THE EPIDEMIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1918, Page 3

THE EPIDEMIC.

GOVERNMENT NOTICE,

REGARD TO RE-OPENING.

By Telegraph-Press Association

KJ" »ii nai l) (. bars in the WVlim-rton and Am*: ihth f Di " tricts may rosume iminc " rtiatclT from S a.m. t 0 8 p.m. Churches „.»>• rcsamo fuli wvices on and alter Morula,v week, Dec-ember S. Public sales of liquor in hotels, clubs wholesale businesses, ami breweries will resume on the same date. The closure iilu.. again be applied if congestion and drunkenness occur inimical to the pub'ie nealth.

1 uolie meetings may be resumed on December 3, stock sales on December 7 auction, sales on the Bth, but no sales of second-hand clothing and bedding. Schools, private and public, are to remain closed until further notice, also picture theatres and other places of publie entertainment.

INFECTION" OF MAKURA.

HEALTH OFFICER'S REPORT.

Auckland, Dec- 2. Tile following statement has been issued by Dr. Frengley:—. "'I boarded the Makura at the anchorage adjacent to the Motuiiii Hslaud. It was found that live persons had contracted measles. Three of these, ebildien, had a mild attack and are now quite well. The fourth case, an officer of the ship, has recovered, and the fifth case was put off at Fiji. No persons or goods were taken on at Suva. No illness was found among the passengers. "Unfortunately, among the crew live were found suffering from influenza in some symptoms. These c&scf have been removed to the caretaker's house. The decision regarding the remaining passengers and crew is, that the ship is quarantined for seven days, that all the passengers and crew undergo zinc sulphate inhalation at least, once daily, that all the well passengern and crew *hall perform quarantine 011 hoard the ship, that anyone taken sick shall at once be isolated and removed quickly to the island.

"The mails are to lie taken off to Motuih; and all lho basjs thoroughly sprayed with formalin. At Motuihf the hags are again to be swayed and exposed as fully as possible to the air and sunshine."

WELLINGTON* TO TURNING TO NOISMAL.

Wellington, Doc. 2. The Wellington telegraph and telephone services are about back to nor-

The work of the various committees wnich are combatting the influenza epiih Mic has fallen away very largely and the most hopeful sign is the increasing number of vacant beds in the several hospitals.

The children's homo established temporarily at Miramar to house orphaned waifs from influenza-stricken homes now contains fort}- little one-:.

The Mayor reports to-day that the influenza is practically beaten-

DEATHS AT DANNE7IUKE.

Dannevirko, Dec. 2. Five adults, including a Maori, and two juveniles, have died since Saturday from influenza. Cases are still being reported and admitted to the hospital.

WANGANUI FIGURES.

Wanganui. Dee- 2.

The influenza situation is still improving. Altogether about 2500 cases have occurred in the town and suburbs. The approximate r.umbei- of deaths is 93.

HAWERA RESUMES BUSINE*?.?-.

•H&wera, Doe.

The town re-opened for business this morning, r.nd the epidemic is considered well under control. During the weekend there were nine admissions to the temporary hospital, making lOi to date. At present there are 41 patients in the institution. Only one case is now considered serious. There <va« one death during: the week-end. A census of the epidemic takeTi on Saturday showed that, in the borough and suburbs there had been ITT ca-ses, 29 bad died. 121 were still in bed, and 277 convalescing.

IMPROVEMENT .AT INVERCARGILL.

Invercarg'n, f)oc- 2.

There is" n very imtrkr.-l improvement loeallv. The eases in hospital number SI), of whom 40 require special treatment. Deaths from . influenza in the Southland and Wallace counties during the epidemic total about 120. Indica--tions point to a rapid return to noncp.l-

cHRisTcrrrRCH PORTION" satisfactory

Ohristehurc'i, Dec. 5.

The influenza patients admitted into the hospitals on Saturday and Sunday were 17, and the deaths 10. Reports refjarding tho epidemic are r/ynerally catisfaetory. Evidence of the improved conditions is found in the decision of the tramway authorities to resume the day time-tables. The burials in November in the two municipal cemeteries numbered 44G, compared with 63 last. year.

HAWERA

(From Our Correspondent.)'

Hawera, Dee. 2.

Conditions here during the week have shown a decided improvement, and the Mayor, Hospital Hoard, and those citizens who lulve been actively engaged in fighting the influenza are now more contented in mind- Since the. outbreak the number oi cases reported totalled 177-1, and of Considering that the area the town is treating k a very v.ide one, the tactics of ih. ollivial? in organising have proved very eilicacious. The death list has been kept down compared with the number affected, those whose illnesses terminated fatally numbering 20.

