THE EPIDEMIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 November 1918, Page 5

THE EPIDEMIC.

GETTING EPIDEMIC UNDER. 202-.FRESH CASES YESTERDAY. FURTHER HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION. There were 202 fresh caaes of influenza reported in New Plymouth yesterday, making a total Bince Thursday of 1110 eases, or about 11J per cent, of the population. Sixty of yesterday's cases were described as severe. Many of the cases first reported are convalescent now, and probably the total sick to-day is really less tlian 000. Six of the New Plymouth cases were sent to the hospital. The iiospital had a very busy and trying time yesterday. The admissions till midnight were 29, making a total of ,89 influenza cases now under treatment. Of these 28 are pneumonic. There were two deaths yesterday—one a man picked up near Opunake, who died a few minutes after admission, and the other a lad from Windsor Road, Inglewood. Inglewood supplied 13 of eesterday's admissions, most of them eing serious.

Two more cases came from the steamer Waipori, seven of the crew of which are now in hospital So far there have been five deaths at the hospital, nearly all from outside of New Plymouth. Never in the history of the hospital has there been such a call upon its services. To-day there are 133 cases (39 being influenza) under treatment.

The superintendent decided yesterday to open three wards of the old hospital, which has been put in thorough order, and will accommodate 35 cases. Dr. Walker proposes to use it for the milder cases, and, if the disease gets worse, he may have to requisition the three seaside pavilions for the accommodation of the slight cases, retaining the main hospital wards for the serious cases.

In conversation with a News representative last evening Dr. Walker said he thought we were at the top of the wave in New Plymouth. The organising work was chiefly responsible for this result, as cases were spotted and treated at once, where otherwise they may have developed serious complications. So far the proportion of pneumonic cases was remarkably light, compared with other places, while the death rate was also very light. In the Inglewood district, however, the upper hand did not seem to have been gained yet, but the people were now grappling with the outbreak, and taking the necessary precautionary measures. As in war, the attack was the best policy. The disease had been systematically and energetically attacked in New Plymouth, and he was hopeful that they would soon gain absolute mastery and escape with a light mortality. He again spoke appreciatively of the excellent work being done by everyone concerned, particularly the Citizens' Health Committee, the Ladies' Comjnittee, the V.AJD.'s and the returned soldiers on duty at the hospital. As for the nurses, well, he was always proud of them, but the way in which they had risen to the occasion, under the greatest difficulties imaginable, in this exceptional crisis was beyond all praise. It may be mentioned that of a total nursing staff of 41, 22 are down and 6 are in Auckland. The work of the institution is being carried on by 15 nurses, some of whom are hardly fit to undertake the onerous duties they are being called upon to carry out, and 10 V_A.D.'s. But nothing is left; nothing neglected. The staff is rising magnificently to the occasion, and the medical superintendent may well be proud of them.

A dispensary lias been opened in the Red Cross rooms, opposite the Criterion Hotel. The back room is being used as a consulting room, the local doctors talcing successive hours, whilst the chemists are doing the same in respect to the dispensing. It should prove a great convenience, and accelerate the work of relief.

Amongst the victims in New Plymouth was the wife of a Ohinaman, Representatives of the Ladies' Committee duly called, saw to the sick woman's needs, and did what was possible. The husband was very grateful. The ladies report that the rooms were 'beautifully clean, quite a contrast to some of the homes of the white people visited, where the conditions were inexcusably dirty, calling for rigorous and regular inspection by ladies, as well as instruction in hygiene, if the inmates are to be kept healthy and the town clean.

The appeal for lemons was responded to well yesterday, a good many coming forward. There is, however, a great demand for the fruit, not only in the town and immediate district, but from outside places, and it is hard to refuse an appeal in these times. Will those 'with supplies kindly send them in today, and so help the good cause? There was a gratifying response to the Mayoress' appeal for more workers yesterday, young girls and mature Mies coming forward and offering to do whatever they could. The hospital called upon Mrs. Burgess for three assistants, which were promptly sent. More help will be wanted, and Mrs. Burgess would be glad of volunteers to-day. It is the opinion of those in a position to judge that a good many lives have been saved in New Plymouth during the past few days by the prompt assistance given, especially in regard to foodstuffs. In one case a whole family was down and had been without food for two days. Had not the Citizens' Committeeman ibroken in, they must have all died.

Tho Health Committee are doing noble and valuable work—work wjiich calls for unstinted praise and support—but their services would be considerably lightened if the public would only obey instructions and see that the "'All Well" cards are only put up when everyone in the house is well. The card must "be instantly removed if an influenza case develops. ■Somo people foolishly report "All Well" and progressing favorably when tho reverse is the case. A man in Lemon Street—or, rather, his girl—gave in such a report yesterday. In the-even-ing he had a temperature of 105, and had to he removed to the hospital. Men with side-cars can render valuable help in taking out medicine to•patients. A few were available yesterday- More are wanted to-day. Over 309 bottles of medicine were sent out yesterday, not a few being distributed in; the country. More empty bottles of Goz and Boz are required.

