THE EPIDEMIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1918, Page 5

THE EPIDEMIC.

IN NEW PLYMOOTHr

A GOOD DAY,

ONLY S5 NEW CASES. Yesterday was the best day New Plymouth has experienced since the outbreak of the disease. Only 85 new cases were recorded, as against 161 the day before, the homes affected numbering 25, as against 56 on Thursday. Only seven of the cases were carded as serious. Besides this there were 60 recoveries, which .means that the disease has practically been overtaken, and that the position is now in hand. The following table of the progress from day to day is interesting: November 17 18 19 20 21 22 total ♦Total cases .. 197 207 208 199 101 85 1769 New homes ... 55 58 56 25 194 Seriouß cases C 22 10 7 7 52 Recoveries * On the 15th 300 cases were reported, and on the IGti], 412.

At present there are 1529 cases in New Plymouth borough, equal to about 16 per cent, of the population. There is good reason to believe that the recoveries will from now on overtake the new cases, which should steadily decline. It can now ba confidently claimed that the measures being taken are achieving the desired result. In many other places the proportion of cases has been forty per cent, of the population. Happily the local cases have been taken and treated jn time, so that the proportion of serious cases is small.

The bottles of medicine sent out yesterday numbered 535, which showed a small decrease ov«r the previous day's figures.

The motors had another busy day visiting the houses in town and inspecting th(f country districts, where several more serious esses were found.

Tho special medieal corps rendered invaluable help yesterday, permitting the doctors to undertake more real medical work than was possible before. The cases are sorted out by the members o f the corps, and the dostora are tai-nty able to confine their attjinion to the cases of a serious character.

The ladies were agam kept at high pressure, making up and supplying foodstuffs, arranging for nursing and domestic help. Many of tho helpers arc gettag. knocked up by the strain of the v-ork, and relief is urgently required. The Mayoress wr.3 quite concerned last night because she could not procure sufficient help to sit up with patients. The public are responding well to the appeal fir foodstuffs, which enables the committer to maintain supplies to patients. There is a shortage of lemons still, the supply being in no way equal to the demand. Can those with lemon trees hand in further supplies! Every one counts just now.

THE MAORI HOSPITAJ FOURTEEN INMATES. There are now 'l4 Mp.oris in tho temporary Maori hospital which has been established in the Native hostelry. Some of these cases are very bad, one deatfc having occurred yesterday Mr. F. S. Johns, who lias charge of the aiTangements, speaks in high praiEe of the work done by the two (hospital nurses who are stationed there, and by Mr., Mrs., and Miss Jackson. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks, caretakers of the hostelry, are also doing good work. Mr. John 3 states tfjat La is hard preyed for help there, and would like strong able-bodied young men to assist the nurses. Tibia should provide,a. good opportunity for some intelligent young Maoris, who could assist in making the lot of their suffering brothers tusieu. There is still a large number of Natives at. the temporary hospital established at Tito's place on tho Kg-jnont Road Several of the serious eases from tero were removed to the Native hostel in town.

The two committeemen who iiava dope invaluable work in coanectioa with the Natives 'have be«n seized with the "flu," Last evening another committcoamn went out.to assist

CONVALESCENT HOME AT KAWAROA PARK. ■

The home for convalescents established at Kawaroa Paxk is proving a very useful institution. There are now 18 convalescents there, under the caro of Major Sheppajd, and it is expected that a few more will be transferred from the hospital to-day. Tho capacity at Kawaroa Park ia about 25. It is hoped tfeat some of the occupants will be able to leave for their homes in a day or two, thus further relieving the congestion Sit the hospital. AT THE CRECHE.

There are nyw thirteen babies at the creche, under the management of 1 Phwket Nurse Williams and her band of assistants. This is about the limit that can be accommodated. So far none has been returned to the mothers, who apparently have not yet sufficiently recovered. A visit will probably be shortly paid ,to the mothers, so as to see if any of the babies can be returned, in order to make room for othoi'3 that are wilting to be received. '

■ TUB CR:! *J.> HELP. 1 MORE WOMEN WORKERS. It. was found lata last sight that bhera were five cases for which the ladies' committee weferqiiite unaMa to: provide assistance, and so an appeal was made to the Citizens' The five cases were:~ ; .

(1) Woman with one-day-old baby. (2) House, six down. (3) House, five down. (4) Girl critically ill. 1 (5) Father worn out. Been' up lor several nights wifli a' siolc daughter. Volunteers were at ones forthcoming, one member (a visitor from America) choosing tie hardest case. A V.AD., however, was found installed in ope of the homes.

The particulars are given to show the urgent need existing for further women helpers. The men are prepared to do anything in an emergency, but in all the cases but one women mentioned above were better able to deal with the cases than men.

Three or four willing V.A.D.'s are urgently required to register with the Mayoress at th*' patriotic rooms at 9 aan. to-day. Some will probably 1)8 drafted ft* i

AT THE HOSPITAL

Iff ;©MISSK»«S MSSERB&Y.

