THE EPIDEMIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1918, Page 6

THE EPIDEMIC.

jjgf CHEISTCHDRCH. ■ * (LAKE COLERIDGE STAFF .BADLY, AFFECTKD. __

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Nov. 22. The latest reports show that tlie virulence of the influenza epidemic is diminishing. Tlhe admissions to the hospital yesterday -were forty-six, with seventeen deaths, showing a gradual decrease of two on the previous day Colonel Wylie, in charge of the Christchurch Hospital, says yesterday's cases were not so severe as previously. : Title improved system of organisation was doing much to improve the efficiency of the icampaign in the city, but reports indicate that there is need for assistance in the country. The epidemic has appeared at the Lake Coleridge electrical supply station, where twenty-seven cases were reported, five being dangerous, including two nurses, wthilo six of the ten engine era are down. CJRIES FOR MEDICAL HELP.

Hokitika, Last night. There were two influenza deaths yesterday. Five dangerously ill cases were reported to-day. There are continual calls from the country for medical aid. WELLINGTON'S FAVORABM REPORTS. THE FERRY SERVICE HELO UP. Welilngton, Last night. Reports regarding influenza in Wellington city and surrounding districts continue to be favorable.

The Government steamer intended to help in the Lyttelton-Wellington ferry service and are still lield up for want of men. Some are available, but ask £1 a day and 2s per hour overtime, wtoieh the Marine Department refuses to pay. * The Mararoa sails for Lyttelton as usual to-morrow. IN OTAGa (MOSTLY MILD CASES, * Dunedin, Last night. Otago and Southland notify to-day 51 cases. At Dunedin Hospital there are 216 cases, an increase of 2. The doctors pronounce that the great number of patients are of a marked mild type. The bureau calls are very much fewer. {THE AUCKLAND TOLL. Auckland, Nov. 22. The deaths from influenza reported from the hospitals for 24 hours were 13. Since November 1 the approximate num6er of burials in the Auckland cemeteries from all sources has been 760. It is estimated that the death roll in Auc' land district since the epidemic began is about 1000. Dr A. T. W. tySnllivan, of Dunedin, died of pneumonia in the hospital last night. DANNEVIRKE REPORTS GOOD. Dannevirke, Nov. 22. The influenza epidemic shows signs of ahatemeat Seven more deaths have occurred in the last 43 hours, and ther« aw still ft sumber of serisus eases.

,OBP THE "WAKE, " Pahi&tua, Nov. 22. TSe epidemic is on the wane, but the country districts aro still severely affected, especially the dairy industry. In places whole families are tlowx. Magnificent work' haa been done by the voluntary helpers to meet the situation. An emergency hospital was successfully established t>y the Citizens' Committee. There have been five deaths, and there are five toty seriooi cases at present, and nearly 300 cases in the district and town. The shops have been shut since M< * ' W VAT BUEMHEBIj T ,

Blenheim, Last Nigh*

To-day the cases of influenza in the' Wairau district area were 370, of which 50 are at Seddon, 50 at Pelorus, and Havelock, and 27<T*at Blenheim* The dMtflw nt Blenheim total three. SAMOAN GARRISON, " AK- OUTBREAK OP INFLUENZA. The Minister-of Defence (Sii*-James* Allen) stated on Wednesday, that be had given instructions that tha men of the Samoan garrison should' be demobilised as soon as possible. But no definite date could be* fixed. A sufficient garrison would require to be maintained at Samoa for some time to come, probably until the' fate of the island had been determined at the Peace Conference. An immediate difficulty, added the Minister, was that influenza had broken out in Samoa, and was spreading to a serious extent. The Samoan Administration had cabled asking for medical assistance, and he was trying bo ar-1 range for aid to be sent from Sydney. New Zealand was not in a position to* jspare medical men at the .present time^ UOAST OF STRATFORD. | With a view to discovering the state of Wangs in the country district cast of Stratford a iveWß representative paid a visit to thai district yesterday. Tuna-Wharehuia -were the first places visited. In this locality few people have escaped. In some cases whole families are affected, and the inconvenience in this closely settled dairying district ifl very great. At the present time about 30 cases are reported, with up to tfce present only one death, that of Mr Goodwin, which occurred on Tues•dav last.