The messenger iboys are doing fant ously and showing a fine spirit. They worked like Trojans yesterday, and increasing work is .being found for them. "Yesterday the ladies' committee very thoughtfully supplied morning and, afternoon teas, as well as luncheon, to the Citizens' Health Committee. Their kind-aeee-iw-inudiya.ppreejated

The Order-in-Council dealing with the , closing of hotels was fairly ambiguous,,! and the police authorities were without instructions ill the matter. In conse-f quence. some of the New Plymouth hotels' were open yesterday morning, and inci-i dentally doing a "roaring" trade, but iti is to the credit of the hotel-keeper® 'tfrafr when the intention of tfhe proclamation was made known to theutj they closed down, and will remain closed', until they get advice to re-open. There is a great danger of people suffering or recovering from influenza coming in contact with other persons, go spreading the disease. The New Plymouth authorities intend to take drastic action in such cases. Such people must; isolate themselves until the last traces of the disease have disappeared. Some people have the idea that the inhalation chambers are for curing people affected by influenza. This is not so. Only those clear of it should enter the chambers, which are preventive, not curative.

The motorists connected with the Citizen's Health Committee are working as energetically as ever. Ardhdeacon Evans makes an admirable and tactful generalissimo, and all demands are being met. But it is necessary to spell some of the men, and also to extend the work of inspection, taking in the suburbs and country districts, and not confining attention to the borough altogether. For that reason more help is required, and we are asked to invite all who can give a hand to report this morning between' 9 and 10 o'clock at Mr. GriffitHis' rooms. Their assistance at this juncture will be very- valuable. A correspondent writes:-As an old resident of this borough, I very strongly protest at the way in which our city fathers allow our hotels 'to carry on their businesses. Let anyone go throng! the right-of-way of a certain hotel in town. The muck and filth are terrible, being enough to breed everything under the sun, and the smell from the w.c. is awful. The latrines of another town .hotel are little better; in fact, they are all bad. Another festering spot is the w.c.'s of a local school. The least the borough inspector could do is to make the borough keep them clean. At present they are used by others as well aa the boys.

The influenza epidemic is affecting the work of the dairy factories very considerably. At Otakeho last week the whole staff were down, and a former manager and employee who were in the neighborhood took charge with other helpers, and the work was carried out.

There are at present ten patients in the Manaia isolation hospital, and they are all doing well.

Hikaka, a well-known Native, living at Oeo, died on Saturday morning from pneumonia.

Another Cabinet Minister, the Hon. W. D. P Mac Donald, ia in the clutches of the influenza fiend. i THE VACCINE TREATMENT. A SUCCESS~LN~AUSTEALIA. Received Nov. 18, 7.40 p.m. Sydney, Nov. 18. The medico in charge ,of the quarantine station states thai the vaccine treatment for influenza has proved a decided success, not only in combating the disease, but in preventing the spread. The situation is now well in hand. The Sonoma and two other vessels have been released.

WELLINGTON PASSES THE ZENITH. By Telegraph.—-Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. An unknown man entered a cafe in Molesworth Street to-day and immediately dropped dead. Mr. Buick is the man who was reported to be in a very grave condition. Some of the doctors think that Saturday was the zenith, of tlhe epidemic here, and that it is now falling. The Hon. T. W. Wilford las now recovered.

Doctors are to be organised by distrid as far as possible.

The Health Officer (Dr. Maikgill) states that there are indications of the disease being got under in Wellington. Things uow seem to be going well, he says, and the epidemic is lessening.

The Minister for Defence states that the reports from the camps and military hospitals are reassuring. There have been no fresh admissions at Hanmer, and the epidemic is in hand at Rotorua, while no serious cases are reported from Narrow Neck Camp. 1 Ernest J. Redstone, a commercial traveller, and Denis Fay, a wool broker, died of influenza.

MAXIMUM REACHED AT CHRISTCHURCH. Christchurch, last Night. Colonel Wylie, the officer in charge of the Orthopoedic Hospital, who is now in charge of the Christchurch Hospital, stated to-day that in the twenty-four hours ended a midnight <52 cases of influenza had been admitted to the hospital and the annexe at the Royal Hotel. He said thero was no sign of any decrease in the ravages of tho disease, but, on the other hand, there was no evidence of anv increase, while there was much to' suggest that it had reached its maximum, as faT as seriousness went. "I want you to emphasise," Colonel Wylie added, "that tho number of deaths at the hospital is no criterion of the actual gravity of tho epidemic, aa only exceptionally severe cases are admitted*to the hospital."

BANKS MAY CLOSE' FOE A WEEK.

Wellington, Last Night. In consequence of the depletion of the staffs through the present epidemic, Sir Joseph Ward has sanctioned the banks closing at their discretion. The banks are considering the question of immediately closing all their offices in New Zealand for one week.

