THE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16377, 23 November 1918, Page 9

THE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

POSITION IMPROVING FEWER ADMISSIONS TO HOSPITAL.

The improvement noted on Thursday in connexion with the efforts being made to grapple with the influenza epidemic showed no diminution yesterday. Though the number of deaths at the General Hospital was the same yesterday as on Thursday—seventeen number of admissions showed a decrease of nine. For the eight days—November loth to 22nd inclusive —unofficial figures relating to the Christehurch Hospital are: Admissions ••• ••• Deaths ••• ••• * Tho largest number of admissions in ono day was 80 on Saturday last, and the highest death rate on one day was 20 on Tuesday last. Last night Colonel D. S. Wylie (acting medical superintendent, t/nristchurch Hospital) reported that admissions between 10 p.m. Thursday an 10 p.m. vesterday totalled 37, and the deaths 17. From the Addington Convalescent Hospital 8 patients were discharged yesterday to their homes, and 11 will be discharged to-day. "It may be also of interest, Colonel Wylie added, "to know that 40 members of the Hospital nursing staff have been affected by influenza since the outbreak of the epidemic. The majority of these eases are doing well, and a large number are now convalescing at their homes or at Burwood; theie has been ono death. From this I deduce that if you get the cases early and they receive proper treatment, the mortality is not excessive. From the 17th inst. till this afternoon there have been 105 deaths from influenza, or pneumonia, or both, at the Hospital. The average number of days these patients were in tho Hospital from their admission till death was three. Fron l this fact may be gained an idea of the severity of the cases and tho small chance the Hospital staff had in deal-

ing with them. . As to the position generally, Colonel Wylie said: "So far as I can sco there is no change in the past twenty-four hours. A noteworthy fact about the admissions in the last twenty-four hours is the larger proportion of women and children admitted as compared with what has been tho case hitherto. About eight or nino children were admitted during tho period." The District Jfcalth Officer, questioned at a last night, stated that so far as ho could judge there is a great deal of trouble in the country districts. Although there was some improvement in the city, he did not consider that it was sufficient to warrant any easing off in the steps being taken to cope with the ejydemic. WARNING TO CONVALESCENTS. The District Health Officer informed a reporter yesterday that ho found it necessary to reiterate his warning that persons recovering from the disease must not leave their homes until the required period of isolation has elapsed"Tho public must understand," Dr. Chesson said, "that on evidenco being produced with regard to any person being found in a public place within 14 days of their suffering the onset of the disease, and within seven days of the disappearance of fever and other symptoms, action will bo taken. It is impossible to stamp out the disease so long as people are spreading it. Is it not a disgraceful shame that people, from, selfish motives, should go about, causing the deaths of a number of citizens? They nothing more or less than potential murderers."

TRAINED NURSES WANTED. The urgent call for trained nurses for tho country districts, especially for North Canterbury, has not met with the response expected, and in the meantime the need for their services is increasing hourly. Mr W. S. Wllarton, secretary of the Hospital Board, stated yesterday that he had obtained an extra nurse for Kaiapoi. Another nurse had volunteered for duty at Rangiora, and another trained nurso had offered her services for any place to which she might be allotted, 'and she was going to Waikari. Mr Wharton added that he was endeavouring to get into touch with one or two others, but it was very difficult. He was trying to obtain some who were engaged in private homes where their services were not really essential. ' The scarcity of nurses is occasioning much anxiety. Mr Wharton appeals to all who can do so to come forward. "We don't want them to be in nonessential work," he said. "Acute cases must bo the first consideration. Such j cases demand the care of a nurse who knows exactly what to do, especially where no medical assistance is available." With regard to the call for nurses, generally. Mr Whartan pointed out that anyone who has had any hospital experience, even if non-certificated, is of considerable value in such a crisis. There are many girls who go partly through a course of training in nursing, and then leave to get married or to ent'er another occupation. Such people could give a great amount of help". Nurse Maude appeals for helpers for the country. ' Two Y.A.D.'s are wanted for Coalgate, and trained nurses and V.A.D.'s for the Cheviot district. BURIAL FIGURES.