Toko seems to-have escaped the visitation, at any rate so far as the township is concerned. Huinga and Toko Road seem to liave suffered very much. There are over (thirty cases, some being rather serious. It would be-(hard to find a family who are free front the scourge. The death of Mrs. Fred Baily, reported some little time ago, seems to be the only one so far in this district.

At Douglas there are forty cases. Among them is that of Mr Fred Reader,' ,who ihas been one of lie most energeSc workers on th&- locai Health Committee. Mr Joe Thomas,*another splendid work;er, %a»-alfio been attacked. Br. Paget spent the whole of Thursday in tttcr-Te Wei a and bade >,country east of Douglas, but the cases here, fortunately, «re sot Mttkv ery tm I MUM ,

NEW PLYMOUTH'S ORGANISATION

, EULOGISED BY THE ILAYOR. The work of the Public Health" Com- 1 mittee during the present crisis was referred to in glowing terms by the Mayor flt the meeting of tlio Borough Council on Thursday, when he outlined the action of the executive in connection with tho steps that had been taken to close the shops and to organise for the purposs ot combatting the epidemic. The Mayor said he hoped it would only be necessary to close the shops this week, but it must be remembered that this was a serious epidemic, and, if necessary, in order to keep the organisation going, they would liavo to consider closing again next week. The doctors were emphatically of opinion that to interfere with tho organisation this week—as opening the shops would have done—would have been a calamity at present. As far as the town was concerned, he thought matters were well in hand. There was, however, a good deal to .be done in the country and here, too, their organisation was of great assistance.

Personally, lib was very gratified at the eonfidenco the townspeople had shown in the council's action by following its lead so well. There had, aa far as he knew, not been ofle dissentient. The town had risen to the occasion magnificently, whilst the organisation would be very hard to beat- If there was a better one anywhere, he would take off his hat to it, but he did not think there was one. The town was to foe congratulated on having such iline workers, who had realised at once the seriousness of the position, and had risen so magnificently to the occasion. When all was orer and people hafl time to realise the position, he felt all would recognise that the action taken had been the means of saving lives, which more than compensated for all tlia dislocation of "business-

Mr. Burgess paid a triSn'la lo ths splendid way in which the motor-car owners had worked and placed their cars and themselves at the disposal of the committea,

Cr. Hayden, sn moving that the council confirm the action of tlio executive, stated that the majority of tho membera of the council were on the committee, and while he did not desire to blow their own trumpet, ho was proud to belong to a (own that possessed jo many publicspirited citizens. Cr- G- W. Browne seconded the resolution, which was tarried unanimously. The Mayor strongly impressed on all the necessity for not relaxing their efforts. Even tho\ifjh the business places were to open, he thought employers would need to ggrea to a certain number nf their employees being free, so as to keep the organisation going. Employers must be prepared to nut up with some inconvenience under the circumstances.

THE TEMPERATURE READERS.

HATS OFF TO THEMIi

"There's a man at the ——— Boardinglnouse very ill. Can you send someone along?" It was a fellow inmate speaking in the committe rooms. The leading temperature reader was there. "Has his temperature been taken yet?" He didn't know. "How long has he been down" A couple of days. ''Has he been properly fed?" He did not 'know. As a matter fact, he confessed he was too scared to go into the room for fear of being infected. "Wait a minute, I'll go along and see him." And in Uhe course of a few minutes the temperature man was with the affected man, taking his temperature, respiration, pulsation, etc. He did not hesitate, and for the germs he entertained the utmost contempt. As he was leaving the committee rooms another man accosted him. His brother was lying very ill. He questioned him closely, and deduced the fact that the patient was in a serious condition. He would see him at once and report to the doctor, if necessary. The temperature readers are splen■lid. i They are not disturbed in the slightest by the germs floating about. Their mission is to fight and defeat the germs, and they are succeeding wonderfully. Hats off to the temperature .men—and women! ,i ANXIOUS TO HELP.; . - RISING TO THE BMjiR^ENCY. "Can I help?" said an elderly man to the New Plymouth Comr.u'.ieo the ether day. He wouiii do anything— go outside and take temperatures, nelp in the domestic work, mind thif telephone- anything, so long as He could do something useful. He wab given ul the benzine depot, aii'l he is now a conteuted

