INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1905, 21 November 1918, Page 3

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

OUTLOOK MOST PROMISING

Despite the rumours of croakers, whose tongues arc still busy, the epidemic locally is well in hand. In fact, we can say officially that it is on the vane. Of course, there are still a number of very serious cases, and numbers are down with it in a mild form, but if the necessary precautions are taken, with which everyone should he familiar, the. scourge will be Aviped out. There mast not be any relaxation upon the part of householders in respect to spraying and thoroughly disinfecting their premises, and people who feel unwell should go to bed at once, and remain there until their temperature is normal —and a hove all, keep cheerful. Six patients were removed to the temporary hospitals yesterday, and one convalescent was discharged, and one was admitted to-day. The patients in these places are particularly well cared for, and are doing line. We have to thank oil those who have so kindly forwarded comforts to sick householders. Jellies, milk, and eggs are still wanted, and may be left at this office. Comforts may also be sent direct to the hospitals. There are a few voluntary helpers who are doing good service in households where families are stricken. This is a magnilicenl work, and one cannot speak too highly of services so rendered.

There were two more deaths at the Motuiti Maori pah yesterday, a man and a woman. Mr "Fred. Robinson, in conjunction with Mr Bob Rore, arc taking care of the patienls in the meeting house, and the doctor is in attendance upon the Mauris daily. There are still a number of distressing cases in the country districts. In several cases whole families are down, and neighbours are doing all possible to render relief. It lias been impossible for Dr. Mandl to attend to calls from the Levin and Palmerston districts, but he lias given what advice he could over the telephone. In some eases it would have taken two or three hours to reach the patients. The telephone has been a great boon.

We have to thank those in charge of the telephone exchange for the expeditious and courteous manner in which they have attended to calls.

Apples were distributed among a number of householders yesterday. The Mayor has wired to Tauranga for oranges ami lemons. Will persons who have soda water bottles in their possession please return them to this office, as they arc wanted urgently.

BANKS TO CLOSE FOR A WEEK,

In consequence of the depletion of staffs through the prevailing epidemic the Government has sanctioned the closing of the banks of the Dominion at their discretion. A meeting of representatives of the Associated Banks was held in Wellington on Tuesday, and it was decided to close all branches of the six banks trading in the Dominion for one week —viz., until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 27th. This is in order to relieve Ihe pressure on the staffs who arc at work and to give time to members absent through illness to recuperate. SICK-ROOM RECIPES. Barley Water.—(l) Thin: Put a tea-spoonful of prepared or pearl barley, previously washed in clean cold water, into a jug, pour on it half a pint of boiling water, and add a pinch of salt. Stand it by the tiro for an hour, and then strain tlirough tine muslin. Similar thin cereal concoctions can be made from arrowroot, rice, oatmeal. (2) Thick: Put in a heaped tablespoon fill of washed, prepared, or pearl barley into a clean saucepan, and add a quart of water and a pinch of salt. Boil slowly until it has evaporated down to about two-thirds of a quart; strain. It can be tlavoured as desired. The addition of a little lemon peel while boiling is best. Beef-Tea. —Soak Alb. of linely shredded beef, from which all the fat has been removed, in a little cold water, warm to tepid (not hot), to which salt has been added in the proportion of a tahlespoonful of salt to a teacupful of water; pound the meat thoroughly; strain off the liquid thus obtained and add to it sufficient water to bring the solid ion up to half a pint; put the solution into a small, clean saucepan and raise to the boiling point; remove any fat globules with a piece of blotting paper, and serve. This is the quickest and best mehod for obtaining really nutritive beef-tea from fresh beef. An excellent kind of beef-tea can be made by adding half a pint of boiling water in which two teaspoonfuls of Liebig’s extract of meat are dissolved to the white of one egg well whipped up with a tahlespoonful of tepid water. Broths (Mutton and Chicken). — Put lib. of minced mutton or chicken, freed from fat, into a jar along with a pint of cold water; stand the jar on ice for two or three hours. Then cook the contents of the jar for three hours over a slow tire (allowing to simmer very gently, not boil); strain, cool, skim off fat, and serve either hot or cold. Chicken Panada. —Cut up :}lb of breast of chicken freed from fat and skin; put it in a cup with a teaspoonful of water and a pinch of salt, and steam for an hour and ahalf. Then pound the meat, pass it through a sieve into a stewpan, add one tablespoonful of cream, and heat thoroughly. May be served hot uu toast, oji’ cold as sandwiches.

Coffee Jelly. —Soak ioz. of gelatine in half a pint of water for one hour; add a breakfastcupful of hot, strong, cdear coffee; sweeten, flavour with a tablespoonful of brandy; pour into a mould. Serve cold. Possesses nutrient and stimulating properties, and may be used in cases of cardiac weakness.

Egg Flip. —Whip the yolks of two eggs with 4ozs. of cinnamon water;

add -lozs. brandy and lioz. of sugar. This is really a medicinal preparation to be used as a stimulant. in cases of great cardiac weakness. Dose, two to four tablespoonfuls.

