THE EPIDEMIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1918, Page 5

THE EPIDEMIC.

IHIS WORST OVER.

STEADY DIMINUTION IN NEW PLYMOUTH.

On Saturday the new cases reported in New ■ Plymouth numbered 81, and yesterday they dropped to 48, the proportion of serious cases again being luw, namely S on Saturday and 6 yeslerday. The recoveries are now much greater than the new cases, being 110 on Saturday and 101 yesterday. The total cases reported since the outbreak up till last night were 1808, and the recoveries 452, there 'thus being 144G eases of illness in town to-day. Of the 1446 cases only 120 have been classed as serious, which does not necessarily mean that they are dangerous.

It would seem' that the apex of the epidemic was reached on Friday, when there were 1528 cases. If the proportion of new cases does not increase it means that in a week or so the number should be small, provided the preventive measures are maintained and tie public exercise the care the situation demands. If they don't, a recurrence is inevitable, and the town will again have to shut down to fight the disease. In this connection the committee's advice to the people—printed on page one—-should be read carefully. The table brought up to last night shows the following position:

• On the 15th 300 c?aes were reported; on the 16th, 412; on the 17th, 18? j on the 18th, 207..

On Saturday 350 bottles of medicine were sent out, and 248 yesterday. TMb showed a considerable decrease, the number despatched on Thursday, for instance, being 600. The block captains made their usual round of inspection, their duties, fortunately, being much lighter than on any previous day.

The motors were kept fairly busy, Thirty-five were in operation yesterday, and on Saturday. The mileage on Friday and Saturday was over 1000 miles each day, the cars making 160 trips on Saturday and 139 on Friday. The figures of yesterday's mileage and trips Were not available last night, but they will show no less running than the previous days. 9 The ambulances were kept going briskly. One ambulance did a 70-mile trip to Uruti and Okoke, and another several 'trips down the coast, including journeys to Pungarehu and Warea late last night.

The medical assistants did, their usual rounds, seeing to the various patients and reporting upon their condition. One assistant saw 36 cases on Saturday, whjch he again looked up yesterday, as well as taking several cases in the country, A motor car makes this possible. The work of the doctors is thus greatly relieved. . Another medical assistant was sent out to Inglewood to assist Dr. Nutting, who is greatly ovcrwcirked, and took cases at Tarata and Kaimata, finding them satisfactory. He reported last night that the epidemic appears to be checked now in the Inglewood district. Four medical assistant recruits eame in from Waitara yesterday, and were put through their ficings by the leading local assistant. All had had previous ambulance training, and now, if the epidemic hits Waitara as it has hit other places, they will be able to ease the task of Dr. Campbell and his wife, who are doing splendid work in the district. To-day medical assistants are to be sent to the various coastal centres to assist the settlers. '

HOSPITAL REPORT.

There were 17 admissions to trie hospital on Saturday and 32 yesterday. Saturday's included 9 from New Plymouth, 4 from Waitara, and one each from Inglewood, Tarata, Urenui and Hurworth.' Yesterday's figures were: New Plymouth, 11; Uru'ti, 5; Okoke, 4; Waihi ; 4; Okato, 3; Inglewood, 2; Tarata, Egmont Road and Kohuratahi, qne each. On Saturday there were nine deaths, and yesterday, three.

The total number of inmates at the hospital last night was 184, while there were 13 convalescents at Kawaroa and 7 at East Ehd.

At the native hospital there were two admissions, one, death, and 15 are left.

THE CONVALESCENT HOMES.

Reports from the convalescent homes established in New Plymouth are highly satisfactory. Dr. Walker opened a home for women at the East End Pavilion on Saturday, and already there are 10 inmates. Provision is being made for 20. They are in the charge of a nurse, who is helped by VAD.'s. The men's place at Kawaroa has 24 inmates, but it is expected that about 10 will he evacuated to-day. They are all doing famously. Two of the Waipori's officers are inmates of the home.

It has been decided to open a convalescent home for Maoris at the Waiwakaiho showgrounds buildings. This wjll complete the; system .so far as the local Maoris are concerned. Tito's house on the Egmoni Road is used as a "clearing house", the hostelry at Kawaroa; as the hospital, .and the racecourse as a convalescent home.

Major jKeenan has opened a hospital at Oaoniii, and a Maori hospital pn the Pihama racecourse. He has also established a "clearing house" for natives on the Punilio Road.

The Okato hospital was opened yesterday, and last evening it was reported there were 12.inmates. Two were sent to the New Plymouth Hospital late last evening; also one from Warea.

AT WAITARA.

The temporary hospital which has been established at St. John's Hall was opened yesterday, when 1!J Maoris from the Waihi district were brought in. Only two of the cases are said to be serious. It is expected that a number of other natives will be admitted to-day. The hospital is under the charge of Dr. and Mrs. Campbell and volunteer nurses. The position in the town itself is said to be fairly good.

It has been decided to close the town for a week from to-day.

Mr. C. H. .lohnston, proprietor of the Awakiiio mail cars, who had a severe bout of influenza, is making good progress.

THE CRECHE,

There' arc now twelve babies at the creche in the Oo.od Templar Hall, under the charge of Plunket Nuive Williams and her assistants, one baby having gone home on Saturday. Mrs. Miller, of Wallai::; Place, offered to take charge of (lire; l '•, ' .':" b.'.bies, to help to relieve the j'.-.- .* :'■'- the crecue, and she so far.}** i..i.ii'£s .of one baby.'

INHALATION.

Mr. Day reports that for the weg&teiife ing Saturday night, 2700 persons passed ■through the inhalation chamber at roy. A glance through the book show* that all of those who attend the chamber regularly have so far escaped tha epidemic. There have been one or two isolated cases among those who do not use the inhalation chamber regularly. A new kind of inhalation sprayer has been evolved, and can be fitted up at any dairy factory. Any dairy company that is prepared to look after one should get in touch with Mr. Day.

GENERAL.

The danger from infection is not geji* erally recognised. A woman came in by the train on Saturday evening, and immediately fell ill. ' :

Reports from the country districts beyond Waitara indicate that a good maijy cases of pneumonia are developing. Several were brought in to the hospital yes-, terday, and somo are too bad to shift. The disease seems to be laying hold of the natives in this district to a largar extent than elsewhere in Tarariaki. There were 1(1 Maoris in the natipe hospital at Kawaroa yesterday. So fas there has been only one death. Sevuil are in a critical state.

i The medicine bottles are rolling fa I satisfactorily at the depot in New Pip | mouth, The secretary opened* bottle store m odo of Hooker's sampjerooms. The thousands of bottles are i being sorted out into the various sbe& cteaned, and packed in bosses for defivery (to tho chemists. They will all be wantefli Jtnd more, as about 800 bottles ore being sent out every day. A High School be* is in charge of the store. '

A man was despatched from the Star, Plymouth committee on Saturday to as* sist at Umti. Ho found that the ep>t demio had got a fairly strong hold Two eases were serious, and he amnigfld for theni to bo brought into ike hcspSaL In one house he found eight memberi down. Arrangements were made its ttW opening of a temporary hospital there,

November. 19 20 21 22 23 84 total •Total cases ;-• 208 199 161 85 81 48 189S New homos ... 55 58 56- 25 32 18 214 Seriona cases . 22 10 7 7 8 6 120 Recoveries .... 27 62 65 69 110 101 452