INFLUENZA.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 November 1918, Page 6

INFLUENZA.

/POSITION IN WELLING ' , TON. j '

CLOSING OF, ALL BARS DEMANDED

NECESSITY FOR MORE WORKERS

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Nov. 10 The names are published of 70 soldiers who have died throughout tlbe Dominion of influenza during the past week. The Maoris aro suffering badly, and all tangis. have been forbidden. The railways will not carry travellers to tangis.

A deputation to the Hon. G. W. Russell demanded the closing of all bar 3. It laid stress on the ff/ct that their experience in visiting Ihouaes and handling eases showed that far too much drinking was going on by both sexes. Assistants in the hospitals complained of having to attend people reeking of liquor. The deputation threatened that they would abandon the work of relief unless something was done.

The Hon. Russell said that all the committees would be consulted, and if anything like unanimous, closing would receive most careful consideration. The Minister considers there is a perceptible improvement, but the cry is still for more workers, and espeaially more doctors. Most of the churches have aoandesed all services to-morrow.

That the epidemic is on the point of taking a turn for the better is the view held in official circles. In conversation with a Dominion representative on Thursday night, the Minister of Public Health (Hon. G. W. Russell) stated that the opinions which he had received from all parts of the Dominion on Thursday indicated that there was a perceptible improvement. "My own opinion is." added the Minister, "that given line weather and the application' of the preventative measures that are now being taken everywhere, the epidemic will not be of ;ong duration, and. will not be so serious as was at one time anticipated." Uo to the present nothing had come before him showing Dhat there was any shoitage of d.-ugs in th<! Dominion.

"Matten have very much improved in tie camps," said the Minister of Defence on Thursday night. "SurgeonGeneral Henderson, Director-General of Medical Service, has visited J'cathcrston and he reports rhat everything there, from officer commanding to order, ly, is working splendidly Tw# is still large number of seriooi cases in Featherston, but I hope that an improvement will be shown soon in this respect. The number of admissions to hospitals are number of admisiona to hospitals are decreasing.

•HOTELS, BREWERIES, ETC.

TO CLOSE TILL FURTHER NOTICE

Wellington, Saturday Cabinet decided that when tlbo Wellington hotels close at 4 p.m. to-day they will remain closed until further notice. The restriction will apply to all hotels and club bars in the boroughs or town districts, or within a radius of three miles of boroughs. Hospital Boards and other loc.tl health authorities havo been instructed to obtain 3upplies of alcohol liquors to be dispensc-i only on medical prescriptive

The question of closing tlhe breweries is tinder consideration. Wellington, later.

Breweries, wine and spirit businesses are also to close til further notice. This applies to all cities, boroughs and town districts.

- THE PUBLIC SERVICES

! GENERALLY AFFECTED

Wellington, Nov. 1(5

There will be ao tiuin service to-mor-row. One hundfred ana\ thirty-five traffic men are suffering from influenza. The number of telegraph operators and telephone .staff off duty bow is IG7. RAPID PROGRESS IN CHRIST? ■ CHURCH, | WPTEEN DEATHS ON FRIDAY, j Christchurcli. Nov. 16. Influenza ie still .flaking rapid progress. Yesterday there were forty-seven cases admitted to the hospital, wfhere there were fifteen deaths. I Of five doctors at the hospitai, three are ill <wkl «na ADr A. X- Short) died yesterday. The Royal has ieen taken over by the Health department for a hospital, and tfce .Thole district is heißg organised to cope with the malady. There were thirty admissions to the fa»pital from influenza up till two o'clock to-day. There were seven more deaths. The trains are not to close down altogether, but will cease cunning at 8.15 each night. H. M. Cotton, president of the local Returned Soldiers Association, died today from influenza. _ The health officer is asking for burials to be made as quickly as possible, ana that only the immediate connections of deceased should attend. The citizens' organisation system is working better to-day, and gradually getting a grip on the outbreak. Practically the whole city was closed up from 4 pjn. to-day for fqmigation purposes. No business premises will open to-night.

POSITION IN WANGANUT.

