THE EPIDEMIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 December 1918, Page 3

THE EPIDEMIC.

eltham. (From' Our Own Correspondent.) Eltluim, Dec. 4 Mr. K. Patten, who has been down with the influenza for several days, ia putting up a big light. To-day I was given to underntand his condition was much the same. Constable Tov.*nsend lias been removed to tbc hospital jor treatment. His case ia regarded as very hopeful, and his many friends trust it will not be many day! before ho is able to leave the institution.

A particularly distressing case is that of ."Mrs Tlarrv Smith, who died this week. Deceased was a daughter of Mr.Judd, a very old r:*sident here, and leaves a husband and a family of eight children, the eldest aged 15. Mr. Smith ia well known and for some year 3 was with the Eltham County Council, and afterwards became a railway surfaceman between Ngaere and Stratford. This has proved a very severe blo.v to him. and the sympathy of all will go out to lain in lus bereavement,

The Mayor reports that three case 3 were admitted on Tuesday to the hospitals, but they were all of some days' standing. One convalescent went out, on Wednesday. On Tuesday the little baby of Mr. and Mrs. l'ary died. Altogether 52 have been admitted to the hospitals, and 24 now remain. The condition of the patients at the Town Hall is very favorable and at the main hospital the patients generally are making fair progress.—Argus.

STRATFORD. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford, Dec. 4. Once again it is a pleasure to recora another 21 hours without an influenza death. The daily bulletin records that patients in the isolation ward were all improving. At the Technical Hospital cnere were two severe cases, and at Melrose House threo cases of serioU3 caracter, but all were improving. Up to the present 4700 visit 3 have been made to the inhalation chamber by visitors. With the epidemic casing up the numbers have fallen off somewhat, but this is mainly attributable to inability to get to the chamber through resuming ordinary duties.

Dr Paget is a great believer in those who find their health slowly returning having a week or so at the seaside, and, to further this cud, the Stratford Hospial Board has secured a couple of cottages at Xgamotu for the purpose. Msboe and its Mirroundingß have now been taken in land by the settlers there. This place is some distance from Stratford and Kaponga, benee the necessity for the settlers making the best of their plight. Mr. T. K. Anderson has been appointed chairman and Mr. Cumberworth secretary. They have received ithe necessary instructions how to proceed to work from Kaponga. The latter town, according to Mr. Gray, health inspector, is improving, but is not as well advance! in extinguishing the epidemic aa otbir towns. Although everything now appears well in hand hove, there are still a fair number of voluntary workers engaged in assisting tho Hospital Board, and I noticed some who are themselves only convalescent are now assisting, glad to do something to show appreciation of the kindness and attention bestowed on them when liors de combat.

Regarding the epidemic cut east, I am informed that the action of Mr .T. Rotherv (-inr-e deceased* in placina Uis hotel at the disposal of thn authorities 'considerably minimised the (lan«er. Mr. Ridde'l (also now deceased) was one of the earliest workers to combat the epidemic. and through the action of these two jrreatlv assisted others towards reeoverv. thev are liot.li now hut a memory. Before expiring, Mr. Ttothery, who was a Dm it! expressed a wish that he should 1m buried with the Druid rites Owing to so mariT of the brethren beins themselves prostrated, ther were unable, much a? thev would, have lii.-ed to do so, to comply with Hro. Rotbery's requestREMOVAL OF TOO ■^ARLY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Di'n.-ylin, Doc. 4. The so'ifieaf.ioT'o far Oiago ?i»' Soat-htad "•<- 34. an'? t.i>e hospital oases is> - 1. THfcSo figures show a 'Hi •* Health O/ficev of opi"'f»n ;liii.+ I'v" s-ndt'e'i removal of ocstrici'ws by the .Minister is too early. seeing that Ota«o caught the epidemic a foHnicK after the North, but the Minister's directions have been obeyed.

STEADY IMPROVEMENT AT CHRISTCHURCH.