man. ... Another professional man, who does not enjoy good health, volunteered to do Hospital vork of any kind. The 'Superintendent was gratified, tat his condition of health did not permit him to undertake Hospital work. But he has been found something to do. He was yesterday told of the pl ght of some farmsrs, pnd, as he can t vi ik. a mate (another professional many, and off they went to the farm. This is the spirit that animates all tha workers. It is little wondw-the Mayor is so proud of his fellow-cozens who ha.ve so m&gtiiiceaUy risen to the emergency.; ; guard your weak part.

! SENSIBLE ADVICE:

Some sensible advice was given.at Wan nganui the other day by Mr. David McLaren. At a time like thig, he said, everybody should take particular care with regard to what is his constitutional weakness. He had known men who had taken the epidemic and had died in two or tliree days' time. There had been much good advice given as to how tocombat the scourge, but a person s par ; ticular weakness was the crutr.al part. Kearly everybody had a weakness of some sort —heart,' lungs, kidneys or nerves. Part of *the acuteness of the trouble was, he thought, in a measure due to the great nervous strain of the .last four years of war. Everybody should exercise good commonsense and look after his general health. There %vas. no need to get alarmed or into a panic. It was said that the best nurse was one who had a smile on her face. So with the soldier. The whole thing should belooked at as cheerily as possible for the; sake of others. There was a great danger, but the people had great stamina, and would get through. The epidemic while severe enough, was not as bad as might have been expected at thisstage. Yet there was uncertainty as t<* what it might become. It called for the exercise of vigilance and common sense. More serious cases arise out of carelessness than anything else. Do not leave the work to any committee, Itris- Uot, fiyrhnitelJtfui It l» ygUTfc ■

PREPARATIONS AT, OPUNAIvE.

£... A DOCTOR SENT -UP, " ' 3

(From Our Own Correspondent^

Opunakc is very quiet. The business premise# have closed their doors and due necessaries are servecl. The towu will be shut up for a week. The epidemic is here, but is so" far not very serious in the town. Tho greatest call is from the country district. Nurse Holdsworth is supervising a large cumber of cases. The women folk aro doing *?° fl servi<:e under her direction. The Citizens' Committee are making daily rounds, and there are eases in the improvised hospital, whilst other cases are attended to by willing assistants at tho houses.

Tho Natives on Patiki p; oad 0 ad are in for a hard time. Medicine and attention have been given tliem, but Che Maori mind goes in the direction of "chucking up the sponge." They were found lolling about, somo sitting up against drays, and lyfng on the ground- One Native girl succumbed.

A man named Crossley died at Awatuna on Tuesday. He was an old A.C. man.

The manager of the Piharaa factory is down, and the proprietor of the Club Hotel afflicted.

A meeting of the Egmont County local bodies was held to-day. Those present were; Messrs W. Pv. Wright (:cliairmaa of Egmont' Comity), J. Young, (chairman Parihaka Koad Board), C. A Trotter (chairman Town Board), and Messrs S. M. Cornish, E. Thorpe, J. P. Barton, G. W. Sogers (Town Board members), T. H. Sinclair (council), K. Ferguson (Koad Board). The meeting decided to establish hospitals, in addition to those established in Opunake and Unhotu, at Warea, Te Kiri, and Pihama (the latter probably for Maoris). The Health Department 5s sending a doctor to reach Opunake to-night (Friday)", andtlie committee, after a good deal of discussion, decided to meet the doctor after his arrival, and he advised by him regarding working arrangements. THE MANGATOKI DISTRICT. A' meeting of the Hawera Hospital Board and County Council (local representatives) was held on Wednesday. The Mangafoki Biding was divided into wards as follows:—Mr. Marx — 1 'Upper and Lower Dutliie Roads and Eltham Koad to Hall. Mr MeGuinness—Lower Hastings and Hunter roads and Eltham road Ibetween, and also Skoet road- Mr Gifford—Lower and Upper Stuart, and Eltham road between Hunter road and the river; and Cornwall road. Mr Pease—"tipper Hastings and Upper Hunter roads and Finncrty road to river. These gentlemen will call at oil houses m their respective wardS and ascertain (1) serious cases; (2; not serious cases; (3) labor needed; (4) labor available. They will arrange for all serious cases to 'be taken into whatever hospital is available. : rp". "HAWERAT Three of the nursing staff in the temporary hospital are now suffering from the epidemic. Sister Jewis, who wa3 in charge of the hospital, is among those who are down, and Sister Smitu has taken her place.

