THE EPIDEMIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1918, Page 3

THE EPIDEMIC.

AT THE CAMPS

POSITION DISTINCTLY BETTER.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.

"Wellington, Last Night. 'Matterc at 'lruituam aro going well,' said &urgeon-Cenoral iHendertiou to-day. There was only ono admission to hospital yesterday irom iiiliueiua, and none to-day. Xliere aro only two eases in tuo hospital about which there is any anxiety. Ui,aer serious cases are all approaching convalescence- All told, about dui) are in different stages of convalescence.

At Feathcrston ths conditions are improving. Tho serious cases of pneumonia number 2'J, and C.S.Ji. £O, of whom two nra dangerously ill. There was one death at Trcr.tham and four at Featherston Ln tho last 21 hours-

The position in Wellington City and suburbs continues to improve.

Tiffi WEST 00AST.

Vvestport. Nov. '2O.

Tlie epidemic is well ia hand here. There have only been three deaths since the outbreak began. The hospital, however, is full of cases. The matron, doctor, sisters, aud nurses are down. Although a eieau ship, the shoremen refuse to work the Kororaiko. The Cmopus has been loaded- Other shipping is normal, but the mines are still idle. A tremendous amount of disinfection aud fumigating has been carried out in the past ten days. The situation is bow easy.

Greymouth, Nov. 2G.

The report regarding influenza is not so satisfactory .All the hospitals aro full, and a number of patients are waiting admission. The necessity of a convalescent home 13 apparent and arrangements are in hand to secure a suitable huiMing. There hare been 42 deaths in the Grey district since the epidemic commenced.

WOBST PAST IN* DDNEDIK.

Dunedin, Nov. 20.

The notifications to-day in Otago and Snv.thland numbered 124, many "However belonging to the previous day. In Dunedin Hospital the cases of a serious nature have been reduced by 21 and bureau calls are slackening. The Medical Superintendent says the worst is past.

THE QUESTION OP BELIEF.

Clhristchurch, Last NightA big meeting was held to consider the steps necessary for relieving the families which have suffered from the epidemic, ar.d the following resolutions were carried: —This meeting is strongly of oi'iiion that the question of relief of destitution in connection with the epid"m:e is me of pressing urgency; that the question i-; a nation::l one and dealt with out of the consolidate! revenue.

,\ ,-nr,iTTiit!ee was set up to administer the relief The chairman said it was reallv a Dominion question, and relief should come cut of the consolidated Teveniic Take the case of Auckland. By no fault of its ovrn, it. was the greatest nifferer. :,nd if all the relief for Auckland were to come out of the pocket* of the people of Auckland they would be doubly penalised.

A WELLINGTON REPORT.

Wellington, Last Nig'r

Among the deaths from influenza are the following Alfred William Young, superintendent of the New Zealand AtIa« Assurance Co. Re leaves a widow and two children. E. Burns, i vaude<lanfer.

Dr. Vomare 13 visiting the Maori district- a .id finds the disease serious

The Minister for Health states that the reports from the. Native districts disclose a iargs number of deaths. The position i.-; bad at Horohanga and in the Kin.? County. A request lias 'been sent to Auckland for assistance

SHOPS RE-OPEN AT PAH3ATUA.

Pahiatua, Last Night.

Four deaths have occurred during the past 24 hour.?, but the position is much easier, though three cases are serious. The country position is still bad, and eases are coming in. The town is fairly free, and the shops have re-opened. Six of the Post Office staff arc down, but the rest are carrying onA convalescent hospital baa been started at the Drill Hall The relief fund now totals £250.

Pongorca township has got off scot free, but there are some cases in the neighborhood.

