THE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 429, 26 November 1918, Page 3

THE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC

Position In Lower Waikato Hospital Board'B Arrangements With the epidemic abating in the city more attention is now able to be paid by the authorities to the arrangements in the country districts and on Sunday last a visit of inspection to several centres in the Lower Waikato Was paid by the chairman of the Hospital Board (Mr W. Wallace), lit C. E. Maguire (medical so} •rintendent), Captain E. Thomas, (bcuse superintendent) and Mr G. Knight (a member of the Hospital Board. The following is the official report of the visit, viz. At Waiuku a temporary hospital has been established in the Town Hall, in charge of Sister Hanbam. The medical men in the district, Dr Howden and Dr Aldred, and Mr Graham, a student, have been performing very efficient service. Forty patients have been accommodated in the hospital, and of these 12 have been discharged and two have died. The medical men have received great help from the members of the Town Board and 11 voluntary workers A conference with the local authorities was held at Pukekohe, and it was decided to establish a temporary hospital in the new brick schocl. Mr Wallace found that the sanitary arrangements were not what might have been expected in so modern a building. It was reported that a number of patients in the district were seeking admission to the hospital, which will accommodate 50. The hospital will be made the central establishment for the district, and the temporary hospital at Tuakau will be discontinued. It was re parted by the local doctors that 20 deaths had occurred in the Pukekohe and surrounding districts. At Tuakau one of tbe local churches is being used as a temporary hospital, and considering its unsuitablility, splendid results have been secured. The death-rate has been heavy, six patients having succumbed in the hospital, and 14 others in the locality. Eleven patients are still in hospital, but of these six have reached the convalscent stage. As soon as they have recovered, the hospital will be cl sed. Nurses Pike and Joseph are in charge. Dr Cheeseman has been responsible for the medical attention. The reports from the workers indicated that the epidemic is well under control. It was reported to Mr Wallace that an unsatisfactory condition of things is prevalent at a native settlement about fourteen miles from Tuakau. Two nurses and Mr Savage, a voluntary worker, are engaged in combating the epidemic among the natives. At Papakura preparations are proceeding to open a temporary hospital in the district school, and Mr Wallace was disappointed to find that earlier action had not been taken to carry out the instructions given by himself and Dr Frengley on a previous visit. The 40 patients accommodated in the three hospitals will be removed to the main temporary hospital in the school, which will be in charge of Dr Brookfieldf and Nurse Arthur. At Otahuhu there are seven patients, several others having reached the convalescent stage, and having been accommodated in homes in the district. Altogether there were 30 admissions to the temporary hospital, and five deaths. When the the seven patients have recovered completely, the local hospital will be closed. The board will then accommodate any other patients, should there be a recrudescence of the disease, in hospitals in the city.