The Influenza Epidemic.

Taihape Daily Times, 21 November 1918, Page 4

The Influenza Epidemic.

GREAT IMPROVEMENT AT AUCKLAND.

There was manifest improvement in the condtiion of affairs in Auckland yesterday. and while precautionary measures should in no instance be relaxed, the epidemic itself is well under constraint. The hospitals arc a:raost full, and there were about twenty deaths in them yesterday —five at Vermont Street, one at the Technical College, two at Kilbryde, and four at the General Hospital. But the number of convalescents increases daily and there is now room in the institutions for all the new cases that are expected to oc-

cur. In Myers Kindergarten there are now 95 little ones who are ill, and each day more are -admitted, though now a goodly number are becoming convalescent. But, with these • there is another problem, for a great many of them have lost '’ooth father and mother. The same problem applies to the Y.W.C.A., where there are now more than eighty healthy children. The Anglican and Presbyterian orphanages, are opening their doors to all children •who have lost their parents. The work of the Kindergarten and the Y.W.C.A. is not nearly finished yet, and the ladies, in charge are in need of supplies of money, food, and clothing for the little ones under their care.

GRADUAL DECLINE IN AUCK- . LAND. AUCKLAND, this day. A gradual decline in the severity of the epidemic continues. Deaths in hospitals from midnight on Tuesday to 10 last night totalled fourteen.

AMONG THE LITTLE ONES. Through the confusion of many voices and hurrying feet comes the insistent wail of babies in distress. It has been found necessary, in some cases, to,take even tiny mites into the fold, and. there axe now 10 little ones under 12 months old at the Y.W.C.A. The girls’ department office has been turned into the infants’ nursery. They lie in I rows,.., in improvised, dressbasket cradles, beating the air with their baby fists, weeping out their plaint against an unfeeling world. A staff of special helpers'‘‘mother” them with loving care, soothing dnfant distress with comforting words, hurrying to and fro with the inevitable feed-ing-bottles. ; ... . . The scene at the kindergarten play : ground these fine days is well worth viewing. Scores of little boys and girls romp and play on the grass, or find their fun on the swings and seesaws and slides on the. asphalt playground. Always they . are under the care of competent guardians. The feeding of this small army of young citizens is in dtself quite a formidable problem. All the stuff of Myers; Hospital and the volunteer workers of ; both institutions have their meals at the Y.W.C.A. cafeteria; where an efficient kitchen"staff is engaged. The children’s diningroom is on the lower floor, while the very small boys and girls are fed on the ground floor, from the kitchenette near the gymnasium.

WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON) Nov. 20. Great difficulty is being experienced in obtaining crews for the Government steamers Hinemoa and Tutanekai. If a crew can be got, the Hinemoa will take passengers on urgent missions and mails to Lyttelton tonight. otherwise there -will be no ferry boat.

At Plimmerton many natives and about fifty whites are down with influenza. Three natives' pied} dn the city. |The position is gradually but certainly improving.

Petone is making a public protest against a proposal to billet 200 soldiers in the Drill Hall, which is situated in a congested area. The Mayor of Petone has offered the use of Hutt Park buildings for the purpose. at the camps.

“There is a decided improvement in the camps. This may be gauged by the number attending the sick parades,’ ’ said a member of the Headquarters medical staff when seen yesterday. Telephonic communication with Peatherston is still interrupted, but advice was received yesterday to the effect that all the cerebro-spinal meningitis cases were improving, Two of the patients had been removed from the serious list, and the remaining thirteen were doing well. No' further cases had been reported. At Awapuni there was an attendance of three at the sick parade, but there were no admissions to hospital. The total number under treatment in hospital was 21, of- whom 19 were influenza cases. There as one serious ease, which is receiving attention in the Palmerston North Hospital. * Trentham there are 110 serious cases according -to yesterday’s report.

Eight men attended the sick parade, o£ whom four were admitted to hospital suffering from influenza. The total number of patients under treatment was 1562, of Whom 1356 are suffering from influenza. J3ince the last report there have bee'jJ nine deaths. Of the 1562 patients, between five and six*, hundred have reached the convalescent ** stage.

Yesterday evening Defence Headquarters were successful in getting in touch with Peatheijston, and the position in regard to the epidemic showed | a great improvement. Thirty-seven men attended the sick parade, two of whom were admitted to hospital. The total number of patients remaining in hospital was 715, of whom 97 arc serious cases. From 5 o'clock on Monday evening to 5 o’clock last night there had been four deaths.

THIRTEEN DEATHS OF SOLDIERS 'CASES GREATLY REDUCED. WELLINGTON, this day Thirteen more soldiers’ deaths are reported, but the cases in camp are greatly reduced in number. At Featherston there are 566 in hospital, 97 of which arc serious. At Trentham there are 1498 in hospital, also -97 serious While more deaths may be expected, the death rate has fallen largely and. the back of the epidemic is considered to be broken. Reports from town hospitals are ta the same effect. Doctors state that quite a proportion of deaths are due to relapses through patients getting up too soon, believing they are on th<£ mend, -which is the most dangerous phase of the disease. Hon. W. G. Russell has issued instructions that temporary hospitals may bo established in country districts under conditions laid down, and the Government will be responsible for equipping and maintaining them. INFLUENZA AT SAMOA. | ________ ASSISTANCE CABLED FOR. ( WELLINGTON, this day The Samoan garrison will be demobilised as soon as possible. Influenza has broken out there, and is spreading." ( Assistance has been cabled for, but cannot be spared from New Zealand. The Minister is' trying ;to arrange medical aid from Sydney. ; ; DUNEDIN. .

DUNEDIN, Nov. 2Gs* The influenza outbreak is believed to be, well under control. Mr C, sW. Scurr, lawyer (Mayor of St. Kilda) succumbed last night. . Crickjet, bowling ;and tennis set down for Saturday next has been interdicted by the health officer.

CHRISTCHURCH.

CHRISTCHURCH, N0v.,20. Though available statistics regarding the influenza epidemic sho-jy,- no evidence of. falling off in virulence,, the general tone among officials is hopeful Admissions to the hospitals yesterday totalled 62, showing an increase over the previous day, but this is regarded as the result of organisation, every serious case being known. Many business places have closed down till further notice, and others open during the morning only. Yesterday r s deaths included Mr James Sheate, a married man aged 46, who committed suicide by hanging himself following an attack of influenza, while to-day the death was announced of Mr Joseph, Eslick, a well-known tobacconist.

SERUM ORDERED FROM AUSTRALIA.

WELLINGTON, this, day. One thousand doses of the serum which is said to have been successfully used in Australia, has been ordered, and particulars asked to ascertain if it can be manufactured here. PRECAUTION IN AUSTRALIA Received 11.35 a.m. SYDNEY, this day. As a precautionary measure virulent influenza has been proclaimed a notifiable disease.

AT TAIHAPE. The report of the efforts to combat the scourge in Taihape are distinctly encouraging this morning. For the previous 24 hours there was only one death, that of Mr. W. Sexton. The condition of patients in the various hospitals is satisfactory. We regret to hear that Nurse Gordon is down but even she is improving. .The Relief Committee is not “letting up” in the least in their efforts in dealingwith the unwelcome visitor. As the days go by the position will rapidly improve. The committee’s efforts is a triumph of intelligent organisation, and reflects the greatest credit on our Mayor and his able body of coadjutors.. The need for female workers is still urgent. j ™