' HELPING THE PARMEPS

Tho organisation ioraed at ftawera for the purpose of helping farmers with titaii- milking has filled and is filling a very useful Avenue of assistance, states tho Stav. So far the organisers have been able lo provide all the assistance called for. Thcro are, however, still manv calls, and the Farmers' Oop. or tho N.Z.L. and ALA. Co. will be glad to hear of anyone able to help. Curs are alt» much in demand, and any toelp m this respect will be very welcome.. The Joll Dairy Factory Company have had a pretty anxious time m regard to their assistants at tho various branches. The chairman has informed a Star representative that of their staff of about GO no less than 5S have, or have had, tho influenza. No less than 67 suppliers have lent assistance at various times.

DEATHS ON THE PLAINS. Among the deaths recorded by tie Waimate Witness are those of Mr Cbas. Snroull, who farmed at TCltham for some years and then returned to Maaaia. He leaves a widow and three children. Others are Mr -las. Allen (a returned soldier); Mr John flayter (a bricklayer for some Years in Manaia, who leaves a.widow and two sons); and Norman Wylie, of Auroa, aged 17 years. The death of ten Maoris is also, reported, rachiuwg tilureo brothers.

DEATHS AT HAWEBA _

The Tccent deaths at Hawera include the following: Miss L. Beaumont, aged 25 cook, Egmont Hotel; Mrs C. Vincent, acr'ed 32, Campbell street, Nolantown; Mr W. mffiil, affed 43, single, hotel employee, Central Hotel; Mr Charles Nolan, ;«ed 75, married, Turuturu road; Mr Colin Kempton, aged 30, married, baker, Argyle street; Mrs M. HoWiam, | aged 40, Turuturu road. Two deaths alw occurred in the Public Hosp.tal yesIteriay: Walter Wilson Stenlake, 15 vearsi eon of Mr Robert Stenlake, Otak[eho; Mr Edward Quia,#©*! 28, l^tonped tfm*Bssto*

STRATFORD.

{From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford, .Nov. 26.

Two more deaths have 1o be recorded 'since my last letter. A man named Joseph Christiansen, of Uuiakama, who v.'as reported lo bo in a very serious conwas brought in by anibulajxcij yesterday. It was very apparent when he arrived here that the worst was likely to happen, and this occurred this afternoon. Deceased leaves a widow and family, one, a boy, being ako stated to be in a poor condition through contact with tjie epidemic.

The second fatality was the 10months' child of Mrs. Rowell, who two days previously lost her husband.

Considerable curiosity was evinced as to tho reason for a special train from Whangamomona. Rumor had it that there were from 14 to 17 patients aboard. At 4.15 the train steamed into town, and it was pleasing to note that there were only three patients on board —J. Eothery, hotelkeeper, Riddel!, postmaster, and Jennings. All were stretcher cases, and were quickly conveyed by car to the Technical School, which is under the charge of Mrs. J B. Hine. Tho condition of the patients was not too reassuring, but Nurse Proudfoot, who accompanied the men by train, states the patients had improved during the past three days. The ambulance made a few trips to different parts of the district to-day, but a feeling of relief is now very apparent, the public being assured that the corner has br?en turned, although there are several cases that are critical still receiving treatment.

In -writing up a few experiences of the telephone and rootor-car work, I mentioned the names of two officials. It lias linen pointed out to me that where theTe must he 200 or so tattling hard to beat the foe, it is hardly fair to single out. those who come under direct notice. His Worship the Mayor expresses regret that special mention should be made of anyone in: connection with the work of fifjiitinc the influenza epidemic. With ono or two exceptions, everyone is doing their dntv and does not look for any advertisement. In justice to tho ofliit should .he mentioned that they did not desire to get in the limelight. "Your Own" wa3 to blame in mentioning T 1 ; 1 . Til or. hut, after all. it should leave no sting—all are out to eivo their beat to the common cause, and, as previously mentioned, the united efforts of the pubIV worn to have achieved that desirable

pnTpose. "Tt.'s no use, we'll have to have n health office stationed in Stratford/' remarked .i Hospital Board member. 'T was out with the health inspector today. and we came acros3 seven children in a mom 10ft bv Bft, and, altogether. 10 in two rooms where you could hardlv swine a cat." Out health inspector is not to blame, but this epidemic is cleaned up a rigid examination should be instituted.