Some idea may be gained of the virulence of the epidemic from the following figures supplied from the City Council office dealing with the burials at the Linwood and Sydenham cemeteries, the only two cemeteries controlled by the 'City Council, from tho Ist inst. to date, as compared with tho same period last year:— 1918. 1917. Linwood ••• 226 31 Sydenham ... 103 13 Totals ... 329 44 T?he Linwood figures show an increase of about 750 per cent., and the Sydenham figures an increase of 800 per cent. Not all tho deaths, but the great majority of them, were due to the influenza epidemic. At St. Paul's churchyard, Papanui, there have been 14 burials since tho Ist inst., as compared with three for tho corresponding • period last year. The Hospital authorities have made arrangements to conduct the funerals of influenza patients who die in the institution. An officer of the Board has been appointed to see that all'the burial arrangements are carried out decorously, and provision has been made for the necessary supply of coffins. DANGER OF INFECTION FROM MILK. Dr. Chesson desires the fact emphasised that no person suffering from influenza should milk cows. It is not desirable to shut down a dairy farm because one employee is affected, and ho relies on dairy farmers giving strict attention to this matter, and taking all possible precautions. ~ , Tho public generally are reminded of the fact that milk is easily contaminated, and is a frequent cause of infection. Housewives are therefore advised to scald milk before using it. Deliverers of milk state that sometimes th© person who comes to. the door to get milk is suffering from influenza, and that, consequently, milk deliverers

are in danger of becoming earners of infection. Householders are recommended to place receptacles for miiK outsido the premises. NECESSITOUS CASES. The Mavor (Mr H. Holland) has asked Mr H>. R*. Smith, the Town Clerk, to act as treasurer of the moneys contributed for the relief of sufferers from influenza who are in necessitous circumstances, and he has requested charge of the various depots to j all subscriptions thoy rccoive to j Smith. This step has been decided upon in order to avoid as fa ble, any overlapping. Mr HoHand doea not think that thero Is any nccossity to make an appeal for f"nd s at pros e nt becauso subscriptions are c ° mi ?£ d freely, but later he will do so. Already a number of subscriptions have been rcCeiV <?UARANTEEING RECOVERY. It has been suggested that some system of a clearing station should bo adopted by the Health authorities to ensure that sufferers from influenza «hall not return to their ordinary occupations until certified to bo completely recovered. Thero have been instances of employees returning to work, after ! having been absent owing to inhuenza, and their employers, not being satisfied that they had completely recovered, sending them back to thoir homes. In the case of those who have been under medical care there is comparatively little difficulty, as their medical attendant is in a position to give them tne necessary certificate; but in other cases, where the attack may have been more ■ or less mild, and where no medical mai) ■ has been in attendance, the position is [ different, and the danger of too soon

i returning to work, or too soon mixing - with the public is considerable. The . positiou was put to the District Health I Officer by a reporter last night ana Dr. Chesson freely admitted that such L a system, if practicable, was highly de- . sirablo as the completing link ot tho > chain of precautions taken by the De- ; partment. But there wore mauy practical difficulties in tho way of giving I effect to it, especially in ensuring that all who had been affectfcd reported and ' obtained certificates. Dr C&esson laid 3 down this principle:— No employe " should take any employee back until 7 tho employee produces a certificate eta 3 mg that he or slio has entirely recover--0 ed from influenza, and has had no symp--0 toms for fully seven days, and lias r been fully seven days convalescing. * As to cases where no medical man has " been in attendance, Dr. Chesson exr pressed tho opinion that such parsons a must see a medical man and satisfy him e that they have recovered, and obtain a H certificate from him. In respect, of 1- those employed in tho public service, the heads of departments >1 the assistance of the Public Health Doa partment in obtaining certificates as to r the complete recovery of each employee.