There were no deaths on Saiurday, but one occurred on Sunday, tlie victim being George Stampa, a farmer, single, and residing at Okaiawa. It is reported that mea?les have developed in the local hospital. T'ne sympathy of Foresters throughout Taranaki will be extended to Bro. W. .T. McNiven, of this town. Quite recently lie lost a son with the Expeditionary Forces, and has since lost his wife from the prevailing epidemic. The authorities are not relaxing any efforts here. Shops which have resumed business after 14 days' spell are being treated to a disinfectant solution operated by borough officials. The inhalation chambers arc also receiving constant patronage by the. faithful.

Visitors to town this afternoon comprised mainly ladies, but, judging ty appearances, trade is quiet and will remain so for a little while.

ELTHAM.

(From Our Ovrn Corespondent.) JMmin, Dec. 2. The Mayor (Mr. T. B. Crump) gave your} correspondent some details of what Eltham was doing and how it had been fighting the epidemic. The Mayor said he would gladly give any information, believing the public 3hould thoroughly understand the position. The first intimation Eltham had of the grip the disease had on Taranaki was a request for assitance from Stratford, and this was willingly complied with, as far as possible. The same evening a meeting was held in Eltham and an organisation set up, of which the Mayor is naturally very proud, and he has every reason to be satisfied with the great work done. Premises in Bridge Street were secured, and it was not long before betls were required for patients. The town r i.ad been well mapped out, but it was \ery soon apparent that further beds would need to be available, and the (own hall was requisitioned. Naturally, tho great amount of sickness necessitated the preparation of dainty dishes, land to centralise t.iis the Technical Sdhool kitchen was made a central base, "and here the matron and maid with the knowledge of what is required to tempt the appetite and build up strength have day by day taken up their duties, with excellent results.

The Boy Scouts have proved their usefulness in this direction, and have, either by cycle or on foot, visited many homes, whilst those further away have received nourishing food per medium of the motor car. Owners of Uhe latter have also fully recognised tlieir obligations to their fellow-man, and a car is always available. To meet anxious inquiries, and to save disturbing the patients, an information bureau is close handy to tho hospital, and here those not directly interested in t'he work can obtain all the latest possible information regarding the town and district.

The Mayor stated that Eltham has a very wide district, taking in a portion of the Stratford Hospital district in the north, Mangatoki and Lowgarth west, Te iloti south, and beyond Mangamingi cast. A book records the various families waited upon by the Health Committee, aud temperatures taken and otherwiso treated as patients, aud these total 250. This does not by any means record a complete total, but serves to show tiiie committee have been thorough in their work. The number of patients admitted to the hospitals totalled 49, of whom 10 have died and 14 have been discharged as convalescent, leading 25 receiving treatment. There are many more in their own homes in a more or less serious condition.

Asked how he found the position now, Mr. Crump said he fully believed the condition in town and country had been mudlv improved.'pointing out that since Friday there had been no deaths in the hospital. That day, however, was a real "Black Friday," as four deat ; iis had been recorded.

Amongst those who have been obliged to rest is Mr. G. W. Taylor, chairman of the Hospital Board, but I am pleased to say lie is getting along very well. Mr. T. Winks, a member of the Hawera Hospital Board, was here on Saturday and complimented Mr. Crump on the way Eltharn 'had been organised, and the whole-hearted manner in which, tie officials had met the difficulty. A Kaponga resident informs me that our western neighbors have been hit very hard by the epidemic, and that the town has been practically closed for three weeks. Farmers, factory hands, and townspeople have had to bow theiv heads to the scourge. 'Tis a long Toad that has no turning, and the Kapongarians now believe it will not be many days before they get into their business stride once more. Unfortunately, they havo had many deaths, and Christmas will be a sad one in many homes.

Friends of Mjr. E. Pat-ten -will be pleased to liear there was an improvement in his condition this (Monday) morning. lie has been putting up a brave figlit, and his numerous friends [ire hopeful shortly to hear of ''his complete recovery. Constable Tovrnseni lias also been obliged to lay up for treatment, but our popular guardian of the peace is now very much improved in health.

UPPER MANCIOREL

The report from Upper shows that 20 households hare been visited. There are three eases in the medicalhands, and iivo convalescent cass*. The neighborly, co-operative and mutual help conditions disclosed are admirable. 'A committee has been set up as follows: Messrs. Flay, Penrce, Jackson and Herbert, the latter, is manager of the. 'creamery, acting as representative, with the creamery as headquarters, whence reports will be issued direct to the Health Committee. There is telephone communication. The report suggests a number of names of young ladies who can be spared from home duties and will be willing to acquire knowledge in elementary matters that will enable them to render valuable help cow and in the future. The report also suggested a house that could be secured for bad cases. The Lower Maugwei district is now p&g OXfiMJf

STRATFORD

(Erom Our Own Correspondent.)