Miss Holford, matron of the Plunket Hospital at Dunedin, a well-Known Tarajiaki, who was in Hawera some days recuperating from a very serious attack, went on duty for the special purpose of helping the stricken nurses. VALUE OF INHALATION. IMPROVISED MACHINES. The Stratford Health Inspector reports that all the people who have been regularly undergoing the inhalation treatment are still on their feet. Inspector Day reports similar results have been noticed at Fitzroy, where a careful note has been taken of those who regularly undergo tho treatment. No one has so far fallen a victim to tho epidemic.

Inspector Day, who is a man of considerable resource, has been experimenting with various contraptions since the supply of initiation machines gave out, and has found that a plumber's kerosene jet machine can be adapted for inhalation purposes, and similarly certain of the patent gas lights using compressed air. The inspector Jindg that they answer the purpose admirably, and sent one to Tariki yesterday, and expects to have two more available almost immediately. One individual yesterday secured a supply of sulphate of zinc (used at the inhalation chambers), and administered a dose to his wife by means of a bicycle pump! Needless to say, she is much better as the result of the treatment.

'• l: 'USE RESPIRATORS. iVOLIJNTARY HELPERS SHOULD 150 SO. Respirators are now '.being used by many voluntary vorkera in infected premises, and it is a wise, indeed a necessary precaution which should be neglected by none concerned, if they wish to preserve their health. The simplest form of respirator is a folded handkerchief and a, pad of cotton wool with a little eucalyptus on it. The pad should ■'be placed' over the mouth and nostrils, and held there 'by tying the handkerchief round the head. One can work comfortably for an hour or so in such' a, respirator. " '' .v:ir:

G-ENERAIi.- r

Tic 'Plunlcefc Nurse would be glad of gifts of old 'boiled -linen and. pieess of blanket and flannel of any size. The nurse wishes it understood that nobody except helpers will <bs admitted to the creche, as the health of the babies must be safeguarded in every %vay. She also requires hot-water bottles foi" the babies at the Good Templar Hall. Would those having one to spare kindly lend same and send it to the hall. 1 The Ladies' Patriotic Sowing Guild have received several parcels of clean undergarments, but more are still required." There are a number of eases mc-t in iamilies who are in indigent^circumstances, and the providing of clean underwear for the patients is imperative.

An urgent appeal is being made for the supply of clinical thermometers. Many more are required, and persons who can provide them should forward" them at once. It ia stated that the Maori? -S-rs submitting to the is«'»von of their pahs in a maimer that is making the work of •those who are picketing the roads leading to- thf --"T.tlaments very easy. The Natives i' •>. almost entirely without; opposite "iticsed the prohibition oftangis, ve burying their dead expeditiously. Tliev AW ii» every |iwav to minimis* Hip effettf 'if the f-pi*

A 'LEADING PRINCIPLE.

