INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 January 1919, Page 5

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

GREAT MORTALITY AT HJI "By Tel#gr*|»k- i -f l #!5M Atieeuti#*, - Auckland, Last Night. t Cable news from SUvil An January 4,' received at 5.30 p <a., esthhutes the influ-i enza mortality at Fiji at 8000, and at Suva and district at 468.

HOSPITAL REPORT. At the New Plymouth Hospital yegter-i day no new influenza ease iyas adm'tted;;, one patient was discharged; so death ooJ. curred. •

MEDICAL MEN PUZZLED-. DISEASE NOT INFLUENZA. "HK-j--The influenza epidemic his left in thy; public mind a disquieting fear that ouTj medical men arc not only unable to qope l with th« dieeiae, but Ate peerless to effectually check its ravages until it lifts taken a terrible toll of the populace. In spite of authoritative assertions to the: contrary, there is yet a strong body of people who dogmatically declare thkt influenza as it hss been known in the past is a totally different complaint from that which has been Bweeping over the whole world (comments the Lyttelton Times). Ordinary influenza has had few terrors for the victim, the inconvenience resulting therefrom being little more than that attendant on a bad cold The patient has, as a rule, taken to bed for a few days, after dosing himself witfi quinine or possibly hot spirits, anil ha» Soon risen, little the worse for his experience. Many also have not even considered it necessary to keep to their rooms, and have continued their ordinary, day's work, under slightly inconvenient though not painful conditions. Influenza, however, as it haß revealed itself recently, has been marked with »ymp-" toms seldom experienced before. Many, stricken patients have succumbed tb the' epidemic a few bouts aftef first being' taken ill. Others' have spent dajfs in] delirium, evidencing symptoms thai were; entirely new to those who nursed them] and who had had experience of iu its popular form. Those who vieitedJ the wards of Our hospitals or who lent a<| hand in checking the epidemic by render.< ing active assistance in the recent house-, to house campaign, will bear testimony; to the-fast that they were faced with] something Very different fj-om thaw which they had'previously known At "inij fluenza."' I

Christchurch medical man are nowj making an earnest study of th« baatorioM logical causes and effects of influenza, j and the public would greatly appreciate; nn authoritative expression of opinion byfl the Medioal Association, with a View toJ finally educating the people as to thai cause, nature, and cure of the Without any scientific camouflage, a] simple statement might be mtde which Would be understood by all. The thre» ; questions which the "man in the ttreet* would like answered are:—(l) Is the "netf" iliilitenza the same as the "old" fj (-2) If it is, why are its symptofllS dif-i ferent and its death toll larger! (3) Ira it is not the same, then what namoi jshould it be known by? An answer toj these questions would do much to the public mind. ji