INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1918, Page 8

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

SERIOUS CONDITIONS AT NEW PLYMOUTH. . TOURTEEN NURSES DOWNf. Though at first, as at Auckland, the 'epidemic was of a mild form, it has now assumed a more virulent nature. At the t New Plymouth hospital a whole ward 'has been devoted to victims, and there are a number of very grave cases. No less than 14 of the nurses are down with influenza, and as five of the staff went to help at Auckland, it has been found necessary to enlist the services of a number of ladies, who are worKing splendidly.

The medical staff is Slaving a very heavy and anxious time, for apart from the New Plymouth cases they have to attend to numerous calls in the outlying districts and adjacent towns, and the task increases dailv.

Without engendering an alarmist feeling, it is considered that the public should realise the gravity of the position, and take every precaution to avoid being attacked, by abstaining from attendance where many people are gathered, by having perfectly free ventilation in their homes and places of business, by keeping up their bodily strength, and by at once going to bed and receiving medical attention when first attacked. So far it is the male members of the community who 'have mainly been attacked, even one of the doctors being affected. There was one death at the hospital last night, the case (a Maori) having only been admitted in the morning, •while another patient is not expected to recover. IN THE CAMPS. Monday's reports from the military training camps were as follow: Featherston. Paraded sick .-... 2TO Admitted to hospital 150 In hospital 2158 Serious ases ..,..*.......... 102 Total deaths 22 Trentliant • Paraded sick IG3 Admitted to hospital 105 Influenza cases 105 Detained for observation 4 Remaining in hospital I'IOS Inbnenza cases -.,-.. 980 Serious IS Deatb.3 , 3 Awapuni. Paraded sick :.« 12 Admitted to hospital 4 In hospital .... SO Influenza cases BO Serious cases, two in Palmerston North Hospital, both critical. One at Feilding, serious Two in camp, one improving, the other very serious. Deaths in the CampsDeaths reported from Trentham Camp yesterday were: — : Major Sale. 88-228 Private E. Goodman. R.Q.M.S. Watts. Deat.li3 reported from Featherston inluded: — 'Sister Wishart. Staff-Sergeant Eoock.

The situation in the camps is not fairly represented by these figures, however, as there has been a falling off in the number parading sick/by something like 40 per cent., and the temperatures shown by the latest cases to be admitted to hospital is much lower than it was in the cases adinittted a few days agoOASES ABOARD A STEAMER. To the Editor. Sir, —I have no desire to create a scare, but what I do desire is to insist upon everything being done that is possible to prevent the dissemination of this dreadful disease. I understand that a steamer which has been at the wharf for a few days, and may still be there for some time, had a virulent form of influenza on board. I am informed that two or three bad cases have developed on the ship, and have been brought on shore. This being so, what are our health authorities doing to prevent any of the crew coming ashore and mixing with the people? It has been the practice in the past when an overseas steamer arrives to station a policeman on the wharf to prevent the public going near the ship. Would it not be a simple precaution to station a policeman on the wharf at once to stop any of the crew from coining ashore? If the disease on board is as bad as I am told it is, then this Bteamer should not be permitted to hang on to our wharf one moment longer than is necessary, but should be sent to some port or bay where she should remain until clean. This is a question for the Health Department, whose dmy it is to attend to the matter, and they should move, and move quickly.—l am etc., CITIZEN". (The crew have been about mingling with the public since the boat's arrival. The mischief feared by our correspondent may already have been done.—Ed.)

health autlioritiea made it incumbent on every traveller to produce a flask of tins or something similar, it would bo better than all the fumigations at th.9 termini, (because the people carrying the flasks would.bo dispensing the inhalant to themselves and everybody else wherever they might bo. The drug I have found most useful is salicylpie of soda, 12 grains, in combination with bromide of potassium., taken in water internally. That will take down the temperature and remove all nerve pains within 10 ■hours."