THE EPIDEMIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 November 1918, Page 5

THE EPIDEMIC.

THE POSITION IN NEW PLYMOUTH.

PROGRESS WELL MAINTAINED.

The statistician reports that there were 25 new cases reported yesterday, representing 11 new iiouses. * None of Ihe cases was considered serious. Three required medical assistance and two help, but none nursing assistance- Food was sent out to 21. There were 104 recoveries.

This makes the total number of cases 21BG, representing 353 new houses. One hundred and thirty of the cases were classed as serious, medical assistance was required by 100 and domestic help by 134. Nursing was required by 24 and food by 428. There have been llfll recoveries.

Curiously yesterday's total was exactly the same as on the two previous days. Several of the recent victim? were from the ranks of the workers.

The number of recoveries registered again shows an improvement, 'due, no doubt, to stricter attention to the work of recording the cases. The number of report cards handled yesterday wag 185, compared with 23fi on the previous day, whilst last week the number varied from 432 to 4!>l last Monday, 'the census' day. being the record with a total of 741 cards, i > .

Yesterday 198 bottles of medicine were sent out, this being easily the smallest number since the campaign opened. A meeting qf the executive, of the Health Committee was held last night, when it was decided that Sunday shall he the last day on which block captains are to pay visits to the houses..,. It was also decided to as far as possible keep the organisation going at least throughout next week. Practically all the medical assistants have agreed ]to continue the work, whilst the majority of the car owners have also agreed to place their cars at the disposal of the committee when required. ~ r ,

NEW PLYMOUTH HOSPITAL.

16 ADMISSIONS; 2 DEATHS.

The admissions to the New Plymouth hospital yesterday numbered 10, the details being: From New Plymouht, 2; Carrington Koad, 1; OaonUi, 1; Tariki, 1; Uruti, 5; Pungarehu, 1; Urenui, 1; Rahotu, 2; Upper Mangorei, 2. There were 2 deaths!, viz., Joseph Sims, New Plymouth; Edrnond Aitkenhead (27), Uruti. At Kawaroa there are lfi inmates, and at Hast Knd, 111.

The total in hospital is 202, the influenza cases being 159. Discharges, 11. The mortality to date in the New Plymouth hospitals is 70—26 from New Plymouth, 12 from Iw-lewood, and 32 from other parts of .the district. The pressure on the l)ospisal staff, as the number of cases shows, is still very heavy, and is likely to remain so for some time, so that it will be necessary for the V.A.D.'s to continue to render their much-needed assistance for some two or three weeks at least.

THE NATIVE HOSPITAL.

Nine cases were admitted to the Native hospital at the Native hostelry, making 18 now in the institution. Three of the cases are serious. Inhere were no discharges and no deaths yesterday- The caretaker of the hostel (Mr. Brooks) has contracted the trouble, as has Mr. S. Jackson (Xative interpreter), who was in charge by appointment of the Health Committee.

CONVALESCENT HOMES.

At the AVomen's Convalescent Home, East End, yesterday, there were four adminion? and four discharges, leaving 20 still in residence.

At the Men's Convalescent Home, Kftwaroa Park, there were four Bdmittefi and six discharged, leaving 23 inmates.

AID TOR AVAITARA.

MEDICAL MILITARY ORDERLIES SENT. Wellington, Last Night. Three medical military orderlies leave for AA T aitara by Saturday morning's train. , Air AV. T. Jenning3 has further requisitioned from the Defence Department some more militpry orderlies for oth?r nutlving places, and Sir Tames Allen. Defence Minister, lias assisted very much in this way, and, if he can get the men, will send them forward.

SPLENDID ORGANISATION IN

EGMONT COUNT!-:

Yesterday Dr. AValkcr visited tha Egmont county, and iiet at Opunake Major Keenan and representatives of the Egmont County Council, Opunake Town Board, and Parihaka Road Board. He also visited the various hospitals in the county, viz., Rahotu, Oaonui, Opunake, Pihama, Te Kiri, PUngarehu, AVarca, Pu(niho and finally Okato, in the Tarattnki County. ... ' He states that the organisation throughout the Egmont County is very good, and tliat there Me fine bands of workers at the various hospitals; In all there are seventy cases in the Egniont County hospitals, the great majority qf them being mild. Throughout the county there is m efficient process of daily inspection, and it is highly probable that the fine effort made in the Egmont County will prevent occurrences of such gravity as were "witnessed in this district in the earlier days of the epidemic.

TffIARU.

Timaro, Last Night.

The influenza epidemic here shows a marked improvement, but voluntary and official workers will hot relax their efforts until it has been completely stamped out. There was only one fresh admission to the hospital to-day, and one death. There are 36 patients in the hospital, exeltisive of thirteen members of the hospital nursing staff, and nineteen in the convalescents' home. Since the outbreak the total cases for the district are about 1250. The hairdressers' saloons and hotels are still closed, but the other shops now remain bpeii till 5 p.m. each day. The work of a large band of voluntary workers has been of inestimable value. Fonr doctors have been down, bitt two have how recovered. The total deaths for the district since ihe outbreak are about 50.

ANXIETY. OVER THE MAKUR^

A DENIAL AS TO MEASLES.