LITTLE' 'ATTEMPT AT -ISOLATION. "The chief- cause of the rapid'spread of tie- epidemic in Wellington," said .an officer of tlio Health Department, "is the comparatively little heed people are paying to tlio principle of isolation. How eait it surprise anyone when you see j hundreds of cases in houses and hotels and boardinghouses where no attention is being paid to isolating the case, and where .everyone in the house saunters in' and out of the room in which the patient lies, without dreaming of the risk they are taking of infection? Few people think of hanging a disinfecting sheet where the door should he, yet the malady is far more contagious than half a dozen infectious diseases are where such ordinary precautions are insisted upon. How can a wife help catching the disease if she insists on inhabiting the same room a3 her suffering husband? It would be a miracle if she did not become infected. Children, too, are allowed to invade the sick-room, as though the patient only had a cold or a sore foot. It would he far better if parents would send the children out into the open street or the nearest recreation ground—anything to ■•keep them away from, the house. "Wellington is now paying for her over-crowded state. Yesterday we found some twelve or fifteen Assyrians crowded into one tiny little place in Halmng Street—a hovel, reeking with humanity. One of them was taken away in a 'bad state, and died. Is it any wonder if the others develop the disease? In another place we found a man in a maniacal condition in the same room with a child in a dying atate if such conditions aro to prevail, and people will be stupid enough to encourage contafjicn, I am afraid we have not reached the worst of the epidemic yet. In a few places we have visited people 'have had tlio sense to take precautions, but such are in a distinct minority,"

OA'NGER OF IXFECTIOH

TO PATIENT OOTj".

Lieutenant-Colonel Makgill, jSctingDistriet Health Officer, at Wellington on Friday made an interesting statement in reference to the danger of infection from those nursing influenza patients. Ho said thai some people seemed seared that contact with attendants from the hospitals would cause infection. An a matter of fact, he pointed out. there is no clinical evidence that the disease is carried by a third person. All agree that the transmission of the infection is directly from one patient to another. Tlte organisms the disease die very rapidly, and those working m laboratories experience the greatest difficulty in obtaining live cultures. Such difficulty is due to the rapidity with which the organisms die.

■This fact easily explains that the organisms that lodge in clothes die so quickly thai the clothes of those 'in contact with patients carry no disease. A patient in the early stages uy coughing and laughing may rcatter organisms in an area up to 6 feet. E'eyor.d that thero is little harm.

Dr MAkgiil expressed a great desire {hat. tho public should bo emphatically notified that There is little danger of infection through contact with those handling patients That fact could not bp tc.o well and 'widely known when there was a slight tendency towards panic.; SPANISH INFLUENZA'.;' < METHODS FOR CONTROL U AMERICA. In <m effort to prevent an enidemic of Spanish influenza through ilie United State?, Surgeon-General Blue, of the Public Health Service, has provided a l'nt of ir.Gfchod.3 for the control of the disease. From a telegraphic survey made by General Blue it was discovered that the disease had broken out in six United States seaport towns, Fort Morgan, near Mobile, Ala.; Newport News, Philadelphia, New York, Boston,, Hew London, and New Orleans. T)r Blue's bulletin of information on the disease issued principally for physicians, contains reformation as follows) "Infectious Agent-—Tho bacillus inCaenza of Pfeiffer.

Sources of Infection.—Tie secretions from tile nose, throat. and respiratory passages of wises or of carriers. Inclination Period-—One to four days; generally two. Mode of Traasmfeton.—By direct contact or indirect contact through the us; of handkerchiefs, common towels, cups, mess gear, or other objects contaminated with frc-sli secretions. Droplet infection play 3 an important part. Period of Communieabi'.ity.—!A!s 3ong as tho person harbors the causatbc organism in the respiratory tract.

Methods of Control.—-The infested individual and his environment.

Recognition of the Disease.—«By cliri•cal manifestations fed bacteriological findings. Isolation.—Bed 'isolation cf Infected individuals during the course of the disease Seresna between beds are to be Tecommended. *

Immunisation—Vaccine"'., exc used with only'partial success. Quarantine, —N«r.ef iißprasticfJblß. Concurrent ]>isij)f«itioit-—The ©B- - from the moutli, throat, aoSfi, and other :respiratory passages.. . ■ Terminal IXsijpfeciioqs. ThcrcKgTi cleansing, airing, end swfara*. .Th« causative organism - is short-mel oaisidfr the host , General Measures.—The- <it«maanfc of th.e esse should wear a gaszo mask' JHiting epidemics perscrs U'ould void crowded assemblages, street ears, and the like. Education r- 1 >t~u' "te danger of promiseuffas cpughSag' spitting. Patients, 'focs&HW 'of t!\o -tendency to {lie development of pneumonia, T-hortM be .treaty in a weHventilated, warm room.