DIPHTHERIA EPIDEMIC.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 156, 2 July 1917, Page 6

DIPHTHERIA EPIDEMIC.

71 CASES IN HOSriTA-L. In accordance with a circular issued to members of tlie Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Hoard, a special meeting of that authority was held this morning to consider the immediate provision of increased accommodation for the victims of an outbreak of diphtheria in the city and suburbs. The members present were: Messrs. M. J. Covle, chairman, W. Wallace. K. 11. Hotter.'G. Knight. S. J. llarbutt. Dr. Maguire (medical superintendent), and Mr. (I. W. Allsop, (architect to the Hoard) also attended. The chairman mentioned that it was proposed that the verandahs of the infections diseases wards should be extended to provide both ordinary wards and sun rooms, and also to erect a small operating room attached to the ward, as the operations were at present being performed in the ward itself. He bad already authorised the matron, with the concurrence of Dr. Maguire. to ■engage six extra nurses, and tlie house manager to purchase the necessary equipment. Dr. Maguire reported that there were 71 eases of diphtheria in the hospital. To cope with fhe influx the victims had to be distributed throughout the hospital; in tlie boys, diphtheria and scarlet fever wards, and in the observation cottage. The three patients in the scarlet fever ward were admitted with a mixed infection of scarlet fever and | diphtheria. The idea of the proposed improvements, the doctor continued, is to widen flic verandahs considerably, and make them practically into fresh wards, to lie used as sun rooms, and also to be used as wards. In the case of children suffering badly, he continued, very often an operation called tracheotomy was necessary. He suggested that a room should be set apart for that. After making an inspection of the various buildings, it was resolved to add two sun rooms and a small operating room to the diphtheria ward; the work to be done immediately. The architect was also instructed to drawup rough plans in respect to a proposed further addition to the diphtheria ward, and a substantial addition to the scarlet fever ward.