The Influenza Epidemic.

Taihape Daily Times, 19 November 1918, Page 4

The Influenza Epidemic.

IN AUCKLAND. ABATING IN THE CITY. The Auckland “Star” yesterday reports: —• The position in the city is on the mend, and the epidemic is beginning to abate. In fact, everything within four miles of the city itself is brighter and better, but there are several points that will impress themselves on the people, and prove to them what height of folly it would be to relax even the smallest precaution. The first of these is contained in the vital statistics from the different hospital houses. In all the institutions there were twenty-six deaths on Saturday, and 14 on Sunday. That makes a total of forty for the weekend, and it show r s that the disease is still very virulent, and that it has not abated so much as might be supposed, for people are dying of it still. Then another serious fact may be pointed from the number of children who have to be cared for. The disease affects the little ones more than ever it did. During the week-end every bed prepared in in the Myers Kindergarten was filled with a sick child, and twenty more cots are being installed this morning. Practically speaking, these are under demand npw. Then the burden on the Y.W.C.’A, nursery is increasing, and now the ladies there ■have as many well children as they can accommodate at present. Another feature of the p'resent position is that the epidemic is widening in its circle. It abates in the city, true, but the districts further afield are coming more and more under its sw r ay. Anyone who can have a chat with the workers will get some surprising details of the conditions they have seen. One hard worker yesterday afternoon related how he had found four foreigner adults in the -same bed, all suffering from the epidemic. The place had been rendered almost airtight by keeping the windows closed, and pieces of paper had been pasted round the edges to keep the microbes out. This is only one rather mild case taken from many. At another house, with all its windows closed, the one hian inside refused to open the door, A constable w r as called and the house entered. The man inside had the influenza, and was afraid to go outside for anything. In yet another house the sick man inside confessed that he had not had a w r ash for ever so long, because he was afraid of catching a chill and so getting the disease.

All these poor people are obstinately blind to the fact that fresh air and sunshine are the best possible germkillors.

AT THE CAMPS. “The epidemic shows signs of abating at the military camps, judging by the falling off of the numbers attending the daily sick parados,” remarked Surgeon-General R. S. F. Henderson, C.B.’ Director-General of Medical Services, to a “Times” reporter on Saturday. “There is a distinct improvement at Narrow Neck Camp, At Awapuni, of the two men who paraded sick, one was admitted to hospital. There were no serious cases under treatment and all the patients in hospital were reported to be doing well At Tauherenikau there had only been one admission to hospital during the past throe w r eeks, and the health of the men in this camp gave cause for cwry satisfaction The returns from Trentham on Saturday showed that of the 28 men who atended the morning sick parade, 12 were admitted to hospital, making a total of 58, including the admissions from Friday night’s -all of whom were suffering from influenza. The total number of patients remaining in hospital was 1592, of whom 1339 were suffering from influenza. There ■were 100 serious cases and six deaths had occurred since the previous day’s

report. At Featherston, 72 attended the sick parade and 25 were admitted to hospital. Of the 1169 men in the institution, 141 were reported as serious cases. Fifteen deaths had taken place after Friday’s report had been issued. A subsequent communication to Defence Headquarters stated that eight of the patients admitted to hospital had been diagnosed as cerebro-spinal meningitis cases.

POSITION IN WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, Nov. 18 The influenza epidemic is still very serious in Wellington. Six temporary hospitals are full, Mr Buick, M.P., for Palmerston North, is reported to be critically ill with influenza and complications. Other members of the House are making progress towards recovery. TOTAL OP 200 SOLDIERS SUCCUMB. WELLINGTON, this day. The Paparoa came in from Gishorne with 14 cases of influenza. Mr. Scott, chief engineer, died.

~ -.When it first broke out the doctors were organised to deal with the city in blocks, and save overlapping.

Fifty-four more names are published of soldiers who have succumbed. It is estimated some two hundred have fallen victims to the epidemic, which is especially severe on returned men who have not fully recovered, and whose systems are too weak to throw off the attack. Tram services wche materially, reduced by day, and stopped altogether after 8 p.m. EPIDEMIC BELIEVED TO BE FALLING. WELLINGTON, Nov 18. An unknown man entered a cafe in Molesworth St. today, and immediately dropped JShd. Some doctors think Saturday was the zenith of the epidemic here, anu that it is now' falling. The Hon. T. M. Wilford has now recovered. Doctors are to be organised by districts as far as_possible. The Minister of Health intends to ask newspaper hot to publish obituary notices just now, with a view of minimising' panic. The epidemic is still bad in Wellington, but the comprehensive organisation is having a good effect in combating the spread of the disease. There were 150 absentees from the Post Office this morning, 41 being postmen. In the Telegraph and Telephone Departments a total of 202 are absent, “* The Health Officer, Dr. MSSgill, states that there are indications that the disease is being got under in Wellington. Things now seem to be going well, he says, ana the epidemic is lessening. The Minister of Defence states that reports from the camps and military hospitals There have been no fresh admissions at Hanmer, and the epidemic is in hand at Rotorua. Two serious cases are reported at Narrow Neck camp. Ernest J. Redstone (commercial traveller) and Denis Fay (wool brokers) died of influenza to-day.

