INFLUENZA.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16362, 6 November 1918, Page 6

INFLUENZA.

GRAVE POSITION IN AUCKLAND. SIXTEEN MORE DEATHS REPORTED. ORGANISING THE FIGHT AGAINST THE EPIDEMIC. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, November o. At least sixteen more deaths from influenza are reported. There are sixty-five hospital nurses laid up, filling two wards in the hospital. Over forty soldiers arc in the annexe, suffering from the complaint. There were Gls applications to-day for medical assistance, and thirty serious cases were admitted to the hospital. The extremely serious nature of the influenza epidemic has been impressed upon tho Minister of Public Health (the Bon. G. AY. Russell) so forcibly that instead of returning to Wellington tonight, be decided to remain hero until all arrangements for fighting the disease were in hand. Interviewed, the Minister 6aid: In view of the very serious nature of the position, I have communicated with the Priino Minister and the Minister of Defence urging an increase to tho fullest extent of medical men, beyond the ten already sent and promised. Three doctors arrived with Dr. Frengley, Chief Health Officer. Two others wore released in Auckland by tho Dofenco Department, and now the examination of recruits in the North Island has been stopped, releasing four more. lam seeking the assistance of more doctors, in addition to those ten, so that people may receive treatment in their own homes in the early stages of the disease, and thus lessen the demands upon the hospital for accommodation after tho disease has developed to the serious stage. The Minister of Defence has also been requested to release all chemists in th© military camps, and every effort is being made to obtain nurses from other parts of the North Island.

The Minister appeals for more women to help the fighting forces, and also asks people with motor-cars to carry food from the Women's National Reservo rooms to families in distress.

Referring to other steps taken. Mr Russell said they could not all be disclosed until they had the approval of the authorities in Wellington. The Chief Health Officer, the District Health Officer, and he himself, however, were unanimous as to the gravity of the position. There are 204 cases in hospital at the Narrow Neck Military Training Camp, some of them suffering from pneumonia. STEAMERS DETAINED IN WELLINGTON. DEATH OF CAPTAIN DREW KITE. <PKESS ASSOCIATION TKLEOKAM.) WELLINGTON, November 5 Several vessels are detained in Wellington owing to the influensa outbreak. The Kahu is laid up indefinitey, Goveral members of her crew being ill. The watersiders refuse to unload the Paloona and the Monowai, owing to their demands for guarantees not being complied with. Captain Drewette_, of tho Union Co. s steamer Monowai, died to-night from j tiie effects of influenza. MANUKA'S PASSENGERS. J TO GO THROUGH INHALATION CHAMBER. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TIL SO BAM.) WELLINGTON, November 5. The departure of the steamer Ma- ! nuka from Wellington for Sydney has Deen postponed until 1 p.m. on Friday next. Intending passengers are notified that in order to avoid quarantine on arrival in Australia, they must go through the inhalation chamber at Wellington three times, and obtain a certificate from the health officer that they have done so. No - passenger will be allowed to embark unless in possession of this certificate. The process can. be gone through at Dunedin, Ljttoiton, ana Auckland. On this occasion Wellington passengers must pass through the chamber once each on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this week. Passengers from north and south joining at Wellington must pass through the chamber twice on Thursday and once ou Friday. GISBOUNE HOSPITAL CROWDED. (press association telegram.) Gi&iHJlviNJiJ, 5. The number oi influenza oasos is increasing uiuiy. j ue nocipiuJ is crowded, and thero were sixty-one oases 111 uie institution, to-uay. oii.ceo/1 nuiat.'S out oi a suite or 34 me down witn influenza. A3 the result of an appeal by tue Hospital authorities. several ladies volunteered to assist in nursing in the institution. The borougii Council iias ileciaed to disinieet tiie tiam-cars twee times a day, and to ask tue bciiooi Committees to consider tne advisauinty of closing aown. The autxioritita also urge parents not to allow tuoir chJdrun to attend picture shows. Since Sunday tkero iiave been two deaths at the frcm double pneumonia, due to intlucnza. THE COLLIER KAITUNA. (FBES3 ASSOCIATION TELEGBAJI.) WESTi/OIiT, November 5. The trouble in regard to tho Kaituna is stiil unsettled. The watersiders remain obdurate, and have substantially resolved not to go near the boat unless the Union Company guarantees them against the contagion of influenza. The members of the crew ot' tiie steamer who are nut laid up are intermingling with the community as if nottung had occurred. Influenza is becom>ng prevalent among the citizens. WELLINGTON NOT SERIOUSLY AFFECUED. So far as can be ascertained, the city has not beeu seriously affected by the 6pidomic (sava Monday's Wellington "i J ost.") borne of tne Government offices have felt the strain tor a few days now and then, but in more than one Department the public servants have beuu ouly too glad _ to subject themselves to an inhalation-spraying process at periodic intervals, and this, judging by the existing condition or affairs, has had a good result. The Wellington Hospital has had no strain put upon its accommodation in consequence of the epidemic, nor has the staff suffered to any appreciable extent. It is interesting to iearn that influenza, of 3jvuch the same type as at piestjit prevailing, first made its appearance in New; Zealand in 1847. The prevailing epidomic was the subject of n.enticn at the Supreme Court, at Wellington, on Monday morning, when a gentleman who had been aumjmoned to serve as a juror sought exemption on the ground that ne wa3 suitering from inhuunza. His appearance dia not indicate that the malady 1 hsuf as yet got hold of him to any senI ous extent, but; Mr Justice Cflapman I was careful. ''It would be better that

you did not mix with tho other jam men," he remarked, "you are relieved from attendance." FRESH AIR ANT) SUNLIGHT, i Speaking to a reporter yesterday, Dr. G. J. Blackmore, medical superintend dent of tho Consumption Sanatorium laid very great stress on the Talueo} fresh air and sunlight as a preventive of infection. If a person could stay out in the air and light, tho chances were greatly in favour of his escaping til* disease. Effort should bo made to avoid all dark enclosed places; private residences should be opened to the breezes, so that a good current of air could pass right through them. A good blast of air through » house could disinfect it bettor than much tedious spray: ing and fumigation. The cabins on the | Christehurch trams should be opened i much more than they are at present; j people of all kinds, many possibly suffering from diseases of various kinds, I used the trams, and infection was far more likely to occur in a closed and ' "frowsy" atmosphere than in one in j which the nir was constantly changed. ! Tlie closing of the trams because of ' dust was unwise. Road dust might be unpleasant, but it_ was seldom dangerous, owing to tho fact that it had been ■weli exposed to sun and air, both fine disinfectants. Only two or three cases of influenza had occurred at the Sanatorium so far, th© proportion being verv low owing to the advantage taken of fresh air and sunlight. \ HEALTH OFFICER REFUSES TO ' SPEAK. j The Wellington message which appeared in yesterday's paper to the effect that the Minister of Public Health had issued instructions to all Chief District Health Officers to prepare public sprayers for use in chambers where sulphate of zinc might be inhaled, was referred yesterday to Dr. Chesson, the Chief \ Health Officer in Christehurch, but all i he could be induced to sav was that he 1 had no statement of any Icind to make 1 for publication regarding the matter. In replv to other questions regarding the influenza outbreak, Dr. Chesson said that the'disease here was exactly the same as that prevalent in Auckland. DEATH AT PERTH. (Jy Cfcbl*.—Fre*j AMOciation.—Copyright i (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) PERTH, November o. A quarantined Chinese influenza patient from the steamer Charon is dead, j ——— i t