IKGLEWOOft

(Prom Our Own CorresponCcnt')'

Members of the bureau have had a quiet day. The town reports are the best that have been handed in to date, whilst reports from the country districts are much more favorable than hitherto. No cases were sent to the New Plymouth Hospital, and there is e\\-ry indication that the epidemic is cn i he wane.

Mr J. Shaw, organiser from the New Plymouth Committee, conferred with members of the bureau to-day and found everything in first-clasa working order.

Mrs Evan9, Miss Taylor ; Mrs. Robert Yomirr. and Mt=. Burnett, who have been working indefatigably combatting the ppiilninic. wo bill, tip, mid it is to be hoped that it wi' 1 be of short duration, for such yeniuii workers cannot be sparc-d these li. All lmnila join in wishiTg them al! ft speei'.v recovery. Ini!>TT(!od looks more like itself again, and it ia unite refreshing to see so many familiar Ta.ts about. The hospital report?. fittough still serious. aro more favorable, tid they are easterly scanned TV ban which jiroV.b'ts the opening of barbers' shops has not been lifted yet, and disciple* of Rua nre in "videncc. A reli<rf car was sent on an urgent mission into the conntrr for a hospital patient, and on arriving at their destination the Y.A.D'a were greeted with the following remarks from the patient: "I'm all right chaps: but my mate looks a bit crook. Take him " "TVe are asked for all sorts of things at this place," said a member of the bureau to-day. One chap has just been in and wanted two gallons of beer, as his children were sick. He departed armed with a couple of bottlea of medicine.

Mrs. T. Rolston, who has been an inmate of the Hew Plymouth Hospital, returned home to Inglewood to-day.

ASSISTING THE COUNTRY;

Yesterday morning the organisation of the country relief work,, which was delegated by the Public Health Committee to Messrs J. McLeoi and W Nash, was put in train immediately, and early in the day six more beds and further equipment were despatched to tho Pungarehu Hospital, whithe i' also Mrs. Knight (Warea) and Mrs. Joseph (New Plymouth) ware sent to assist the local nursing stall'. Both the ladies mentioned were nut through a course of special training at the New Plymouth Hospital on Monday night A medical assistant has also been sent to Pungarehu. The hospital at Warea has been-placed I under the control of Mrs. Binnie with the assistance of Mrs. Wells, and two medical assistants wero sent out; yesterday morning. £ , „ , A medical assistant Wfis sent to Ukato, and an assistant and an inspector of organisation were despatched to WaitaTa. An inspoctoT of organisation was- also sent to Urcnni.

IN THE LEPPERTOX DISTRICT.

The M.A.s that visited the Lepperton district report that tho organisation there is splendid, and matters very good. As soon as tlio.v arrived Tftr.v were presented by Mr. Atkinson with a plan of the district with every settler's house marked and named. A well-known Maori living in the district will probably be brought into the Native hospital here to-day. While he has been ill lus next-door neighbor, a bachelor, has been attending to his milking herd, and it lias been arranged that if tho Maori has to go into the hospital that four of the heighboring settlers will divide his herd among them and milk the cows, so that he will suffer no pecuniary loss whilg, ill. This is the spirit that one-likes to clironicla these times.

THE MAORI HOSPITAL:

There are now 17 patients in the Native hospital which has been established at the hostel. Yesterday four deaflbs occurred there. One of the admissions was a patient from Pihama. At Tito's house there arc ten in residence now, whilst eight Itave been transferred to the Native convalescent 'home in the 801 l Block hall, under the charge of Mr. Rogers, a returned soldier. A convalescent from the Native hostel was also transferred there.

Since the hospital at the Native hostelry was opened, wMch is a week ago, seven deat'as have occurred. The names and date of death are as follow:—Whainoa (Dorset Road), '22 nd inst.; Repo Hakaraia (Waitara), Rangi Porikapa (Rahotu), and Hinga Komer(a (J?imiho), 25th inst.; Rua Tuwaerokura (Dorset Road), and Waaka Tengi (Kaipakopakoi 20th inst.

