PRESSURE AT THE HOSPITAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1918, Page 5

PRESSURE AT THE HOSPITAL.

28 ADMISSIONS YESTERDAY. A ZEALOUS STAES, The hospital superintendent and staff had, perhaps, the hardest day they have ever experienced yesterday. There were twenty-eight admissions of pneumonic cases yesterday, whilst after midnight three more came in. Eleven of the cases came from New Plymouth, ten from Inglewood, and one each from Okato, Motnroa, Egmont Village, Tariki, Okoke, Kaimiro and Oakura. This brought the influenza cases in the hospital to 131, and the total inmates to 169.

Of the 131 cases, over thirty are very serious, twenty being in a grave condition. Two nursing sisters fell victims. All the staff are working long boars and doing very hard and trying work. Two of the nurses are very ill, but hepes are entertained that they will be pulled through safely There were eight deaths yesterday, and one early this morning. Nearly all were hopeless from the 6tart, two dying a few minutes after admission. This makes 15 deaths from pneumonia since the outbreak. Seven came from Inglewood, six from New Plymouth and two from outside places. Of the eleven cases from New Plymouth yesterday all had been receiving medical attention, and they were brought in to the hospital to give them a better chance to fight the disease. The number included two nursing sisters and one V-AD., who had contracted the disease in the course of their duties. Fortunately most of these cases are not serious. "The position in the country," said Dr. Walker this morning, "is undoubtedly very serious. It is clear that the epidemic is not under control in Inglewood, whilst reports from various country districts show that there are many distressing cases."

The doctor said that Ptmgarehn was sorely affected. Nurse Campbell was having a trying time, and organisation work would have to be instituted there promptly and the settlers who were well would have to assist if headway was to be made against the disease. Rahotu has several cases in the temporary hospital there, under Mrs..Groom, and the district seemed to be well organised.

There are 40 patients now in the old hospital building, but the trouble was to provide the necessary nursing help. So many of the staff were down, and many of those who were helping now were really not quite fit for the exacting work they were being called upon to perform. Still the staff were responding magnificently, and so far they had been equal to all the demands. A difficulty is being experienced with the washing at the hospital, which is not equipped with proper madiiinery. Labor is scarce, and the work is pressing. It is probable that outside assistance will have to be obtained if the emergency is to be met.

THE NEW PLYMOUTH CRECHE. There are now eleven babies at the erect* which has keen established in the Good Templar Hall The little inmates range in age from 10 days to 16 months, and among them are babies from Hillsborough and Inglewood, also a little Maori baby. There are also two from Wanganui, whose parents, while on a visit here, were taken ill. They are all quite happy in the care of Plunket Nurso Williams and 'her volunteer assistants, to v.hom she is very grateful, not only for their assistance m the hall, but also for taking the little ones out for an airing.

The scene in the hall, which is roomy and airy, is a pleasant one, the babies being accommodated in cots, etc., loaned by various people, who have also loaned blankets, etc They are all doing well, and receive the best attention night and day. As soon as the mothers have recovered sufficiently, the babies will i>e returned to them, in order to make room tor others, which it is expected will come in from the country districts. INCREASING AT PUNGAREHU. The nurse at Pungarehu communicated with the New Plymouth authorities late lsat evening and reported that the disease there was increasing by leaps and bounds. From all accounts, Pungarehu has not organised to attack the disease. Bahotu and Opunake have organised temporary hospitals, got medicines, etc., by them, and made arrangements generally to deal with the outbreak. The country places must do this if the disease is to be successfullv eomhatted. An effort was made to interest Pungarehu settlers in the organising work, but a meeting called for vesterday lapsed, no one turning up. It should be recognised that it is the dutY of all settlers who are well to help those who are stricken, and that help can only be given from New Pli-moutb to those who help themselves For instance, it is quite impossible for a Wal doctor, pressed as he is. to attend to scattered country cases, but if they are concentrated at a temporary hospital at the various centres, a doctor can visit and attend to them.

