The Influenza Epidemic.

Taihape Daily Times, 16 November 1918, Page 4

The Influenza Epidemic.

SLIGHT ABATEMENT REPORTED IN AUCKLAND.

Tic Auckland Star of yesterday repoits:—The outlo - 'ii to-day is brighter, and the combative organisations are daily becoming more effective. But the position is still serious, and there must be no slackening of effort. Hundreds and hundreds of people are still in need of attention. On all sides suffering humanity cries for assistance. This is being provided with more or less expedition, but the call for voluntary workers is still urgent. At raid-day to-day 20 aplications came in simultaneously to the Central Committee for assistance, and there was no one to send. These cases will be attended to, of course, and with as little delay as possible, but in the meantime valuable lives may be slipping away. There can be no doubt the upper hand has been gained and the epidemic is abating, but it is not over yet by any means. In the hospitals to-day the outlook was cheery. There were no deaths at the Technical College last night, but altogether there were twenty mortalities all round. A great number of patients are now on the way to convalescence and some few have been discharged, but all accommodation is still under call. St. Joseph's School has now 70 beds and will soon be open as a convalescent home, provided three trained nurses can be found to superintend the efforts of the Sisters of Mercy. Steps are being taken by the Acting Chief Health Officer to provide all nurses attending influenza cases with masks to be worn over the mouth and nose. It is anticipated that some will be available this evening.

EFFECTS IN CHRISTCHURCH

CHRISTCHURCH, November 15

In consequence of the influenza epidemic practically the whole business and social life of the community is at a standstill. The epidemic is gradually increasing among the shipping in Lyttelton. A second member of the crow of a big oversea steamer is dead. There were several more deaths at the Christchurch Hospital to-day. At a representative open-air m'eeting to-day the city and suburbs were mapped out into blocks, and arangements made .for assisting the sick. Medicine depots arc also to be established.

Clarence Melrose, aged 40, a gardener at Waiwara station, Culverden, was found dead in bed. He had 1 just re turned from Christchurch, suffering severely from influenza.

TO FIGHT THE MALADY.

The need for the complete organisation of every town in "New Zealand to meet the influenza' menace is strongly urged by the Minister for Public Health, the Hon. G. Bussell, in a telegram he has despatched to all mayors and chairmen of town boards in the Dominion. The methods he suggests arc those in operation in Auckland. The message concludes as follows:

"This is not a matter for trifling. It is a matter that demands the entire organised strength of the people of the Dominion, and as Minister for Public Health I make this appeal to mayors and chairmen of town boards to set up organisations in their districts to help the Government. I have to remind them that they are each of them by law the health authorities for the district they control. On them rests the responsibility of seeing that the sanitary conditions of the people in their districts are as nearly as perfect as it is possible to make them.”

■SEVENTY SOLDIEKS DIE IN A WEEK.

MAORIS SUFFER BADLY.

AGITATION FOR CLOSING BARS.

WELLINGTON, this day.

Names are published of seventy soldiers who have died throughout the Dominion of influenza during the past week. The Maoris are suffering badly. All fangis are forbidden, and the railways will not carry travellers to tangis.

A deputation waited on the Hon W. G. Eussell and demanded the closing of all bars. It laid great stress on the fact that their experience id visiting houses and handling cases showed far too much drinking was going On by both sexes. Assistants in hospitals complained of having to attend people fairly reeking with liquor. The deputation threatened they would abandon war relief work unless something was done.

Mr Bussell said all committees would be consulted, and if anything like unanimous, closing would receive most careful attention. The Minister considers there is a perceptible improvement, but the cry is for more workers, and especially doctors. Most of the churches have abandoned all services to-morow.

UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS.

STOPPED BY INFLUENZA.

'' WELLINGTON, this day. The Hon. G. W*Russell stopped the University examinations on account of one student dying and others catching influenza. Sir Robert Stoat takes exception to the action as being unnecessary. The Senate held a meeting and decided to ask the Minister of Education to pass a Bill this session giving the Senate authority to grant partial passes in subjects done, and allow students to sit later for ether subjects.

WELLINGTON TELEGRAPH

OFFICE.

ONLY HALF-STAFFED.

CANNOT COPE WITH WORK.

WELLINGTON, this day.

The Staff of the Wellington Telegraph Office is reduced to practically one-half; it is quite impossible to copa with the work, even under the restricted conditions imposed.

THE “FLU.” AT GREYMOUTH.

ALL BUSINESS SUSPENDED.

GREYMOUTH, this day.

The influenza epidemic is very se* rious; the main hospital is full, and the Technical School is used as a supplementary hospital, being also crowded. Seven deaths have occurred in three days. It has been decided to close all business places till Thursday next. The town is being fumigated by a health officer.

AT PALMERSTON NORTH.

The influenza epidemic shows nor sign of diminution, in fact, it rather appears to he on the increase, and it is now estimated that there are between 1500 and 2000 cases in Palmerston alone. This represents about one person in every flve of the population affected, and gives an idea of the serious state of affairs. A meeting of doctors was held in the Council Chambers in connection with the influenza epidemic, 'when it was decided to ask that the railway carriages be disinfected twice a day,, and that a special car for inhalation purposes be provided on express trains. The Mayor stated that he hoped to have the inhalation chamber at work to-day in the Opera House,

Additional accommodation for the influenza sufferers has also been provided by the action of Mr. W. Devine in placing the Empire Hall at the disposal of the authorities. : “' 1 •

CURTAILED FERRY SERVICE,

DUNEDIN, Nov 15.

Eight influenza patients were admitted to the Hospital to-day. There are now close on one hundred patients in the institution. One more death is reported.

The waterside workers have decided to cease work on the waterfront for seven days, from 5 p.m, to-day. They also decided to ask that all vessels now berthed at Dunedin wharves be removed immediately to an anchorage in the stream. ~ The Union 00. has decided that during the epidemic only one steamer will run in the ferry service. The Mararoa will leave Wellington on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and Lyttelton on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

FIGHTING THE DISEASE IN

WELLINGTON.

The subdivision of the city and suburbs with district organisations tfe work in the subjugation of the influenza outbreak and something else was brought into operation and satisfactory results generally are reported. The diseases are chained down, and if precautions are continued there ought to he nodifficulty in getting the upper hand of the diseases. The public ays anxious to know what the dread second disease is that acts so quickly. It has been denied in official quarters that it is bubonic | plague, but the suggestion has been i made on medical authority that it is pneumonic plague, otherwise tEet “Black Death.” Anyhow, it behovesall citizens to take the utmost precautions to combat the fell disease.