The Influenza Epidemic.

Taihape Daily Times, 15 November 1918, Page 4

The Influenza Epidemic.

I 'AUCKLAND MUCH BRIGHTER I LESS DEATHS, LESS SERIOUS ! CASES. , The Auckland "Star" cf yesterday states: — Everything is brighter in the city and suburbs to-day than it was yesterday. It seems that the corner is being turned, but there is still very great cause for anxiety, for the epidemic is fighting hard against all attempts to check it. Every hospital institution is in brighter mood to-day. The death rate in all of them has gone down, and the over-worked doctors, sisters, nurses, and volunteers are refining a little of their cheer. In the General Hospital yesterday there were six deaths, and before noon to-day there were two more. Six yesterday and two this morning is the latest Kilbryde death roll; the Technical Hospital lost five patients by death yesterday and only two this morning. Four more have died at Vermont St. So the list foT the last day and a-half totals only 27, though during the day before there were 39 deaths. The appeals for assistance to the organisations has decreased in numbers, but still all accommodation is at a premiums The staffing question, too, presents considerable difficulty still. All Ibeds at the hospital are filled as fast as they are emptied; patients are being taken into the Technical Hospital as fast as is possible, more accommodation is being arranged for at Vermont .Street, where every bed is under request now., but almost every one of the patients shows manifest improvement. Indeed, this may betaken- as the rule In every I institution. In Vermont Street several of the cases are so far recovered .that they are to be sent home to matte room for others. The buildings on ) the Avonflale racecourse are beingj equipped with beds and by the Avondale Road Board; Tjliere were 37 sick children in the flyers Kin-

dergarten, which Is toeing run fcy Dr. Sweet and .Sister Broun. Two deaths occurred there yesterday, but there are none so far to-day, and the small patients" sjaow universal improvement. The kindergarten ladles have made a fine and airy nursery in the Y.W.C.A. Buildings, and are taking in children whose parents are ill or dead. Mr. Wallace,, of the Hospital Board, is satisfied that everything goes well to-day. Things are not nearly right yet, and every man and woman of the district is urged to relax no precautionary measures. Over a hundred gross of bottles of the standard remedy have been distributed, and calls are still insistent for more. Mr. Wallace is sure that this standardised prescription helped materially to defeat the epidemic. The chairman denies with emphasis the wildly exaggerated statements about mortality that are so current, and he is' in a position to know. He denied them confidentially, and gave a figure which may foe taken as a very close estimate. It falls far short of six hundred.

SHIPPING AND INFLUENZA. ALL PORTS HELD UP. | WELLINGTON this day. The New Zealand Watersiders Federation has decided not to -work shipping at any port for seven days, owing to influenza. HEALTH ORDERS PROMULGATED. LIMITING HOTEL HOURS TEAROOMS TO BE CLOSED BARBERS' SHOPS CLOSED. MANY CASES IN CAMP. ; ■'' THE DAMNABLE PROFITEER WELLINGTON, this day. All bars in boroughs and town districts are to be closed at 4 p.m.; country hotels are not interfered with. Tea rooms marble bars, etc., are.only allowed to open at meal times, and not in the afternoon or evening. Barbers and hairdressers are to be closed. ........... -.*'.'. -. The Railway Department will put in ■an.-inhalation carriage on the principal main linis. : . "'" '':'"'. V/^**' 1 ? : Matters in camps are considered to have improved, though the number of patients is. still large.

JSTo" church services yrill be held here on Sunday.

Most 'unscrupulous profiteering has ™ been indulged in over oranges and. le: f moils. Yesterday the former were up to 5s -gQv dozen, and latter sixpence each. To-day lemons were to be Is each,""' but an Order-in-Council commandeers the .whole supply of these fruits, and fixes, the maximum price at 3d each for' best Qualities. - ; '' •