THE EPIDEMIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 December 1918, Page 3

THE EPIDEMIC.

STKATFOKD,

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Slratford, Dec. 0. One death, that of .Mi;. \V. J. Wilson, has to Ijp ropcrtod. Deceased was engaged oil the railway at Fokokura, and when brought to the Technical Hospital his caso wan a rather serious one. Ho leaves a widow and two children. With the slackening' oft' of .cases, there appears a tendency on the part of the public, or, rather those who havo recently recovered, to make light of their recovery. This is a mistake, and some of those who have wrapped themselves up in gTeat coals havo failed to gauge the severity of tlio climate, or their own weakness. Whatever the cause, a" few of those who have been up and about have deemed it wise to go back to bed. All employees in one bank have been down, and the man Mimd the counterwag the inspector. Perhaps if we had a few more high officials performing similar duties paper money would present a more cleanly appearance. (From Our Own Correspondent), Last night and to-day we havo two more deaths to record. One of the victims, T. P. Graham, was a mail well known here. When the epidemic was at its height he did cot stuuy himself for a minute, but, liSe many others, recognised the necessi'ij; of lending a helping iiand. This week he contracted the malady, and now his death has to be chronicled. He was at one time engaged as a pig buyer lor the factory here, and then joined a similar firm operating in this district. Deceased was a widower, and leaves a young family to mourn their loss.

A. R. Hart is the other victim. He was a laborer, but had not been very long here. For some time ho put up a big light against the disease. 'His wife and family will have the sympathy of all in their bereavement.

Matters, apart from these two fatalities, are improving generally. One case was admitted yesterday.

Patients in the Town Hall are all convalescent and practically l'cadr to go Ollt.

Inquiries made show tnat'"E. H. Patten had a ?ocxl night and exhibit? a slight improvement. Constablo Townsend'a condition is also slightly better.

Members of tho Citizens' Committee have rendered great assistance, but the long hours and strenuous work have considerably reduced tho ranks of voluntarv workers, many of whom aro now under treatment. There are a few who might give their comrades a hand, and they will be glad of any assistance.

HAWEEA. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Mr G. W- Taylor, chairman of the Hawera Hospital Board, notifies tliat there are now only 31 casus in the Hawera Show Building. One case was admitted and one death (a Maori) recorded ' yesterday. Conditions there have vastly improved. The temporary health office has closed.

Generally, in times of emergency, (me can depend upon his neighbor coming to the rescue. Wjth the present epidemic raging, many men (and women) havo done noble work. An exception has come to mv knowledge. The owner of a ear was appealed to to use it or lend it for the benefit of the nurses, tfie benzine to be supplied- This request was refused on the ground that ho had bought the car for his own use and not to take other people out. Ho absolutely declined, on being pressed, to render any assistance with his car.

WAITARA. After being closed for nine or ten days the shops re-opened f<A' business on Monday last, from 10 a.m. to p.m., and yesterday reverted to the ordinary business hours. Altogether the position here now seems very satisfactory. Dr Campbell is able to resume hi 9 work, and, with the assistance of

two medical assistants that were sent out, is able to cope with the cases. The daily house-to-house visitation, by members of the Citizens' Committee, will be concluded to-day. There is still some need, however for assistance in the temporary hospital at St. John's Hall, as, although the number of patients i 3 decreasing, the number of assistants has also decreased, owing to business having been resumed. At the outset of the epidemic a commute of ladies was formed, for the purpose of supplying sick people with food, the work to be directed from the Technical School, but the house to house visitors reported there was no necessity for such work, as neighbors were helping each other, and the committee therefore disbanded. The only food supplied by the Mayor's committee, was beef tea, which was sent to the council chambers twice daily by Messrs Borthwick Eros., they supplying the meat and doing the boiling, and the local butchers giving the bones. This was free to all who required it. The statistics for %he Waitara relief work were as follows, up to Friday:— \A r :-~:„~. to hospital CO, discharged 10, deaths 5, remaining in the hospital 23, in convalescent homes (Technical School and Forester's Hall) 22, leaving 45 patients still under treatment. All the oases tabulated above were natives, the serious oases amongst the European population being sent to the New flymouth Hospital.

OPUNAKB< g: The hospital reports show Ih'a'FTiero were oulv five admissions on Thursday. Several patients have been disharged during the last two days. Three marquees were a.t the Rereation Grounds on \7etTnesday, but owing to the very rough weather 011 Thursday it was deemed advisable to leave the convalescents in the hospitals until it cleared. The rain ceased at G p.io., *Jid those who are fit will probably co sent into the convalescent camp on Thursday. One Maori woman died at Raliotu Native hospital on Thursday moaning. The number of even mild cases is steadily diminishing- The ehops Te-opened for business yesterdav from 9 am. till 4 p.m., and will continue at these restricted hours until further notice.—Star.