The Influenza Epidemic.

Taihape Daily Times, 20 November 1918, Page 4

The Influenza Epidemic.

JN WELLINGTON. 220 DEATHS OF SOLDIERS REPORTED) WAIRARAPA SUFFERING SEVERELY. WELLINGTON, this day. Thirty-four more soldier deaths are reported for the Dominion, and the total is stated to be over 220. The Government has cabled to Australia for information re the vaccine used there.

The picture people have asked Mr. Russell to open all houses simultaneously, but the Minister would not commit himself. He said one daily-per-formance may be (allowed at first; he ■would consider outdoor performances. Various buildings being adopted for convalescents. The authorities condemn overcrowding and dirt, which is largely responsible for the ravages of the epidemic. Some startling cases have been forced under their notice by this outbreak. Among the deaths reported is Ish van Stavieren, youngest |son of ■ the Jewish Rabbi. Wairarapa is suffering severely.

AT AUCKLAND-

SIXTEEN DEATHS ON TUESDAY. • la dealing with the course of the epidemic in Auckland, the Star of yesterday reports:— There are many facts that point a moral in the condition of affairs in Auckland to-day, for they show that it would be folly to have any relaxation of effort in the fight against the prevailing pestilence. They show that the epidemic is not stamped out. On the contrary, it is spreading still. It is undoubtedly the case that the situation shows manifest improvement. But there were sixteen deaths in the hospitals jlestenday: the- hospitals And nurseries for children are both filled, and still more kiddies need admission. The present -body workers is .showing .signs of a breakdown .under the..strain. .The. salient, facts of the situation show that the disease has abated and is. abating.,But they mean that still it spreads, though ' its course is slower, and the work of. the organisation is keeping up with it. _

In the* .Kindergarten,, there are eighty child-patients, and more arc coming in every day. times already more beds have.had to be put in, and there will be. needed, for the disease is still taking' the children, In the sister-institution, the YTW.C.A. the nursery holds almost eighty ' healthy children who are without parents for the time boing. and there is need for more ladies to help with the little ones. A number of wild rumours have been circulated regarding the number of deaths in Auckland from the'epidemic, the result, as a rule, of a' too vivid imagination. Boughly speaking;~ some 300. people have been interred at the Waikumete 'Cemetery. Allowing half that number .at each of the other t*vo brings the total to somewhere in the vicinity of 600. Even this number may be excessive, as included with that total would be the ordinary death rate, which is about 120 per month.

VACCINE TREATMENT. THE AUCKLAND EXPERIMENT DOCTOR TREATS HIMSELF. The cable from Sydney, stating that vaccine was being used in that city, with considerable success in combating the influenza' epidemic was referred to Dr. de Clive Lowe, of Auckland, this morning. Dr. Lowe has himself isolated the germs that have given rise to the scourge in Auckland, and he has prepared vaccine which he tried on '..lmself. apparently with considerable success. He is now treating his patients generally with the vaccine. He stated that several scientificallyinclined men of the city had asked for the treatment, and all of the cases treated are to be watched and studied closely. "I am still definitely of the opinion," he said, "that the severity of the disease is caused by a severe pneumocoeus infection, following primary infection by influenza, and that death, when it occurs, is generally due to the germ of the former disease. In nearly every fatal case, there is a pneumocoeus infection of the lungs, the pericardium, the lining membrane of the heart, and in many cases, the liver. HOW THE VACCINE ACTS.

"Whatever benefit may accrue from the use of the vaccine," the doctor added> "is entirely due to the use of the organisms of "mixed infection," which supplies to the blood stream a further fighting force, enabling the system to overcome or combat the invading germs. It should be remembered that it is only the dead bodies of germs that are injected, and for this purpose the dead bacteria are held in solution by antiseptics. If I may so, the 'extract' of these dead germs supply to the blood stream certain cells called "opsonins." It is

these opsonins which combat the disease, not the injected l germs,"

BRIGHTER Nl&fS FROM AXTO^tfIND. FEW NEW CASES REPORTED. AUCKLAND, this day. Very few new cases of influenza have been reported since Sunday. Reassuring reports are received from the various hospitals. During the 24 houss to midnight there were 12 deaths ik hospitals against 20 in the preceding 24 hours. There are fewer calls for nurses, and some have been released to meet calls from country districts. The block committees report the position is now well in hand in city and suburbs.

AT CHRISTCHURCH. POSITION EASING. CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 19 The influenza is still raging, but there is slight evidence that the position is becoming easier. Reports show that there are 2550 cases, nearly 200 being acute or serious. Among yesterday's deaths was Mr A. W. Rutherford, junior, a prominent North Canterbury sheep breeder and well known* racehorse owner, His father, a former member of Parliament, died from a similar cause last week.

Arrangements are being made to coordinate the work of the undertakers. Instead of undertakers taking orders, a scheme will be put into operatiojj, as in the case of the attendance of the medical men. It is intended that the bodies shall be taken to cemeteries in groups and not singly. The Hospital Board will have control of the burials. The Christchurch Ministers'' Association has arranged to have one of its members in" continuous attendance at Linwood and Sydenham cemeteries for the purpose of officiating at funerals.