INFLUENZA.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16363, 7 November 1918, Page 6

INFLUENZA.

GOVERNMENT PROCLAMATION. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON. Novomber 6. A "Gasette Extraordinary'* proclaims influenza a dangerous infectious diseaso, and gives tho authorities the right to exercise all the spocial powers under Section IS of tho Public Health Act. THE MAORI DELAYED. (Ml ESS ASSOCIATION* TELEGI.AM.) WELLINGTON, November 6. Six members of the crew of the ferry steamer Maori have been attacked by influenza and one has been taken to tho ho?i>ital. Owing to the delay caused by those men's illness the vessel will not leave tho stream for Lytteiton until daylight. GREAT DEARTH OF NURSES IN AUCKLAND. OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE FAR BELOW REQUIREMENTS. (TRKSS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, November 6. Tho total number of deaths for tho four weeks ending yesterdav is 52. Probably thero are others which have not yet been registered. There is still a great dearth of nurses and tho city organisation is unable to provide the necessary assistance for tho stricken homes. Thirteen additional workers offered their services to-day to the city organisation, making a total of 44. 'This number is still tar below requirements," said Miss Bngley at the Central Depot, "and I could niace another 40. It is most distressing that so many in the community have failed to_ rise to tho occasion. Every day brings new and urgent calls, but not new workers, so that where assistance is sought to-day we are compelled to withhold it until to-morrow. It is a doElorable thing. Requests for food have een received all day long, and two troops of Boy Scouts havo been distributing in needy cases for fhe depot." A total of 1130 people passed through one inhalation room to-day, The Mayor is making representations to the Health authorities on the question of forbidding all public assemblages. The Roman Catholic Church has placed at the disposal of the hospital the Bermont street girls' school, wnich is capable of accommodating 100 patiemts", together with a complete nursing staff. A number of vessels of tho mosquito fleet are hung up. The criminal sessions have been postponed for a month. There are 200 cases of influenza in the hospital. Only the more serious cases are being admitted. Eighty nurses are down, also four doctors. Thirty volunteers and five expert nurses are assisting. but more help is needed. The Board of Education has passed a resolution stating that it realises with grave concern tno seriousness of vtho epidemic, and rocommending that the secondary schools, as well as the primary schools, theatres, picture shows, churches, and other public meeting places shoi'M bo closed. TELEPHONE SERVICE CURTAILED. (press association telegram.) I WELLINGTON, November 7. j Nearly the whole of the Telephone ' staff --at Auckland have fallen viotims to influenza, and in consequenco tho hours haye been curtailed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. RAILWAY SERVICE AFFECTED.. (press association telegram.) WELLINGTON, November 6. In view of the serious effect tho | influenza epidemic has had upon the Railway Department's staff, railway . officials state that it will probably be necessary to materially curtail both the goods and passenger services in the North Island. Three hundred members iof the running staff alone are ill at [present. 1 The Pacific cable steamer Iris, which j has been repairing ono of the Cook Strait cables, arrived at .Wellington I with thirty-nine members of the ship's company clown with influenza. Two developed acute pneumonia, and were 1 removed to the hospital. The Minister of Defence stated that I in response to tho appeal, ten doctors had gone to Auckland, and that three I more would follow. It was hoped, also, to relieve some dispensers at present in tho camps. SEVERE CASES AT LYTTELTON. CREW* OF OVERSEA STEAMER AFFECTED. At the request of an oversea steamer's Lytteiton agents. Dt. Newell visited the vessel yesterday morning, and discovered 16, severe cases of influenza on board among the crew, six firemen and nine seamen, and a cook being affected. Tho matter was promptly reported to Dr. Chesson, Health Officer, who sent Mr Hall, Government Health Inspector, to investigate. All the sufferers were taken to the casualty ward for treatment, with the exception of one, whose con-' dition was somewhat critical. This patient was removed to the Christchurch Hospital. When the vessel arrived in port about ten days ago, there were no signs of influenza amongst the crew, and it.is therefore believed that the attack originated in Lytteiton. The epidemic has been prevalent in the port during the nast few weeks, but is now subsiding. T fhore have been over a dopen severe cases in Lytteiton, and one death, while a number of people, suffering from slight colds, have imagined thoy werQ suffering from influenza, until otherwise assured by their medical advisers The vessel in'question has been thoroughly fumigated, and where it is neeossary, men will be engaged to replace members of the crew who aro incapacitated. The other vessels in port appear to bo entirely free from the outbreak, except the collier Kahika, whose master, Captain Williamson, has fallen a victim to tho epidemic. CITY TO BE SPRING CLEANED. SPITTING ON FOOTPATHS FORBIDDEN.