POSITSC® DIPROVm . j v

Ml a admissions to the Hospital yesterday were 19, Hew Plymouth supplying S r Carringten -Road 3, Kginont Village 3, Mid Egmont Road, Durham Road, iiaimata, Jr'ungarehu, aud Waitara one each. Of the jSew Plymouth cases, ono was. Uiat o£ a V.A.D., and most of the others had. previously been receiving medical attention and were sent in for Hospital treatmentThe cases at the Hospital number 190, influenza accounting for 14S, Therewere seven deaths yesterday. Up to date there have 'been 20 deaths at the Hospital from pneumonia. In addition, there are 13 Maoris at the special (Hospital at t1& Maori hostelry, 11 being admitted yesterday. Onedied, and a number of the others are lying critically ill. The Hospital is in charge of Nurse Thirst and TLA.DI Wolfe, who tad a very 'hard day yesterday, working for 12 hoars continuously. They have the assistance of two return-, ed soldiers, who volunteered fof hospital work. Mr. S. JacEson, his wife, and the custodian, are also helping, and it can be said that the Natives aw receiving the best possible treatment.. The Medical Superintendent pomts out that Maoris who can spcalc both languages have just new an opportunity of rendering valuable service to their stricken brothers at the Native hospital, and of facilitating tho worts of the nurses, as many of the patients cannot make themselves understood. There ia also plenty of scope for then 1 activitiesin other directions at tV.e Native hospital

There are 14 convalescents at Kawaro:t Park, under Major Shepherd. Dr. Walker inspected the place yesterday, and was pleased with the general conditions and the progresi of the convalescents-

Dr. Walker hopes that in the course of a fow davs they will reach a working maximum at the Hospital. By that he' mnans that the daily discharge of the convalescents, who up to now hare not been very numerous, will equal the cases coming in. In the first few <Jaya pf the epidemic tho admission's were few, which accounts for the present small unrulier of discharges. In an emergeney, the Hospital can deal with many mpre en"'"*, without overtaxing the accommodation and breaking down the narsjpg organisation, which is standing the strain splendidly. Tho old hospital building has still a good reserve of beds The domestic staff and warders are rendering excellent service.

[ Dr. Walker was of opinion that Inglewood had now the mastery of the disease, there being 110 Admissions yesterday. There were few country districts now that were not organised. The country at the back of Tarik\ was presenting a difficulty, as tilie cases there /were hard to get at, and many, were going down- The New Plymouth Cpiomittee were again going to the rescue and dom;* everything possible for the settlers. There were tetter reports from Pangarehu. where then? wore 'l2 cases, w.der Nurse Campbell, who had been given the services of a returned soldier At Okato a special hospital, waa beins established ar.d things were satisfactory at Rafcotjo. Ugmont Village was now thoroughly organised. Medicines and instructions had been despatched to all tlta cocatiy coptrw M far aa Awakino.

Referrisjtr to the general situation, Dr, Walker said thai tho epidemic, as a rule, lasted from four to eight weeks He was hopeful thai as a j-esult of the organising work and the .preventive measures taken that tiicy would materially shorten its duration here. There were many bivij cases in tlte hospital, but there was also a. Big proportion of mild cases, especially during the past day or two. Altogether the position was greatly improved.

AT HAWERA. " " " "TOP OF THE WAVE REACHED." "The top oi the wave ttaa been reached. 1 ' This" was the reassuring statement supplied .to a Star reporter yesterday morning by l>r. MaoDiarmid, acting medical superintendent of the hospital The doctor Bays that there is now every indication of aa abatement in the epidemic, and that the future shows a 'brightei - outlook. There were several new casea admitted to tho temporary isolation hoopftal on Wednesday, but they are not serioiu. Throa patients were tfltiisferred to the convalessent hospital in St.Tftary's Hall. Nearly all the patients in thai institution are reported to he doing well. Th» call for more volunteer helpers brought forth a very satisfa&ory response. both for hospital work within *r4 without tho buildings; .led r'or visitation, inquiry and report. j Every street in the town was again visited yesterday "morning, and the reports which trickle in every few minutes are. on the whole, most satisfactory.

