INFLUENZA.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16361, 5 November 1918, Page 6

INFLUENZA.

SERIOUS POSITION IN AUCKLAND. DISORGANISATION OF PUBLIC SERVICES. (PRESS ASSOCIATION' TKLEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, November 4. The influenza epidemic has affected 120 of the Tramway Company's staff, and to-day the services were 22 cars short. At the Narrow Neck Military Camp there are 224 eases, some with pneumonia complications. The Taupiri Coal Company's Rotowara Mine at Huntly has been shut down. The company's output is reduced by 200 tons per dayi The Railway workshops are closing. Telegraphic business is greatly delayed. The ferry service lias been curtailed, and three vessels are laid up. The running of the mosquito fleet is affected. To-day there has been a constant procession through the public fumigation room. One of tho latest victims is Mrs Henare, wife ol' Mr Tau Menare, M.P. for .Northern Maori. A serious pnase of tho influenza epidemic is that in numerous instances whole households have been siniultaneousjy alteeted. In one case reported yesterday a mother, her throo uaugkters, and her grandchild, wevo stricken. 'Ihey liad a nurse in the iiouse, but she nad so much to do that she was unable to 'give tho patients proper attention and was compelled to continually seek outMilo assistance. This was promptly rendered by tho Citizens' Committee. In another case a woman whew© husband was a patient elsewhere was discovered in a state of collapse by a tradesman while on his round. 'lhis woman liad two babies—twins, only a fow weeks' old. When her grocer called she had been unattended and alone for three days and was delirious. The household arrangements had been entirely neglected. The tradesman procured a doctor, and the woman was sent to hospital. The grocer stated that this was by no means the only case ho had come across recently. He had found some women lying on the floor and had obtained assistance. Numerous cases are reported of mothers Buffering from influenza being compelled to run further risks by getting up to attend to the wantß of tho young children and babies, sick and otherwise. Doctors have frequently beeh rung up and begged to send medicine to families, ievery member of which was ill. Many people are being stricken suddenly. One instance occurred on the! wharf yesterday when a carter col- j lapsed without warning, and had to be j taken to hospital. Owing to the ravages of inflnenza and the absence of appellants and solicitors' the First Auckland Military Service Board conferred with, the Public Health authorities, and adjourned ill appeals for a fortnight. Evidence only was taken to-day in a few cases, a member of tho Board being ill. COLLIER'S CREW STRICKEN. (press Association teleguuu.) WES'ITOiIT, November 4. The Kaitiiiia, from Auckland, arrived at Westport yesterday. The major portion of the crew is stricken witli influenza. The watemiders refuso to work her, and demand her removal further downstream and fumigation. The workeib also ask an indemnity in case the disease spreads. There is much indignation here that the .authorities should have allowed hier to come to the wharf. One of the crew was taken to the hospital. > MOBILISATION PLANS UPSET. RELEASE OP DOCTORS FROM CAMPS. (press association telegram.) WELLINGTON, November 4. In cohseqiience of the epidemic of influenza at Auckland, the Defence authorities have decided not to mobilise tho Auckland quota of recruits, numbering about J3O, who were to enter camp this week. It is probable, too, that a number of Raratongans who are expected to arrive in New Zealand shortly, will be sent back to their homes. Four medical officers were released flom military duty, and left for Auckland oh Saturday. DEATH AT NAPIER. (I'RF.SS ASSOCIATION TKLEGfeAM.) NAPIER, November 4. Adams, a member of the crew of tho I steamer Mako, the whole of whom were admitted to the Napier Hospital, died of influenza to-day—tho first death from the epidemic at Napier. , INHALATION STATIONS TO BE ESTABLISHED. (special to "tots pbess.") WELLINGTON, November 4. In view of the possibility of the. influenza epidemic assuming a more severe form in other towna of tho Dominion, the Minister of Public Health has arranged for the establishment of inhalation stations in the principal centres, whore persons may receive a preventive sulphate of zinc treatment. The Hon. G. W. Russell left by today's express for Auckland to confer with tho Chief Health Officer and the health authorities there as to the best means of coping with the trouble. Instructions lave been given that tho issue of passports to Australia is to be sereroly curtailed, and permits granted only in urgent and necessitous cases. Even then all particulars must be forwarded to Wellington before tho issue is made. In common with most other places Akaroa iB suffering from the unpleasant attentions of the influenza. Convalescents from the city, recuperating here for a season, may have had something to do with the spread of the epidemic. By this time it is getting well into its stride, and it looks as if very few households indeed are destined to escape its impartial touch. Some prominent Christchurch medical men were snoken to yesterday regarding the outhroak of influenza the North Island and here, and their opinions about it, were rather conflicting. One doctor stated that in the course of his practice lately he had come across a good many cases of influenza, but it did not appear to him to bo of a particularly virulent tvpe, or much different from the usual influenza which is always about more or less. Certainly it had affected several old people seriously, more particularly in the way of nfter effects and complications, but the disease —in his experience—was hardly distinguishable from the ordinary influenza. With regard to preventive measures, all he could recommend was a frequent gargling with a mild antiseptic gargle and ordinary sensible attention to one's state of health. If one did get attacked, ho or she should certainly go to bed and Btay there till tho temperature becamo normal. When a patient tried to go about his daily work when not really normal, dangerous complications were liable to occur. Another medical man said that he i had come across numerous cases of in-

fluenza iu Christchurch recently. bnl all \Vere of rather a mild type. "Ijvea tho mild influenza here," he said "it ; rough on the old people, and its after , effects arc very often serious. Tb th« young and reasonably vigorous it shoilM have no terrors if care is taken. With re can! to precautionary measures I may say that I havo not. a great deal of fait,» m them. A mild antiseptic garcla can do no harm anyway, and it mav do good. I would say this, though 'when you do get it, give in to it.' That's thft important part to remember. Probablv four or live days or a week in bed win result in a practically complete cure with no ill-effects, whereas, if tho patient struggles to get about before no is tit, he may become seriously ill "