Christclmrch, Dec. 4. A steady improvement in connection with the influenza epidemic continues. There were sis admissions to hospitals yesterday, and two deaths. Another step was reached in the return tn normal conditions in the city to-day, when the hotels aa.d hairdressing saloons reopened. $ _ „ •GREAT IMPROVEMENT AT HOKJTIKA. Hokitika, Last Night. A greatly-improved condition is manifest regarding the epidemic. No deaths have been reported since Friday, and several dangerous cases are making pleasing progress. The two auxiliary hospitals and convalescent house are to bo evacuated this week, us matters arc returning to normal. All the business places are now open as usual. Organisations for functions fixed for Christmas and the New Year are in hand as usual, including sports and race and trotting meetings.

EiVERCARGTLL BECOMING NORMAL. Invercargill, Last Night. During the past week the position in regard to influenza in Southland has shown a marked improvement. Although a few country districts which previously escaped unscathed aro now being visited, the hotter weather has helped considerably to bring convalescents hack to health, and, given a continuance of the conditions, Invercargill should soon be normal. The pressure at the public and auxiliary hospitals has eased considerably, and fewer serious cases are being taken in. The Vigilance Committee has done wonderful work in combatting the disease, and is now slackening its efforts according to plan. The tramway service is becoming normal. Out of 152 inmates, there have been 140 patients in the reformatory, where there were two deaths. Most of the others have recovered. Up till to-day the health authorities have been advised of 165 deaths.

DATE OF RE-OPENING WELLINGTON SCHOOLS. Wellington, Last Night. The Wellington Education Board today decided to re-open its schools on February 4. Correspondence disclosed that the Department lind disapproved of the board's previous announcement that the re-opening would not be till February 4, and suggested January 21 as a more appropriate date, but, members of the board expressed the opinion that the teachers had worked so hard during the epidemic that they would require an extended holiday to recuperate. The board also passed a resolution expressing warm appreciation of the admirable service tendered l>y the members of its stau during the epidemic.

I HAWERA. l?he general improvement continues to be well maintained. There were only three fresh eases admitted to the temporary isolation hospital on Tuesday, while three were transferred to St. Mary's convalescent hospital. There were no deaths in the temporary isolation hospital on Tuesday, but one patient died early on Wednesday morning—Mr. Fred. Parnell, aged 38, farmer, married, Turuturu Road. The position to date in the temporary isolation hospital is: Admissions IC!), deaths 30, transfers 102, remaining in hospital 37. There are still two doubtful cases in tho institution.

Inspector Gray reported on Tuesday morning that there was a marked improvement in the northern centres, but the situation in ilie country districts was :iot so bright, particularly in the Kaponga district. Children now appear to he contracting the influenza, there being nine patients in the temporary isolation hospital. One was sent to the convalescent hospital on Tuesday. _ j Nurse Smith, who has been acting as sister in charge of the temporary isolation hospital, is now down with the influenza. Nur;.e Cowie, of the public hospital staff, is at present carrying out the duties of Bister in charge of this hospital.—Star. DEATHS AMONG THE MAORIS. The deaths from the epidemic among the Maoris within a. radius of seven or eight miles of Hawera, not including Hawera, are as follow: Fraser Road 7, Ararata 7, Ngatiki 3, Taiporohenui 13, Meremere 2, Ha wera 1, Ohnngai 7. Including the Patea, Normanby and Manp.ia Police Districts, there are approximately another 60 deaths, making a total of about 100 deaths. There have been no deaths in the pas around Hawera since November 25, and Constable Nuttall, who visited all the pahs on Tuesday, found that practically every patient was convalescent, and this week should see the end of the trouble as far as the Maoris are concerned.

KAPONGA. Die health authorities report that although there have been a considerable number of cases at Knponga, the authorities there now have matters well in hand, and there is a decided improvement in the existing conditions. Mr. A. H. Guy, chairman of the Town Board, has been laid aside with the complaint for a week, but is now making favorable progress. —Argus. INHALATION TREATMENT. The efficacy of the inhalation apparatus has been abundantly proved over and over again during the present epidemic, but in no ease more clearly than in the case of the Manutahi Dairy Company, who have installed an apparatus at the factory (say 3 The Press). Since the installation not one of the employees has been down with the prevailing epidemic, whilst at other factories where there has been no apparatus the whole of the staff has been down.