AT TEE CONVALESCENT HOME.

There are now 24 convalescent men at Kvvaroa Park, which is the full capacity of that institution. At the East End there are 17 women. Miss Elsie Andrews, who has been in charge there, 'has gone down with the prevailing epidemic, and Miss Street is filling her place.

GENERAL.

Some members of the committee weTe sent out to Mangaone to remove a sick Maori woman and child to the temporary hospital at Tito's house, but they could not prevail on them to budge. An old Maori woman, tho grandmother of the infant, adopted tlie attitude that "If he go to Tito he die; if he go to the hospital he die; so he might as well die here." She, however, said she was quite capable of nursing t'he patients, who would get well under her care, and so they were left. The members of the committee who went >ut speak very highly of the state of the home, whidh spoke volumes for the cleanliness and energy of the old lady, a striking contrast to the state of some white people's homes tfhat they had entered. On Monday night the Health Committee had a rather exciting experience, which afterwards had its amusing side. A sailor came in to the olljce, apparently in a state of collapse, and asked to see the doctor. He was accommodated wit'ii a seat, the members of the committee being careful not to approach too close. He was promptly given two black pills and arrangements were made to take him to the hospital, hut the temperature readers could not find anything serious with him. He was accordingly motored out to 'his steamer, and when the ear left the wharf the sailor was observed having a feed of pork and bwuis.

THE FIGHT AT TRENTHAM.

'A GRIM STRUGGLE!.

HOW THE MEN FAREE

The figlM; with tho influenza plague in the camp at Trenthani has been fought and won (says the Dominion), The number of new cases being reported daily is now negligible, and in the course of a few days all but the very serious cases will be on tho convalescent list. There is still a number of men in tfae hospital who are dangerously ill, but daily the number of recoveries will increase, and in & couple of weeks the hospital should bo almost empty

It has been a grim fight that the med-

ical people and tlio nursing staff have Itad, a fight against the most widespread and. the worst epidemic that has ever fallen upoa the camp. In lite early stages the hospital waa filled up with tha men vrho had already paraded Kick, and then earns the big influenza parades. In one day there were 2SO admissions to hospital. There is good hospital accommodation at the camp, but it was never contemplated thai thousands of sick men would hav« to be nursed ai the aame time, and the accommodation vras hopelessly inadequate. Tike medical people did the only thing that they could do; they turned the troopn out of the huts and icnt them across to the tenia at Heretaunga, and made the huts into hospital wards. The men had to lie on camp stretchers, on straw pallets. There wore no sheets, and not ono man in a hundred fcwl o chitnge of clothing at hand. At first tiiere were in tlw hut 3 hsea vilio -yere vt-ry seriousl'/ ill, but ;is there i';o room in the hospital they oould eot be moved. Gradually tlieso cases verc cleared from the huts. To-day thcru &n; not more than a hundred patients "who are not convalescent in the huts. The nursing of these men did not at any time amount to more than tho administering of medicine as ordered, and the performance of such services as the cleaning of tilie huts and the providing of food and drink. Medical Corps men supervised and did such work as the taking of temperatures, but there were not nearly enough of them to go round, and volunteers were called for from the lines. The response was not satisfactory, and many of the orderlies proved to be worse than useless. 'Volunteering Slaving failed, men were requisitioned for work in the huts by day and by night, and with a sufficient supply of men it was possible &>• staff all the lines. . As for the camp invalid food the sick men could not loolc sit it. Most of the men simply went without food. Starvation did little harm to men really ill, but men beginning to recover could have eaten li#it food if it had been offering. "What they bad to do was to starve until they -were well enough to eat stew.. In the main hospital the food was quite, good The sick men in the huts &ad a hard" time, but for the most part they put up with it all' without a murmur. In the main hospital the patients -were-, treated witibl the utmost care and attrition, and many of the cases were difficult. -Nurses worked ceaselessly. Tharfaces showed the