Stratford.. Dec. 2.

It is with regret that n further record of deaths lias to be made, four having occurred since ray last report.

P. C, Simmons, who died on Sunday, was a Stratford boy. He was in cam]) for several .months, and whilst there developed rheumatism so badly that he was drafted out of the ranks to his home. Here he was obliged to yet about on crutches for a considerable time, being generally weakened through his stay in camp. The influenza coming on top of the rheumatism gave him no chance of fighting the disea'se. Before enlistment he was a member of the Stratford Town Band. His mother (lied a few days previously from the same epidemic.

Mrs. M. D. Blennerhassett was t'he wife of a well-known Lowgarth farmer, and had been in Stratford for treatment for some time. Her husband and relatives will have the sympathy of all settlers round liere in their bereavement.

F. Russell, aged 33, was engaged at Douglas on railway works and wa3 of a quiet disposition. His friends will sadly regret his untimely end. A. Flynn, aged 24, the fourth death, was a returned soldier, and one of a family of five brothers who have all done their duty in tho Expeditionary Force, tlie other four, from what I can gather, being still at the front. Deceased has been in the hospital for some time, and his case was always a source of anxiety to the doctor. He had previously been badly gassed whilst in the trenches, and this ratWer aggravated matters, and the end came yesterday. His widowed mother and sisters are well-known and deservedly popular in the Te Wera district. Young Flynn was born at Opunake and was well and favorably known throughout Taranaki. To-day his funeral took place, there being a good attendance of returned soldiers and other friends at the cemetery, where, the last rites were conducted by Father Maples. Although it is necessary to record further deaths in town and country, it must not be confused by t;ho nervous that the epidemic is as bad as ever. On the contrary, Sunday and to-day were comparatively quiet to what things were. There are still several esses in the hospital that cause anx'iety, and probably more to come in, but the worst is now assuredly over. There s'liould be no relaxation of efforts, however. Probably the Citizens' Committee will exercise their privileges of keeping the careless up to the mark, and notify the board of any cases that do not come directly under its notice.

A train from Whangamomona with a few patients on boaa'd is expected to arrive in Stratford early this evening.

'AT AWAKINO.

The medicftl assistant who visited the Awakino district reported on Sunday that there can be little doubt that the epidemic has made its appearance in the district. Three children have died under circumstances that pointed strongly to the presence of influenza in its virulent form, and, in addition, about 20 cases of sickness have been reported in the district and its immediate neighborhood, and it is not unlikely that there have been other cases in the outlying country. All persons reported ill who were living near the settlement were visited and found to be convalescent- The history of these cases is strongly suggestive of the epidemic in a mild form. The Awakino settlement, however, comprise.; but a small paTt, of the district of which it formed a business centre. There is a large and sparsely-settled area of back country which, having regard to the means of communication, could not under favorable condition*! bo covered within a week. In tho present state of the roads and tracks, a longer time would probably be required. Fortunately, most parts of tho district are connected with Awakino by telephone, and, through 4jie courtesy of Mr. W. .T, R. Avery, ha was able to make inquiries which satisfied him that there were no serious cases at the present time. In view of tho possibility of a further outbreak of the epidemic, a committee of settlers has been formed, and arrangements made to patrol the district systematically. If hospital accommodation is required, the Awakino TTB.II and the Farmers' Club-house will be available, and aTo fairly suitable for the purpose. A lady with nursing experience has volunteered her services, and arrangements have been made with the proprietor of Awakino House to do all necessary cooking. A supply of medicines has been left with the committee, and some instruction given as to the duties of a medical attendant. An inhalation chamber is to be set up at a convenient centre. It will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to convey persons who are seriously ill along the abominable tracks from the back country to Awakino. There may, therefore, be cases which must of necessity be treated in their own house, and it is suggested that a supply of leaflets containing advice upon the treatment of the sick should be supplied to the committee for the sruidam-e of attendants. The Settlers' Committee expressed themselves as deeply gvateful for the interest shown by the committee, and especially the offer of a medical man, who would go into the district in the event of a serious outbreak.

The medical assistant; expressed liis thanks for the hospitality extended to liim.

NO ABATEMENT AT BLENHEIM,

Blenheim, Last Night. There was no abatement of the influenza to-day. Several fresh cases were reported, and the situation was aggravated by convalescents persisting in mixing with other people. There are several severe eases at tho hospital, and G1 patients at the auxiliary hospital. One death occurred to-day, bringing the total to 20.

NELSON ESCAPES LIGHTLY.

Nelson. Last Night.