OPUNAKE READY. OUTBREAK AMONGST THE NATIVES Opunake reported last eveninjr that a temporarv hospital had been established and supplies of medicine obtained. There were <='o far but few cases locally, but at Pihama the disease was amongst the Natives, of whom one had died, and others were in a serious condition. AT URENUIThe disease has pot a fair hold in Crmroi. Mr. F. T. Rellrinsrer went out vesterdftv and gave advice as to oreanisir« and taking precautions, and instructed" a voung ladv in the use of the thermometer. Last evening particulars of reading of the various patients were 'ohoned through, and New Rlvmouth headquarters prescribed for the various cases, none of which, fortunately, is serious. AT ELTHAM. The Arpns understands from the manager of the Eltbam Dairy Comply that 25 of the staff are laid aside, but that wvcnl of the farmers ™ ™*«™*"; risbmee, and so kwpmg the work p*n& But for outside assistance some of tne branches must close. On Tuesday the temporary hospital at lEKbam was readv as soon as necessity arose and the inhalation chamber so earnestly desired is now also an established fact

AT PATEA, The hospital authorities are doing, all' in their power is> copo with the epidemic , A marquee to hold nearly 20 patients has been set up. &> far no virulent cases have .been re-, ported. iFive cases were reported on, Tuesday and two on Wednesday morning. An effort is to be made to obtain a steam-spraying apparatus in which »ulphate of zinc 'will, be used instead of formalin. PIJHEARUHE. Pukearuhe is taking time by the forcoick and making arrangements for fight' ing the disease. Supplies of medicine, with full instructions, are being, sent out this morning. GENERAL ITEMS. "Man calls over fence to neighbor and asks him if he can get a doctor, as they are all ill, one child dying." This was the telephone message received at the New Plymouth Committee rooms yesterday. The matter was referred to the block captain, who reported that the place had been visited that day and the day before, medicine given, and temperatures taken. Soups, milk, soda water, and jelly had heen sent by the ladies' committee. Only a small hoy had a.high temperature, and the medicine prescribed was quite sufficient to reduce it- Besides, the children had been both washed and attended to- Nothing more sould be done than wag being done, yet a complaint of the kind referred to is made. It just shows the inconsiderateness and ingratitude of some people. The committees are out to help the people, to alleviate suffering, relieve want, and render all help possible, hnt they won't want to be blamed for negiect when the neglect is all on the other side and to be bothered nnnecessarilv.

A farmer at Hurworth. sent in for help yesterday to milk his cows, and a committeeman, -who had already done a nard day's work, was at once despatched and did the necessary. The five Fitzroy residents who undertook to look after the inhalation chambers are still holding the fort No assistance from the Moturoa residents was available yesterday, and the place was kept open by men from the Central Committee. The chamber is to be closed down if help from the district cannot be securedMembers of the New Plymouth Committee went out to thirbam Eoad yesterday to give assistance to the Inglewood Committee, who were up against it. They found that practically every family on the road was affected. On one farm there were six children and the mother and father down. The mother and one of the children were in a serious condition, and forthwith brought into the New Plymouth Hospital. On one Barrett Road farm the regular hands are down and a woman and two small children are milking the herd of 50 cows niaht and moraine.

At (he Frankley Road factorv four hand' out of five are down. It was suffpested that tlie town committee miTlit simplv men to keep the factorv going. Tint the feeling was .thn t it mirbt be better for all con"erne< T to close down the factorv for a few ilavs. Tn the Tnslewood district it i? pfatod that a willing helper who has been rendering assistance to stricken families received somewhat of a. shock the other day. He had been to a friend's house, chopping firewood, etc., and. on leaving, expressed his willingness to do whatever he could to assist until his friend* recovered. Next dav he received a 'phone call, and. on responding, was asked to "Mow the lawn"!

A man who knew the dire need thai exists at present for a suppyl of lemons for the sick visited a place where the trees were laden with lemons, but his request was met by the reply that they were wanted for summer drinks. One of the hotels in Wellington closed its bars before orders to that effect were issued bv the Health' Department. It was the Eoval Oak Hotel, where so many of the barmen were ill that the bars' had to be closed, there being doeo to carry on the business. The following was reported in a Wellington newspaper on Monday:—"An unknown man entered a cafe in Molesworth Street this nioring, and immediately dropped dead. He was removed with all speed to the morgue, where a photograph of his remains were taken. The body was sent away at once for burial" "Evidently the poor fellow must have been 'in an advanced stage of the disease when he entered the cafe. It is well understood that fear has a erea* effect upoa patients, of which fact the following storv is apropos:— The devil once made a special visit to New York for the purpose of killing a person with tvphoid fever. On his way there he met a" nrnn. to whom he told the purpose ot bis visit. A short time after the same man met the devil returning from New York. After exchanging greetings, the man said: "I thought you were going to kill onlv one person in New York. Why. von have killed thousands." The devil smiled, and said: "No.: T killed only one. The rest died of fright."