Mapy at the farmers are suffering area? 1og« Slid inconvenience, but friends Snd neighbors vrtio halve escaped the influenza >xe giving every possible help. At the saJe yesterday there was i>; call (of volunteers to milk, aa£ ii wmliwell responded to- " ... While tliti position -Is improving, is regrettable to hear of four more deaths, yjgr.' Beroy eommermai traveller, ftgei 36, married, with one child, died in the Public Hospital last nisrht. Mr. Frederick Mills, aged 41/, married, passed away in tho temporary isolation hbspital'yesterday morning. He arrived in Hawera, recently, .from Christcburch to manage the 0.'8.1\ V boot business, *pur'by ilia late jMj*. J.K,. Carpeifter., ■three other patients succumbed in the temporary isolation hospital yesterday morning. They are:— Mr. John King, agetf 35, iftSmeS, m - tor mechanic, employed by Messrs pokering, Sagar, and i Mr. Thomas Pino, horse trainer, aged 32, married; with three children, Waihi Road, Hawera. Mr- William Badcock, aged So, married, laborer, >Disraeli Street, Hawera,

LITTLE CHANGE AT DUNEDIN. Dunedin, Last Night. There is little change as regards the influenza, but the admissions to the hospital are still increasing. This is attributed to the Mock scheme ensuring more efficient medical service, the number of visits by doctors to patients being materially reduced To-dav. So far, four hospifcalnuraes Save died from influenza. The city trams stop running at l p.m. on Saturday, and will not resume tfflTlmrsday morning'

lor- XgftuMM and"CfctMii,

[ mWMiWk&W. f TAHINfi. ~ ™ J

DBEKiED. ' ' Auckland, IntoUßfrfa s Adeadioeffi; has arisefi between Virion Company and th 6 watecaijere m< ; gardrog the discharge of the Tahzaefe ' cargo, principally bananae, the workers refusing to unload on account of theenib demic. After consultation between we' workers and the officers of the Union Company and Dr. Frengley, arrangements were made to fumigate the ship I and indemnify the workers as in the case of the Niagara, and work will fa starting to-morrow morning. 33te Auckland Savings Bank opened for business'to-day. ?. ,i Supplies of oranges and lemons in the auction marts were commandeered i)gj the police this morning. Joseph McMahon, picture .proprietory. died of the epidemic.' AUSTRALIA'S TOP, ATSftMOuE Wellington, Lasb XBgjhf* Referring the inflnema oatbxßak&ii 'Samoa, t2» Pome Minister eai<Stat fcf the existing circumstances not , aistance could be sent from Ifew land. The Government, J#?..' quested the Australian QwmuuMßE ® help. A reply bad. been retained QM,'<; the warahip Encounter wfll 2» deat fiuH Sydney with nine medical mem aai ta ■ medical qrderliea, tents, droga, vaanw and other articles sufSdeitfe need. V Mr. Mjiescyprsised the prompt, naigfH borly action of the- Cqnnnoraßealfh thoritiea. t "* LATEST EBOM ' Ghrtetcftaxeb, last SagSST'' As showing the virulence of the «ab cbemic shtee the finst of the TlWttS), * have been 329 burials at the two Ogn&t' teriea controlled by the City Ommsßy tß(\ compared with forty-four for the ffWHW period last year- The figures fefswaww. other cemeteries are unavailable. In the country districts widespread, there being 200 caaW r JßHHfffi'r mild, in Cheviot alone. '' ' "<5 Difficulty is being esperitmseffl».*3y taining trained nurses to take cbaxgtvOß - the hospitals opened in rural ' and doctors arc suffering from overwqyfet In the city two new hostels hseve biettv opened for the reception: of enfldjenj: whose parents are flown with tW malady. -"v" V CONQUERED IN GAMES.' ■ i-. After visiting Featherston Camp,4s4 James- Allen expresses confidence {fatf 1 the influenza enemy has been well con w quered. Very few men are now on tfw stole list. There are still a few seriflH# cases, but the Minister is confident tMJt? will' not be much more loss of life. Jjo? i this very cheerful state of affair*, tP* Minister says the credit must $e gitts to the excellent organisation and worit' of the staff, wihp. have done all tluct'fltts humanly possible. The patient atA every care and attention that oouH to} . given, and it is believed that the p##* ents had a better chance in camp t&aa ' they would have had outside. He «?W ' warmly praised the - help of the tafflW' who volunteered to assist these.- help#Wl|: and supplied a!sun3ance of jeljies, enstards, and other nourising delicacies. ( NO DANGER AT THE WHAftVES. Dr Makgill said to-day that fective organisation of tho wharves if at.:* a matter for congratulation, and whose duties lav among the ships now feel perfectly confident that»no-<litt< r ger would arise. '• v GENERAL i 1 ':\ A hospital has .been openett in tW Technical School, Manaia, fortreatmeffl ' of Maori patients. . A Hawera lady informs the Sfc&r tysA - she has it on the authority of aa enta ■ ent medical man that the eating , w iplenty of raw onions is an excellent Vfp ventive against epidemic. She says tori ; all of lier household" who Esw t|Ml experiment have escaped the prevailing visitation; Two members taike oniona became ill ■i? i \ GENERA3L. Improvised inhalation machines TWjj* yesterday despatched by Inspector Dsj -> to Maketawa and Lepperton, '. will be fixed up at the factories. J)J The Mayoress also especially aaks,fflj " the assistance of several mature wojtta ] to help her, owing to several of her majj . helpers getting worn out with OYGTWOIV