Action is being taken by the local authorities to cope with tho influenza epidemic in this city. At .the request of the Mayor (Mr H. Holland) a conference was held yosterdav morning, which was attendod by his YVorship, by Dr. Chesson, Chief Health Officer for Canterbury. th© Chief City Inspector, the Town Clerk, and the City Surveyor, to discuss what steps should bo taKen to prevent the spread of tho epidemic which is causing so many deaths : n Auckland. Subsequently tho Mayor stated to a "Press" representative tbat Dr. Chesson informed him that vt was the same disease in Christchurch as was prevalent in Auckland, but that it had to be born 0 in mind that serious epidemics usually, took a worse form in Auckland j than in the Southern cities. It was, ; however, decided to recommend that ; people suffering from fever or increased temperature should isolate themselves immediate, use anti-septic lozenges, and go to bed. With that precaution the Health Department aid iot think there was any serious danger. ' The civic authorities derided upon a fenoral spring cleaning of the city. The layor instructed tfco city inspectors to i inspect all rights-of-way or any place i where thero was likely to bo an accumulation of garbage. On the authority of j the Health Department tho inspectors will give notice for'the removal of such I

refuso within sis hours, and failing sreh removal it will bo done bv tho citv authorities, and the cost charged to tl»" peoplo responsible for tho collection :J nnd a prosectition will follow for bread! of tho by-laws. Tho city authorities also recommend a generous" uso of disia- i fectants wherever practicable, and a general cleaning up. and his Worship hopos the public will co-operate with tho authorities to prevent tho epidemic getting a firm foothold in tho city, vention being much better than cut®. The police havo boon instructed to ously onforcc the by-law prohibiting spitting on tho footpaths. Tho Hkalth Department is preparing a fumigating chamber, which will bo available to the public. Where it will be situated will oc announced as early as possible. The Hospital nutboritics will co-operate with the Health Department in hghting tho~ epidomic. * FARMERS' aToP. STAFF. Tlio New Zealand Formers' Co-opora-tive Association of Canterbury, Ltd., issued tho following circular to members of its staff yesterday: "This morn- • ing the advice of, a local medical practitioner was obtained, and his instructions, briefly, were as follows: Evory employee must realise tho necessity of obtaining as much fresh air and sunlight as possible. This not only applies ; to tho business premises, but at home. If there aro others in the house suffering, the doctor still insists that all the fresh air possible should bo allowed to circulate. This is really tho only precaution against the acute form of influenza. Further, antiseptic lozenges should bo absorbed in the mouth every hour during the next week or so.'' THE POLICE FORCE. The Commissioner of Police received a telegram from Auckland on Tuesday morning to tho ofleet that Constable James Smrth, who had been laid up • since tho 28th ultimo, died early that morning, and that anothor constable, residing who has been ill '■ since October 29th, is in a very serious ; condition. Altogether 35 members of ) the Auckland police are laid up with influenza. The Commissioner has taken'steps to reinforce the men at Auckland, ana has given mstruc lions that all members of the Force aro to tako such precautionary measures against infection as the police surgeon directs. THE EPIDEMIC IN LONDON. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright) November 5. Influenza is still serious in London.' Fifty-four persona were seized in the streets and sent to hospital in 24 hours. A total of 389 peoplo have thus been seizod in ten days, and 315 nurses aro stricken. There are 580 omnibus drivers and conductors ill. THE DISEASE IN SOUTH AFRICA, (Australian *nd N.Z. Cable AtsoekttiosJ ' (Received November 6th, 7.20 n.m.} . CAPE TtiWN, November t Jiio influenza opidemic is everywhere dying out, except in some native areas.