NORTHERN DISTRICTS.

WHANGAREI. Nov. IS,

The infuenza epidemic in Whanga,rei and surrounding, districts shows no abatement, but a .number of the cases reported are of a less virulent type. It is estimated that there have been twenty deaths in Whangarei of the European population since the commencement of the , outbreak, of which five occurred at the week-end, due directly to the epidemic. Measures for the organisation of. voluntary helpers to efficiently deal with the crisis have been completed. Another auxiliary hospital has been opened for the reception of Maoris and Austrians. Twenty-five employees of the railway are down. The disease has taken heavy toll of the native race,in country districts.. At Kaikohe there are numerous cases among the. Austrians. All industries are greatly disorganised, business being practically at a standstill. The question of limiting shop hours is being discussed to-day. ' AT TAIHAPE.

It appears fairly certain 'that the epidemic is now under control in Taihape, although yesterday there were a number of deaths, the cases were of long standing, comparatively speaking. The Belief Committee is still indefatigable in their efforts to cope with the disease, though they are greatly handicapped by silly tales and rumours that arc brought to the in which on investigation are proved to be groundless, causing unnecesssary work to an already hard-worked body of men. The work of the committee under the Mayor’s direction is well organised, and their activities are indeed multitudinous. No details is too< trivial to meet with prompt consideration, as was illustrated in a case that came under our notice last night. At about 9.30 a call came over the ’phone from a householder stating he was in need linseed for poultices. Usually a stock is kept at the Town Hall, but this had been exhausted. The Mayor at once dispatched a motor car to scour the town for a supply, which having been procured, was duly taken to the applicant. This incident is mentioned as one instance among many of the comprehensiveness of the committee ’s operations. The inhalation chamber was well patronised during the day, and the formalin gargle, which is supplied gratuitously, was in demand. The chamber and gargle room will be open to the public every day until 9.30 p.m.

Among the deaths it is our sad duty to have to record those of Mr J. A. Champion and W. Kinkade. Mr Champion had been ill with the malady in its severest form. He had put up a great fight for his life, but he succumbed about 6 o'clock last night. Mr Kinkade was a more recent sufferer, and in spite of strenuous efforts, he also passed west. Great sympathy will be felt by the many friends of both

gentlemen for the dependents of each, who have suffered so severe a bereavement. BANKS MAY CLOSE Fck' A WEEK WELLINGTON, this day. In consequence of depletion of staff through the present epidemic, the Eight Hon. Sir Joseph Ward (Minister of Finance) has sanctioned the banks closing at their discretion. The banks ore considering the question of immediatety closing all offices in New Zealand for one week. LESS DEATHS IN AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, this day. Deaths in Auckland hospitals from influenza from midnight on Sunday till 10 last night totalled sixteen, compared with eighteen in the previous 24 hours. The removal of convalescents is being expedited. Though the position is improving the Health Officer warns workers and the public against any relaxation of effort. There is a marked improvement at Narrow Neck Camp.

EFFICACY OF VACCINE TREATMENT. SYDNEY SITUATION WELL IN HAND. SYDNEY, Nov. Iff. The medical officer in charge of the quarantine station states that vaccine treatment of influenza has proved a decided sueess, not only in combating the disease, but in preventing its spread. The situation is now well in hand. The Sonoma and two other vessels have been released. A special Cabinet meeting discussed serious reports of the effects of Spanish influenza in New Zealand and devised elaborate precautions to combat the epidemic. Health officers are of opinion that the disease is not true mfluenza, but pneumonia of a highly virulent type, which they term epidemic pneumonia. Hospitals have been cleared to receive patients and an extensive chain of inoculation depots established and large quantities of vaccine prepared. It is believed a strong factor against the introduction of the epidemic into Australia is the short life of the infective organism when away from human tissue, medical men finding it extremely difficult to make a culture from organs.

AT CHRISTCHURCH A CHEEENIG- STATEMENT. CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. IS. Colonel Wylie, officer in charge of the Orthopaedic Hospital, and who is now in charge , of . the Christchurch Hospital, stated to-day that in, twentyfour hours ended midnight, sixty-two cases of influenza had been admitted to the hospital and the annexe at the Royal Hotel. He said there was no sign of any decrease in the ravagse of the disease, but, on the other hand, there was no evidence of any increase, while there was much to suggest that it had reached its maximum as far as seriousness went.

“I want you to emphasise,” Colonel Wylie added, “that the number of deaths at the hospital is no criterion of the actual gravity of the epidemic / as only exceptionally severe cases are admitted to the hospital. IN GREYMOUTH. GREYMOUTH, this day. The pneumonia-influenza is still severe and the doctors are overtaxed; there is a great shortage of nurses, r There were seven deaths since Saturday. St. Columbia Rooms, in addition to the hospital, is under a Sister of Mercy. The disease is also raging in the country districts, but the form is not so severe. Eight nurses are down at the General Hospital. The heavy rain of the past week still continues.. INFLUENZA CLAIMS MORE VICTIMS THAN THE WAR, Received 11.25 a.m, WASHINGTON, Nov 17. The influenza epidemic has caused more American deaths than the entire casualties of American troops in, France, '