total ndmis. sions to the hospital owing to the epidemic were 910 and there were 134 deaths. The symptoms were different from anything be had over seen. Delirium was a marked feature and the chest symptoms were quite different to those «f ordinary pneumonia. Vaccine bad been used but had not proved a satisfaction fb the Staff that had curative influenza