Auckland, X-asst Night.

With reference to the Makura, the Mayor, at the citizens' meeting, said that if the matter lay with Dr. Frcngley the city had nothing to fear, hut if left:to the Minister in Wellington, who might telegraph that the vessel he cleared, as ho had done in the ease of the Niagara, there war. cause for alarm.

The statement by the that measles were rifo in Auckland was contrary to Dr. Frenglcy's opinion. Mr. lavage nssured the meeting tout no ship would he allowed by the watersideia to berth if there was the slightest danger of infection. The Mayor wa* supported to the full bj; the other civic authorities.

HAWERA'S REASSURTNG REPORTS

The reports to hand on Friday front the house-to-house visitors and the hospitals are reassuring (says The Star). All patients in the public hospital arc "on the mend," while the convalescents ih St. Mary's Hall are progressing satisfactorily. Six were discharged from s ih« convalescent hospital. There are noW'46 patients in this institution. Two patients, whoso condition WM ,;Berh)Uß •vyhen admitted, died in the t«n« porary isolation hospital on Thursday night. ' ? James Stowell, aged 19, telegraph lints* man, a nephew of Mtb. J. Ekdahl, Jja«

wera. Claudis Mileßi, farmer, single, aged p* Tempsky Road, Okaiawa, Five patients were admitted to the temporary isolation hospital on ThuTs* day, and there were no transfers to she convalescent hospital. To date fhkm have been 150 admissions to this hospi* tal, 25 deaths, and 83 transfers to the convalescent hospital. At present there are in the isolation hospital 42 patients. Constable Nuttall reports the position among the Maoris in the pahs'trader his jurisdiction to be good. "There' have /been no deaths since the 25th tostlnt. A Maori baby succumbed to the epidemic in the fever ward at the Public Hospital last night. The organisations promoted to assist the farmers in the country are doing excellent work. At present something lfka 1000 cows are being milked for settlers suffering from the epidemic. Mr. C. R, Stannard, the executive informed a reporter this morning that all settlers in need of help have been provided lor. A number of milkers, however, are required to relieve those who have bSen "carrying on" during the past week, in ' order that they may bfe given a spelL '

ELTHAM.

At noon yesterday it was reported that matters in connection with the hospitals were in a satisfactory position. Since the last report four had Men Admitted and one discharged. Of those admitted one came from Hunter Boad, one Worn Te Roti, and two from EltliamDr Cooper reported that the position locally was still improving, and practically no fresh cases were being reported. The back of the epidemic had apparently been broken, but there must 'be no relaxation of vigilance on the part of an,y> hotly.—Argus.

OAKTOA.

Mr. G. A. Adlani, chairman of the local committee, reports that so far there are cot many cases in his district. None ef those reported are serious, and all are getting on well Two fresh cases were recorded on Thursday, one being the postmistress, Mrs. Smart. The post office has, therefore, been closed for a. few days, but will be open for receiving and delivering mails from 9 to 10 ajn. and from 4to 5 p.m. The licensee of the Oakura Hotel '(Mr. Meredith) hag very generously offered the use of the left wing of the hotel with nine beds'as" a. .temporary hospital. The committee have accepted his kind offer, and will avail themselves of it if necessary. This will he a big improvement on the hall| which had been got ready. Mrs. 8.-. J. West has also kindly offered the use or two beds in her house if recurred. It is stated that there are five houses at Oaknra where the occupants are suffering from influenza, but the reports state that all are progressing satisfactorily.'

KAHOTU.

The staff of the Rahotu Hospital cap*prises:—Matron, Mrs. J. E- Groom (trained nurse) : assistants, Mesdaises Dav:soii, fiibson, Harrison, and Maxwell; Misses Hughson, Hopkins, 1 Chapman, Williamson, and Tylee.

KAHUI ROAD.

It is stated that the Kahuißoadftetorv staff are nil down, and that soinfe of the' voluntary staff have also collapsed It is, therefore, possible that * , « factory may Have to close.

THE MAORIS. •

Mr. W. R. AA'right (chairman of the Egmoni County Council)'reported last night that some residents of Optinako' went to Parihaka to establish a .hospital there, but, as he feared, the Maoris refused to allow them to do anything. Onlv four deaths have occurred fit the. Native hospital, Minni?., where accommodation has now, been prepared for an additional 20. :

AVAITARA.

A convalescent'hospital for Maori wo« [ men has boon opened in the Technical School at Waitarn, ami hero 12 more | have been transferred- This building is i eminently suitable for the pnrpo'o, the inmatrs being comfortably housed. This should take the pressure off the Maori hospital at Waitara, where yesterday 13 were admitted. Tt is hoped that the epidemic has now reached its height auionjr tlio Natives, and that the present arrangements will bo sufficient to meet the requirements.

LEPPERTOX-

The medical assistant who. visited Lopperton yesterday reported:--Matters are distantly good in this district. I visited three patients, all of whom are eonval* escing.

IN WELLINGTON.

Wellington, Last Night. The latest reports from nil quarters indicate that the steady improvement Has been maintained. The number of fresh cases recorded to-day is very small, and in some districts none were reported. A further distinct advance, is recorded in connection.with the various hospitals, atidth§ outlook growi brighter *veij