Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1918. THE RECENT EPIDEMIC.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1915, 14 December 1918, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1918. THE RECENT EPIDEMIC.

THE influenza scourge 1 lias been success tally combated locally, and we sincerely hope completely wiped

out. There arc, however, sidl a number in our midst whose health is not yet normal, and who will have to exercise care 1 to avoid complications through weakened constitutions. Altogether over six hundred people in the borough and about one hundred in the outskirts were attacked in a more or less serious form by the deadly microbe, and when we take into account the small death roll, Foxton and district can congratulate itself upon getting off so lightly. It is lint right that public appreciation should be made of the voluntary services rendered by the noble band of men and women who rose to the occasion to combat the scourge and nurse the stricken. The community is indebted to the Rev. Mr Raine for voluntarily offering the vicarage as a temporary hospital, and to the nuns of St. .Mary's Convent, who not only placed the school building at the disposal of the Hospital authorities, but gave their services voluntarily throughout and took charge of the institution. In this connection they were assisted by Mrs Hynes. The doctor and patients, pay a fine tribute to their splendid and self-sacrific-ing efforts. We have previously referred to those in charge of the vie - a rage hospital and those who attended patients in private homes. Thanks are due to those ladies who provided comforts for the invalids, and to all for voluntary gifts. By this means the maintenance account in connection with the two institutions will not be large. Perhaps the largest bill the'Health Depart-

ment will be called upon to meet will be in connection with the inhalation chamber. The whole cost in combating the disease locally will he minimised by the generosity of those who gave without thought of fee or reward for humanity’s sake. To those who suffered bereavement we, in common with the local public, extend our heartfelt sympathy, and we place on record the community’s gratitude to all who in any way rendered assistance. Wo sincerely hope that the public will take to heart the lessons of the epidemic and will remove and guard against causes which may predispose to a recurrence of this or other epidemics.