There have been no admissions of influenza cases at the Nelson Hospital for three days. Two deaths have occurred since Saturday. There are uow 40 cases in the hospital, two being dangerously ill. The epidemic is now believed to be practically over here. Nelson has escaped very lightly in comparison with moat jplaces of a similar size. During November there were 29 burials at the Waka.piuvsn Cemetery, against 12 for Novem-" ber, There were three interments .in tite other cemeteries in the district.

AMONG THE MAORIS.

Mr. T. Hawkings reported that lie had visited several families on the Bertram and Tikorangi Reads, and all were free. One family of eight on the Otaraoa Road were living in a house of two rooms. There were, two deaths hero some weeks ago, and the house is in a very bad Condi Lion.

Mr. Rpence, of Urnti, said he would like the committee to ring up with regard to the hospital. Pukearuhe is quite clean. Mr. Freet.li is watching the pahs every day. There have, been no cases yet.

The Urenui Pali is in splendid condition, the Maoris themselves having fixed up the dining room as a hospital, and a mild ease (a girl) is the only patient there. I advised that the patient and attendant be isolated.

The Okoke hospital has five inmates. Mr. Pigott, of Urenui, is calling and taking medicine.

Onacro was found to be quite free. A family on the Onaero Road was visited. The children (seven) and mother have had the trouble, but are now convalescent. At the pah over the Waitara bridge night patients are convalescent, and the pah (in charge of Mr. Manu White) is in good condition.

THE NATIVE HOSTELRY.

Early yesterday morning another death occurred at the Native hostelry—viz., that of James Watson, of. Waitara. There are now IS patients in the hospital.

'Die report submHted by the committeeman in charge states that there Li accommodation for 25 patients, the first patient under the care of a qualified nurse and a V.A.D. being taken into the institution on November 20. Two returned soldiers, capable men, have Ibecn in constant, attendance on day duty and at night, up to the present voluntary assistance has been obtained to assist the nurses. Nearly all tlm help lias come from the pakeha, it being difficult to obtain assistance from the Maoris. Mr. Brooks, the caretaker of the hostelry, and his "wife have given valuable assistance until stricken down. The -hostelry has been under the administration of the Public Hospital. Tegular calls being made daily by Bi's. Blackley n.nd Wade, and a proper register is kept of all admissions, deaths, and discharges. Up to date 42 patients have 'been admitted, most of them, unfortunately, being in a serious condition. To this is attributable the large number of deaths, which stands at I®. Everything possible has il*>en dona for the comfort of the patients, and any shortcomings whatever are solely attributable to the nrsencv of the organisation/and the limited means as regards help, etc.. available to the committee. The institution is indebted to the Toadies' Patriotic Committee for the liberal donation of soup and soft goods, all of ■which has been given gratis for the usa the patients.

THE CONVALESCENT HOSPITALS.

Up to date 48 patients have been admitted to the Kawaroa convalescent home and 27 discharged, leaving 21 at present in the institution. To date there have been 38 admissions to tlie East End convalescent home for women, and IS discharges, leaving 20 convalescents in the home. At the request of the medical superintendent a further five beds have been put in, and a further five patients sent to the establishment, bringing the present total to 25.

Both establishments are being conducted as extensions of the public hospital, proper records being kept of admissions and discharges and Tegular calls made by "the medical superintendent. Meals for the patients are being supplied by local hotel proprietors, but all labor in connection with the institutions lias so far been voluntary, and in all probability it will not be necessary to engage paid assistance.

FARMING ASSISTANCE.

There were no inquiries from farmers for assistance yesterday, but all the herds that the committee have undertaken to look after are being attended to, ' and a number of volunteer;! are still available if necessary.

STRICT QUARANTINE REGULA-

TIONS URGED.

'Auckland, Last Niglit.

The citizens' committee to-day passed a resolution: That in the interests of ,the health of the community the Government be earnestly requested to introduce immediately the strictest quarantine regulations with regard to overseas ships from ports where any infectious diseases or sicknesses exist, particularly with regard to ships upon which siekness or disease is found to exist upon arrival in New Zealand ports. With regard to the port of Auckland, Motuihi or other suitable quarantine ground should be forthwith provided, and unreservedly placed at the disposal of the Public Health Department to meet any possible emergency.

IMPROVEMENT AT DUNEDIN,

Dunedin, Last Night.

Considerable improvement in regard to the influenza is reported to-day. Only a few fresh cases were reported, and calls on the doctors were very much reduced. A large number of those who have been laid aside Tiro now returning to work.

POSITION AT NAPIER,

, Napier, Last Night. , _ There are now over a hundred deaths in Napier from the epidemic, but very few new eases are notified daily, and jinost of the fatal terminations arise from old eases.