Wanganui, Nov. 17.

The influenza continues, but the number of cases reported to-day is less than yesterday. The authorities opened two. additional hospitals, also one for Maoris. Another large suitable building is ready if required. Hbere were at least six deaths from pneumonia during Saturday, and to-day a number of serious cases were reported. Only urgent cases are ■being admitted to the hospiUla. Inspecting nurpes are visiting tfie peop aM advising a* the course of Ueat;ment.

SERIOUS AT GREYMOUTH

THE TOWN CLOSED.

Grey mouth, Xov. 18. The influenza epidemic is very - serl °" ! ' XlMißUun. JiMjitgl i» tk* te<&"

ncal school, which is used as a supplementary hospital, is al.so crowded. There have been seven deaths in three days. It has bscn decided to close all business places tili Thursday next. The town is being fumigated by the health officer.

POSITION IN DUNEDIN, MORE HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION Dune-din. Saturday Night

There have been eight- deaths at the Dunedin hospital to date, including Nurse Mary Wat-son.

Notification of fresh cases in the entire Otago and Southland districts were 25 to-day, there being only five in Otago proper.

Ttaere were over 100 cases in Dunediu hospital. 'Knox Church School has been turned into a temporary hospital. ON THE MAIN TRUNK, PITIFUL CRY FOR HELP. "Matters in Ohakune, Horopito, Rangataua are deplorable. Want of medical attention and women helpers. No doctors available between Taihape and Taumarunui. Assistance asked from Raetihi, but none available, a3 matters just less bad than here. Can Wanganui help?" This telegram was received by the Wanganui town clerk on Friday and read by him to the conference of local bodies. Mr. Lethbridge, chairman of the Hospital Board, said it was heartbreaking to hear such appeals, and be unable to ser.d help. The Hospital Board had done all it possibly could- The doctor and nurses who were despatched had been stricken, and it was impossible to get mirses. He did not know what was to be done. The people in the inland towns were simply fighting with death. THE MAORIS. PRECAUTIONS ON! THE COAST. The action of Constable O'Neill, stationed at Rahotu, in Tespect of the Maoris, is to be commended. Last week he visited all the pahs and gave orders that the Natives must stay there and oh no account to move about. He arranged with a man in each of the townships to be responsible for taking up food and other requirements. At Parihako he found the disease to have got a strong hold Medicine was at once despatched and every means taken to combat the disease*. The Maoris had arranged to have a field day or two at Cape Egmont plant: nig potatoes, fishing, etc., and had it not been for the prompt and sagacious action by the constable the whole of the Natives would probably have been Infected.

AT STRATFORD.

Mr. C. ©. Sole rang up last night to say that the organisation there was working very well. The position in Stratford, and particularly in the country districts, is very bad, there being a number of virulent cases. Four deaths occurred at Stratford yesterday. One was a Chinaman, who was found seriously ill in his fruit shop. Arrangements Were at once Inade for his removal to the hospital, but he died Ibe/ore these were completed. A man named lamont was taken from the Trocadej'o to tlje hospital on Saturday, and died in that institution yesterday. A third death wa3 that of a young married woman named Kichardson, residing with her husband on the Opunake Road, who died suddenly. She had had a bad attack and got up too soon. There are several serious cases in the hospital, and two of them are not expected to live through the niglit. Sufferers cannot be too strongly urged not to get up too soon, and also not to be frightened if they are attacked. The ladies in Stratford have been working very hard during the past few days, and arp now just about knocked out. They are sadly in need of assistance, and any volunteers that could get away iby the express train will receive a hearty welcome on reporting at the office of the Stratford Hospital Board.

MAORI TROUBLE AT HAWERA.

