The Influenza Epidemic.

Taihape Daily Times, 12 November 1918, Page 4

The Influenza Epidemic.

IN AUCKLAND. NO ABATEMENT YET. BUT RELIEF IS GAINING GROUND The influenza in Auckland has passed its crisis, but it is not abating yet. The great combative organisation, with the Health and the Hospital Board in full attains every day a more decisive power, so that the malady is being cheeked to a great and greater extent, arrears of work are being made up. the fighting services are striving to overcome the many obstacles against which they have been and'it is expected with confidence that by to-morow at the latest forces will be moving at least as fast as the sickness itself. But the malady has not yet lost its grip. There are still thousands of sufferers, cases occur continuously, people are still dying. During Saturday and Sunday forty-eight deaths have been reported from the main and the auxiliary hospitals, and although there is no possibility of coming at the exact number of fatal cases, these are now certainly above the total of a hundreds and thirty. But the great point is that there are now practically no cases at all where the patient lies long in neglect. Attendance is not always immediate, for there is still lack of volunteers, and all staffs are hard pressed, but there is a very much smaller standing list of cases to be visited. Appeals for assistance come in still in great numbers, but the organisation of assistance is so far advanced that these lists are moving ones —as doctors and nurses cover cases ? more applications come in.

AT OHAKUNE,

The epidemic has assumed extremely serious proportions in Ohakune. nurses and medical men, owing to T having so many cases on hand, have f almost reached the limits of human endurance. Dr Mitchell, who was-,sent up by the Wanganui Hospital Board 5 has been going night , and day. Nurse Drummond has also been working like a heroine. The doctor has been receiving almost hourly calls for help from Horopito, Rangataua, and Tangiwai, but had reluctantly to turn a deaf ear to their entreaties. So desperate did Dr. Mitchell become, as one after an- •, other of his assistants succumbed - that he went to the train which was conveying a party of nurses to Auckland, and appealed to one of them to stay and help him. Whilst in the midst of his entreaties the train whistled and started to move off. Turning in desperation to the guard who was passing, the doctor appealed to him for just one minute longer. The guard promptly stopped the train, and the doctor finally persuaded one of the nurses to alight. The question of luggage (which was checked) was the next difficulty, but this the guard very promptly solved. The doctor and his new assistant had not long arrived at •their destination when Nurse Drummond collapsed.. Our informant said-, the situation was desperate, and the/ man, who wore a weary, haggard look, said, in a voice broken with emotion,

"For God’s sake lot the public know through your paper how badly we are in need of help.” Eleven coffins were taken by train, from Ohakune station last week, and three on Saturday, There is hardly a house in the township that has not one or more cases of influenza. In “Kingscourt” there are eleven, and nearly as many in the Grand Hotel. Mr Pargeter, the Health Inspector, who has been in OEakune for some days, left on Saturday for Wanganui in order to procure drugs and medical supplies.

AT HAMILTON. FOUR DEATHS IN HOSPITAL. HAHILTON, Nov. 11. The influenza epidemic is apparently increasing in violence. The hospital is crowded, and a number of nurses, Including the matron, are down with the complaint. Four deaths were reported in the institution during the week-end. A Other deaths are also reported. The Waikato Show, which had been arranged for to-morrow and Wednesday, has been postponed indefinitely Hotels are closed except between . noon and 1 p.m., by order of th» Health Department, 1 Whole families are seized with the disease, and voluntary workers are colled on to assist.

"WORSE IN CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, November 11 The influenza epidemic has taken a turn for the worse he*c^ -Scleral cases of pneumonia, influenza, were reported yesterday, and the epidemic appears to he spreading rapidly. Seventeen tramway employees were absent yesterday, while five more collapsed during the day. Many carnival visitors contracted the malady, and the chief hotels of city resemble hospitals. The Public. Health Department installed an inhalation chamber, which was visited by about 1500 people yesterday, while there has been a "steady stream since an early hour this morning. The Health Department has closed all schools, public and private, also picture theatres and other places of amusement. DEATHS IN MILITARY CAMPS. WELLINGTON, November 11. Owing to the influenza epidemic all State, primary and private schools, have been closed, also the Technical College and Scots’ College. Several deaths occurred in the military camps during the last week end. A seaman from ttfo Iris has also died. It was decided to-day that if the interests of public health render it advisable the children’s demonstrations on Armistice Day will be postponed. Picture theatre managements decided to curtail the hours of screening.