SOME SUGGESTIONS FOB TREATMENT, A correspondent sends us from Auckland tho following outline of a treatment for influenza: — As soon as you feel any sickness coming on, knock oif eating; and drink large quantities of hot water. it bowels are inactive, drink a glass of hot water in which has been dissolved a teaspoonful of ordinary salt (not Epsoms salts). Take two glasses the first day and one every day the svmptoms remain. . * Absolutely no food of any kind should be taken until the symptoms disappear and the appetite returns, except fruit juices such as lomon, orange, pineapple, etc. Drink about 6 pints of hot water a day, or as much as the patient can conveniently drink, flavoured with fruit juices if desired. If temperature is too high cold water should be used instead. Wet sheet packs are also recommended, while the patient should be

washed daily. Of course, a well-ventilated room is absolutely nocessary with windows open night and day. Gorir.s breed and multiply in stagnant air just as they do in stagnant water. Pull blinds up and draw curtains back shading the patient from draught and light with a screen. A full enema should bo taken on the first day of treatment, and a moderate enema every day while the symptoms romain. , Don't take drugs with, the above treatment, except for gargling throat and usual disinfectant precautions. Gorms have no effect on a healthy body, and only harm us when wo have impurities stored up in the system and blood on which they feed. So tho main process of cine is to remove and eliminate tho poisons from tho system. Epidemics always follow unusually cold winters, but there is no cause for alarm. The only thing required is proper and rational treatment to clean and purify tho body as outlined above, and nature docs the rest. Don't take any notice of the fallacy that "a person must eat to keep up his strength," for food thrust on a person without any appetite only poisons tho system and makes tho disease ton times worse. "When the system is in a position to digest food the return of your appetite will soon let you know. Then only srr»all quantities of easily digested foods should bo given. Above all lie optimistic, look on tho bright side of things, think of health not sickness, make up your mind to bo well and banish fear, which kills more than tho flue. All those who attend

tho sick should be cheerful and optimistic. Tell the pationt ho is improving every time you sec him; toll him ho is getting better and will soon be all right, even if he looks worse. Remember suggestion has a great power for good or ill. Tell the patient the number of those who have recovered, not the ones that have died. Tho above treatment, known as dragless methods, or Nature cure, is rocommended and practised by thousands of doctors throughout tho world, including Sir "William Osier, M.D., who is recognised as one of the foremost authorities on medicine in the world.

THE SOUP KITCHENS. MATERIALS WANTED. There has been a considerable slackening off in the demand for foodstuffs from the olectrical kitchen in Manchester street since the establishment of the sub-depots. Fresh ctrgs in any quantity and jelly crystals aro required for this kitchen. Owing to the now system of distribution, the ©utput of the electrical and St. Margaret's kitchens will in future bo sent to tho Sydenham depot. Tho work in that suburb has groatly increased, and moro helpers aro required to relieve those who have boon working hard since tho beginning. It is intended in the futuro to prepare food at tho Svdonham kitchens of a moro solid nature for eonvalesccnts, such as stews, etc. Standard recipes will be followed as in the making of the lightor delicacies. Tho workers at tho Gas Company's kitchen are still busily engaged supplying depots. Donations of fresh mutton are solicited from courtly people, and arrangements have been mado to have the meat kept fresh for one or two days, should it not bo required at once.

An appeal is made tho organisers of. the Red Cross kitchen for donations in money and kind from those who supported them so liberally during tho war. This kitchen is run solely under the auspices of the Red Cross Society, and the public are reminded that all the kitchens are not under the same control, and therefore do not divide the gifts received. Soup and other foodstuffs are being supplied to the soldiers and sick nurses at the General Hospital, also to several depots in and about tho city and to many individual applicants. The Red Cross workers aro still sending delicacies to tie soldiers in the various hospitals in and about the city, and at Hanmer Springs.