It is pleasing (states the Star) to report that all the cases in Hawera are of a mild nature, and that the patients are all progressifig satisfactorily. It is estimated that there are about 150 cases in Hawera altogether, and both the isolation ward at the hospital and the temporary hospital at the Winter Show Buildings are full, the latter containing about 50 cases. ' The Maori cases arc presenting a difficulty, as the patients do not welcome tile idea of entering a hospital, and, further, will not remain In the pahs. The police yesterday visited all the pahs in the district, pointing out to the Maoris the danger of congregating in the town, and requesting them to remain in their localities. 'The epidemic is said to be widespread amongst the Native race. POSITION AT ELTHAM. r At Eltliam a Vigilance Committee has been formed to combat the epidemic. Several Eltliam ladies are assisting the sufferers at Stratford. A large number of the staff of the Eltliam 'Dairy Company at the different branches are down with the disease, and farmers who would otherwise have lent a hand are suffering themselves. The borough and county authorities are distributing antsGENERAL. At the meeting of the Stratford Cc.itr.tv Counci: on Saturday it was resolved" on the motion of Crs. Hancock and Anderson, that the attention of tne Minister ft>? Public Health h-e drawn to the council's opinion, that at the present time in the interests or public health, (Irmlcinc fa hotftl't bars siionul bo sterilisedafter use, or, if this is not possible that only bottled spirits and liquors for consumption off the premises too sold. _ ~. , A resident of 'Aneldanrt. who has experience of similar epidemics m England, recommend!, the following simple p an fof preventing or assisting to cure influenza Get. a clean pine and some cotton wool, place two or .three drops of euoalvntuson the wool and inhale deep ?, filling the lungs, and exhale through the nostrils. This simple remedy was Inrrrp ly used in the 2Te.it epidemic in Rngland in ISflO, with the best results. The use of lysol makes the prescription more effective, but. such a combination should be obtained from a chemist with proper 4 directions toe um.

rosrrTox in the camps. LUMBERS IN 'HOSPITAL DECEEAS'

Tlio posit ion in tl>e camps, as shown by the health reports yesterday, is that the numbers of men in hospital are decreasing. To date tlio death-roll of the camps totals over 100. Yesterday's reports werei—« Trenthain. ~ Paraded sick 37 Admitted to hospital 20 Jll hospital .«1534 Serious cases .. SO Featherston,

Paraded sick .|-r.-;r.i 10!) Admitted to hospital 34 In hospital .. a . V r. : 1617 In convalescent camp 815 Serious cases -.h-t-*.■>., 143 Awapuni. 1,.; Paraded sick ts> 2 Admitted to hospital 2 Influenza case 1 In hospital 42 Private C- S. Chalk passed away in Palmerston North Hospital. Pneumonia was the cause of death. SOLDIERS' DEATHS, The following are official notifications of soldiers who have (lied (mostly from influenza or complications following influenza) in New Zealand during the past week;:— FEATHERSTON. S.-Sgt. Bertram Boock, Nov. 10. Cpl. Frank Lewis Davis. Nov. 10. Sgt. Vernon Absolum Winter. Nov. 11. | Pte. Raymond Bray, Nov 11. [Pte. Charles Samuel Marks. Nov. 12. ;Pte. Lawrence Cecil -Hitchcock, Nov 12. Pte. William Georghan. Nov. 12. R QMJS. C. Mackay Mcllugh, Nov, 12. Pte. Arthur Allerf Bright, Nov. 12. Pte. Wm. John Taylor Oracey, Nov 12. R.S.M. Wm. Kinnaird Chisholm. Nov 11. Q.M.S. Leonard Aden Syd. Howe, Nov 11. Pte. Fred Mayo, Nov. 12. Gnr. Jas. Henry Carson, Nov. 12. Pte. Fred. Edwin W. Aydon, Nov. 12. Pte. Thomas Welch Campbell, Nov. 12. Pte. Percy Harry James, Nov. 13, Pt-ft. John Seller, Nov. 12. Pte. Rangi Kerehoma, Nov. 12. Pte. Arthur Small, Nov. 12. Pte. Wm. Jas. Boon, Nov. 9. Pte. Cyril Jolhn Caverhill, Nov. 12 Pte. Edwd. Hunt Cnncliff, Nov. 12. Pte. Henry Webster, Nov. 12. Pte. Fred. Galbraith, Nov. 12. Pte. Alfred Hill, Nov. 7. Lieut. Wm. Jos. Hillis, Nov. 13. Pte. Thos. Chas. Price, Nov. 13Capt. Leonard Harry Pottn( Masterton Hospital), Nov. 14. Pte. Bernard Scott White. Nov. 14. Pte. Peter Holes, Nov. 13. Gnr- Fred. Ernest Lock. Nov. 13.. Pte. Leonard Wilson, Nov. 11. Pte. Maurice John Lawn, influenza (Mrs E. C. Lawn. Rahotu, mother). Gnr. Frank Parker $. Webb. Nov. 10. 2nd Lieut. Guy Bridgemair. Nov. 14. Pte. Robert Daniel Benge. Nov. 10 (Upper Ilutt). Q.M.S. Bertram Boock, Nov- 10 (Wellington). VICTORIA MILITARY WARD, WELLINGTON.

