THE EPIDEMIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1918, Page 8

THE EPIDEMIC.

GOVERNMENT SHAUE OF, EXPENSES. By Telegraph.—Press Aesocv&iira. Wellington, Dee. 16. The Cabinet lias decided to pay all tests of nursing', medical services, equipI'lent, and maintenance of emergency hospitals and other expenses directly arising out of the- cpidemie, including deficiencies in hospital hoards-' stocks of medical suppliesThe Government will not pay the expenditure incurred either by hospital boards or local authorities in the exercise of their ordinary function?, such a? sanitation work arising out of" the cleaning up of the towns and districts, neither will it give a subsidy of 243 in the £ on contributions raised for the relief of distress. ROYAL COMMISSION. Till!. TREATMENT OF ORPHANS. . Christchurch, Dec- 16. The Royal Commission to inquire into I the influenza epidemic will also deal with the condition in cities, their sanitation, slums, and the general health. The commission will consist of Sir John Denniston (chairman), the Hon. E. Mitchellson (Auckland), and a third member not yet appointed. The proposals of the Hon. G. W. Russell on tfie subject of children who have lost one or both parents as ths result of the influenza epidemic have been adopted by Cabinet. Orphan children and children left in a condition of distress by the death of lather or mother will practically become wards of tne State. The organisation of the scheme will be in the hands of the Education Department, while tha Public Health Department will find the. necessary funds The policy will be that, where necessary, payment will be made for maintenance on the basis of 10a 6d par weak for each child. The Hon. C. W. Russell has announced that arrangements »-e in progress for the evacuation of the quarantine stations at Motuihi, Somes Island, and Port Chalmers by the Defence Department. These institutions will come under the control of the Public. Health Department in view of the necessity for extension tn meet the probable needs of the huge body of returning men. OPUNAKE. —»wnw" (From Our Own Correspondent.) There were 17 patients in the convalescent marquees on the reserve on Saturday. There is a clearance being effected at all hospitals. Christinas is n*ur, and the epidemic is now not an epidemic. So it is expected to have all emergency hospitals cleared in a few days. Some strong comment has Been made about convalescent* from th* isolation place mixing with the townspeople and not conforming to conditions requisite at all convalescent homes, it is the young fellows who are to nlame, the same who would have been in queer street if it had not been for «lte workers in the interests of hcalcii. The emergency hospitals were lucky to have a trained man (Mr. Cireorue), who had two and a-half years at «. clearing station behind the firing-line. It is reported that at the Rahotu hospital a Native woman, who had little hope of recovery, was experimented en with Professor Kirk's remedy—-hot-water blankets to the feet and cold jacks to head and chest. It proved successfulThe Maori had a good heart and fought for life, which is a rare thuig for Natives once they get the dopes. We are now getting back to normal in business. The stock sales nave commenced and are well attended, people having got over the "fright." . The pictures opened on Saturday. The Convent (children's) hospital is closed.

HAWERA. The influenza patients are all making excellent progress. One was ctischarged on Saturday. Thero were no admissions or deaths reported during the wseK-end. The borough inhalation chamber, which has been of a distinct benefit to the community during the epidemic, was closed down on Saturday night. MAJJAIA MAORI HOSPITAL. "' This hospital was closed yesterdaj One patient died on Sunday, a Maon boy, aged 7. EPIDEMIC EST AMERICA. Further particulars in regard to the influenza epidemic in the United States came to band by mail last week. A report from Washington, dated October 21, stated that in six States the situation bad improved. Conditions apparently were worse in Pennsylvania, with :ttiO,ooo cases estimated, 150;000 in Philadelphia. For the first 18 days in October 14,805 deatli3 were reported in this State.. For the 48 hours ending at noon on October 21 new influenza cases totalled 6066, pneumonia 2079, and deaths 919. These figures brought the total of influenza cases since September 13 to

200,447; pneumonia eases to 46,055, and deaths from all cases to 15,072. The Public Health Service estimated 180,000 eases in Connecticut up to October 20, with 2025 deaths. In New York, 37 cities out of 61, including New .York City, had registered 1811 deaths from October 1 till October 18. In California 25,000 cases had been reported to October 19; Nebraska reported 2278 cases and 66 deaths on October 20. [ In the American training camps the disease was particularly evident, and at I October 8 the influenza cases reported from all camps since the disease became epidemic on September 13 totalled I«i7,000, pneumonia cases 17,102, and deaths 4910. In a report on the epidemic, Dr. Wm. U, Park, Director of the Bureau of Laboratories at Otisville, stated that bacteriologists of the Health Department, *-ho make their tests there, found influenza bacilli in the throat in 85 per cent, of the city cases. Dr. Park said hci was not cortP-in whether the first infection is with influenza bacilli or not. Pneuvmonia, he (stated, seemed to be due to the streptococcus infection. ' "We are interested in finding a cure for the disease," stated Dr. Copeland. a "SVte medical official. "Bacteriologists at OW P lace in Oti ßville maT obtain a successful vaccine. We have 90 horses, there one 0> these animals having produced serum v/Sued at 325,000 dollars. This department furnishes most or the vaccine used by the Gfivwnment Strong measures have been teken-in» Washington to prevent expectoration in ■ fte S, WJ.& i» regarded as a sura, irieans of spte&tog t* 6 disease, in

fines of £5 each were imposed in 15 cases where the offenders had been detected expectorating on railway platforms. Another was sent to gaol for two days, and the Magistrate intimated that five days', imprisonment would, be the penalty in any cases which might come before him the following day.