Egg-Nog. —Beat up the yolk of an egg with 6ozs. of milk and a dessertspoonful of sugar; add the beaten up white of the egg. Egg-Water". —Blend a pint of cold water with the whipped up whites of two to four eggs; flavour with salt or cinnamon. A good drink in febrile stales.

Gruels. —Rub up two teaspoonfuls of arrowroot or of barley Hour or rice flour with a little cold milk or water to a smooth paste, amt pour on it, while stirring, half a pint of boiling milk or water; boil for three minutes. Re-boil if Sanatogen is added. DANGERS OF FORMALIN. Dr. Makgill, Chief Health Officer, made to a Press reporter in Wellington a statement of great importance to thousands of people. If amounts to a condemnation of the use of formalin by individuals, and would affect any of the inhalation chambers which use it. He says; “The use of irritating antiseptics, such as formalin, is to be deprecated owing to the fact that they cause irritation and rawness of the mucous membrane, and therefore induce bacterial trouble. Formalin especially has boon used, and is causing a gecat ileal of unnecessary suffering. For two or three years now in military ramps experiments have been carried out, and (he only satisfactory thing found is a 2 per cent, solution of zinc used in a steam spraying apparatus. the same time, other things are not to be despised, such as washing the throat with a wtak solution of table salt, or a weak boracic solution, or other remedies of a like nature. Ruck applications should soothe rather than irritate. Otherwise they do more harm than good.” INHALATION-CHAMBER. An inhalation chamber has been fitted up in the Town Hall supperroom, and was open to the public last evening. Every one is urged to receive treatment twice a day. The apparatus is similar to that being used in Wellington and other centres. It is in charge of Mr Peter Robinson. A larger cylinder is being prepared, and the two should meet all local requirements. The period of inhalation isi ten minutes. The room is first charged with (he steam solution with (dosed doors. Before the expiration of the ten minutes each in (urn should inhale first through the nose—deep breathing —and again through the mouth, in front of the jet solution. The door is then opened for live minutes, and after again re-charg-ing the room for about live minutes a further batch is admitted.

AN AUTHORITATIVE STATEMENT.

In face of such reports bacteriological and medical experts in Dunedin have issued Ihe following authoritative statement showing, that the panicky statements in cireula-' tion are absolutely unfounded: —

Statements have appeared in the public press that cases of pneumonic plague have recently occurred in Dunedin. We have no reason whatever to suppose that there have been any cases of pneumonic plague in New Zealand in connection with the present outbreak of influenza. The bacteriology of the world-wide epidemic is quite distinct from that of pneumonic plague, and though Ihe condition is one that requires careful precautionary measures, only harm can be done by panicky statements which have no scientific foundation.

W. P. GOWLAXD, President Otago Division British i\fofli('ji 1 Association. D, COLQITIOUX, Professor of Medicine, Otago University. S. T. CHAAIPTALOFP, Professor of Bacteriology and Public Health, Otago University, J. T. BOWIE, Acting Aledical Superintendent, Dunedin Hospital. E. FxiRIS, District Health Officer, Air Healey, local chemist, is makiing a good'recovery from influenza. Mr Furrie, head teacher of (he local State school, is still confined to his home. Other business men down are Messrs S. B. Collins, J. Colder, W. E. Bullard, Large and Stevenson (cordial factory). Air Bauckham has resumed business. Air Fellow, local agent for Alessrs Levin and Co., is making a good recovery. Mr Lumsden took to bed this morning. Air Cronquest, secretary for AMiitaunui, Ltd., is also doing well. We desire to acknowledge the loan of pyjamas, flannel shirts, and other garments for the use of the sick from the Girls’ Patriotic Guild. The Health Department’s influenza mixture may he obtained at the “Herald” Office at Is per bottle. An amusing instance of how sheer fright sometimes takes the place of real illness during the present scare came under the notice of one of the visiting nurses. Hearing that a man had been in bed for some days, she

visited the house, and found him quite Avell, with a normal temperature, so inquired why he was in bed. The “patient” replied that a friend had taken his temperature, and said it was “sure to go up,” so he had gone to bed, evidently with the intention of waiting for that event. As the nurse found the wife, who was waiting on the “invalid’,’ had a rather high temperature, she suggested that the bed-keeping one should arise forthwith, and give place to his wife. Misses Ray (2) and Miss Lawson Brown, of the local State school staff, are on duty nursing the sick.

Nurse Prendergast’s services have been in general local requisition, and she is doing good work, both at the Convent school and in private houses. Mrs (Rev.) Harding, Mrs Barr, Miss Sewell, and the Misses Ebbctt (2) have done good work in private homes. Messrs Gluts. Spiers, Fred. Robinson, Constable Woods, Peter Robinson, Baildon and McKnight have also rendered valuable assistance. 'Messrs Pearson and Head have placed their motor car at the disposal of the authorities for removing the sick. The Mayor is devoting the whole of his time in assisting in every direction possible.

Members of the Ladies’ Patriotic Guild are busy sending out apples and other comforts to the sick. The school cadets are making themselves useful by running messages.