! A CRECHE (BOR BABIESThe Pluniket nurse, at the instance of the medical superintendent, decided to open a creohe yesterday, the Good Templar Hall being offered for the purpose. Mr. I". J. Deare and a body of willing workers got to •work and cleaned up the place, and by last it was in thorough good order. It is prpposed to leave here the infants of parents down with the influenza and who are unable to care for Hie children.

Two children of parents wiio were on a tour of the district, and who are both down, were the first placed in the creche last evening! The 'establishment should prove a great benefit to parents and the committees.

WELLINGTON NOTES. »*>. : MPIiT>USZA IN the camps:wan. .MxrofOKSfe MUST AUY -SERVICE OBJEOTOBS. (By Telegraph—Our Parliamentary Reporter-) Wellington, Last Night. Sir James Allen states there is a cided improvement is the camps' reports. Deaths are occurring still among the old cases, but the new cases are comparatively few and mild. Trentham had only four admissions to-day, but tilery are 1564 remaining in hospital It is practically certain the House will adjourn to-morrow for another week on account of influenza and tho absence--o£ many of the members. Sir James Allen: states that the refi J gious objectors who undertook to pw form civilian service will demotelioewithl the troops, but other objectors now i$ -confinement will be held for the present* as they are, not to be ,soldiwa«aifrirepatriated. INFLUENZA RAVAGES*. Wellington, Nov, 18: The influenza epidemic is iavagb% Wellington very thoroughly. The num* ber of deaths has not been nearly Bi high as in Auckland, but it has befflj alarmingly high. The emergency boa* pitals that have been opened in various parts of the city ore all reporting fatal cases, and the funeral processions in th® city and suburbs tell their own story, a has been necessary to take several cow fins in a hearse at the same lime. The volunteer workers, whose aid has bean enlisted, by the Health Department and the civic authorities, report that they are finding scores of cases of extreme tns gency. They mention also that they are put to much trouble by frightened people who have got the influenza in » mild form, but who persist in believing that their condition is desperate. Ths publicity given to the epidemic by tht newspapers has served a useful purpos# by arousing the public to the necessity of strict precautionary measures and acquainting the people with the defew sive organisation; it has also had the ef* feet of alarming and depressing manjj , persons. IMPROVEMENT AT CAMPS, The latest reports from the camps refc cord a further improvement, and thtf medical officers believe that they hav® the epidemic in hand. But'there are still more than a hundred men on the serious list, and the Defence authorities have to record 73 deaths at Featherston up to yesterday, Featherston, which used to ' be regarded as a much healthier camp than Trentham, has fared badly on this occasion, and the medical officers fITQ searching for the reason. BUSINESS OF PARLIAMENT. The course of business in Parliament next week is still rather uncertain. The Ministers wish to proceed with the work of the session, in order that Mr. Maasey and Sir Joseph Ward may get away to the peace conference. But some of the " members are urging that there should be a further adjournment in view of the influenza, which already has gripped more than a dozen members, and which makes the programme of day and night > work outlined by the Prime Minister more than ever unattractive. Apart from the epidemic there is a strong and ap« parently growing feeling among mem-' bers that the work of the session ought not to be hurried through in order that ' two Ministers may go to London. Tfie members say that one Minister would be enough, and that even if two went the House could cany on. Representations on this point have been made to the Prime Minister. If the. House sits through next weeK the Budget will be ready for presents* tion about Friday. The Minister of Finance indicated last year that he did think it would be necessary to increasa taxation this year, and his Budget is not proposing any increases. The most im« portant passages in the Budget will deal with repatriation and reconstruction. They will point the lines of Government policy more definitely than has yet been done. DEMOBILISATION AND WEIPATBIA'a TION. Various unofficial statements of tht Government's repatriation and demobilisation scheme have been published Iste« ly. The position of affairs is indicated clearly enough by the fact that thess statements are unofficial. The schema was not ready when the armistice was signed, and it is now being completed in ■some hasta. Many members of the House have given some attention to thl» subject, and they are not altogether easy in their minds about the situation. They are waiting to be convinced that the Government is really ready for the great work that lies before it. The scheme provides for the extension of the term of military service to one year after the close of the war. It is not considered that all the men can b# brought back to New Zealand under a year, though a big proportion l can be returned within six months. The Minister of Defence will be' responsible f tho care and discipline of the troops aa long as_ they remain in the military organisation. Then there are to be a Board of Repatriation (consisting, of tjie Min», ■ isters of Defence, Lands, Agriculture and Education) and a Director of Renatria- ~ tion, who will have local directors in the various districts. Local committees representative pi the various interests involved are also provided for. The scheme, on paper, looks well enough. Its weak point is that it is being framed ( inp» mediately before tho return of the ™*". 1 • ' and that the board, the directors and the committees will be found tackling problems of procedure and conflicting interests with the returning soldiers already on the spot. That, at any rate, ia what is very likely to happen, and members of the House naturally view with some alarm the 'proposal that they should adjourn without rrmW more than a cursory survey of the repatriation scheme. "