Pte. G. Simmons, Nov. 14. Pte. E. Baker, Nov. 12. Sgt. J. K. Morris, Nov. 12. Pte. J. Pi. Cartmer, Nov. 12. Pte. George Simmons, returned soldier, Nov. 14 (Petone). , : -• AUCKLAND. Pte. G. McNeill, Nov. S Pte. P. Kr.ox, Nov. 10. Pte. Frank Tamil, Nov. 0 Thomas Harry Morrison, Nov. 7, Roy Clifton Wolner, Nov. 8Harold Clarence Troween, Nov. 3. George Barnes, Nov. 9. Charles (Fred. B. Bickerton, Nov. 4. Alexander N. Tweedic, Nor. 9. Ihaia te Apa (Fort Cautlev Barracks). Toto K- Who, Nov. 12 (Fort Cautley

Barracks). ]). Murphy, Nor. 13Pte. Artlrnr Herbert Mitrley, returned discharged soldier, Nov. 13. (New-

market) . Patrick Christopher Knox, Nov. 10

Lower Hutt}'. Francis Coulam, discharged soldier, Nov. 11 (Auckland) 1 . Jj.-Cpl. Francis Spowart, discharged sol-

dier, Nov. 0 (Fiji). Pte. Harold .Tolin Stilton, discharged soldier, Nov. 10 (Remuera), CHRISTCEtURCH- '

Cpl. Frank Pengelly, discharged soldier, Nov. "'l3. Pte. Patrick Francis O'Malley, discharged soldier, Nov. 18. Pte. Arthur Wm. Robertson, discharged soldier, Nov. 13. •HAN'MER SPRINGS. " L.-Cpl. W. G. Clarlt. undischarged soldier, Nov. 13. COOK HOSPITAL, GISBORNE. Rfm. Jas. Brown, discharged soldier, Nov. 13. Hugh Lynn McLean, discharged soldier, Nov. 13. i DUNEDIN HOSPITAL.

Gnv. Louis Joseph de Pletter, Nov. S Bloomlontein).

EXCESSIVE USE OF ALCOHOL

It is pointed out by Dr. Frengley (Acting-Chief Health Officer) that his action in closing the bars of hotels and clubs is intended, in the first instance, to prevent close contact of pei-sons. Taking at random a series of 77 per cent, of deaths from influenza and its complications, as registered with the Registrar of Deaths at Auckland, he finds that 51 of these are lpr; and 26 females- He does not sug, "■est for a moment that stimulants are not required for the persons suffering from influenza or pneumonia. That, aspect he states, is one upon which the patient should accept guidance entirely from his medical attendant, but he does hold that penumonia of any type is a verv fatal illness among those who are addicted to taking alcohol excessively.

The car tvre that has leapt into f<™ 9 is the NEW NORTH BRITISH CLINCHER CROSS. Gives big mileage-big satisfaction. Try a set and watch resuits.

Verv few people seem to be willing to pav for Hansard. For the MMon of 1017 the number of copies printed was S («W. T.,0 «•!,»' was only 101 (who paid .C 8 V»), « nvera"e of one subscriber to 10,000 of the Dominion's population ■ The' nlimber of each issue/ , 16510 (including copies for 101 tutJ- 1 ""