"HEROES OF PEACE"

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 45, 18 November 1918, Page 6

"HEROES OF PEACE"

APPEAL FOR IIOKE VOLUNTEERS. "So far as this city is concerned, and I am informed that the same thing obtains all over the Dominion, tho voluntary and self-sacrificing work which i 3 being done by those engaged in fighting tho epidemic is beyond all praise," said the Minister of Public Health last night. "The same spirit which has animated the people throughout the war is being shown now by both men and women in fighting this disease, and it affords 'one more proof that peace has its heroes as well as war. I would, however, add ono more appeal to women whose positions and relationships enable then; to do so to undertake work in coniieution with the hospitals. I may say that by the use of respirators the .risk of infection is now practically reduced to a minimum, Fifty respirators have been obtained from the Defence Department, and 200 more have been ordered. I need hardly add that those who are unable to personally take part in the campaign can render most Valuable service by forwarding to the various hospitals gifts of beef tea, lemon water, barley water, broth, and such like." ONE CHEERING THING CHILDREN ALMOST IMMUNE FKOM FATAL EFFECTS. The one cheering thing about the present epidemic is the discriminating manner in which the malady seeks its victims. Whilst children arc by no means free from attack, the malady only, or nt least very generally attacks them in the form of a severe cold on the chest, often accompanied with bleeding at tho nose, but seldom do the more serious pneumonic symptoms prevail when reasonable care is taken, and deaths among young peoplo arc rare. Bleeding at the noso is not considered to be a vory serious symptom, and usually yields to a treatment of cold compresses to the forehead and back of.the.neck. It is usually accompanied, too, by a. sensation of-relief to the sufferer. Medical men state that death more frequently ensues in sufferers over 45 years of age, particularly those with an organic or constitutional weakness. ALL 111) lias ILlwlil) LIQUOR BV PRESCRIPTION ONLY. On Friday last the Minister of Public Health (the Hon. G. W. Eiwsell) decrral that it was in the interests of tho pul'ic health that all hotels should close at 1 p.m. On that dny such representations were, made to him on the testimony of active workers in the influenza field that no doubt was left in his mind about the advjeability of closing down all hotels

until further notice. Acting promptly, the Minister stated on Saturday that notices 'had been issued to all Ilo.iltli Officers that all hotel bars, liars of chartered clubs, breweries, and wine nnd spirit businesses in cities, boroughs, and town districts and within three miles of the boundaries are.to bo closed down until further notice. This took effect from Saturday. All hospital boards have been instructed that throughout the Dominion alcoholic liquor is to be mode -available by them for use by tho people upon medical prescription. They nre instructed to purchase and if necessary steps will be taken to commandeer supplies. The intention is that spirits shall be placed at depots and be nvailable on the prescription of medical men, and sold at a price which will cover the cost of "the article and distribution. The hospital boards have been advised in every case that arrangements should be made if necessary in conjunction with the local authorities and where possible the local authorities should be the selling bodies for the purpose of this decision. If arrangements can be made supplies of spirits would be kept at the Town Hall, but would only be issued on prescription or dire urgency. The Minister stated that before determining his course in respect vo the closing of the hotels, he consulted some of the highest medical authorities, and on their advice he had taken drastic action. He us also supported by n. requisition backed by practically the whole of the district captains in AVellington.

Breweries and Wholesale Trade Affected. The Minister of Public Health stated last night that the provisions dealing with liquor have been extended to breweries and wine and spirit merchants in order to prevent certain classes of persons obtaining liquor and drinking it in their homes. It would, of course, be idle,, he said, to close the hotels if people could, on the locker system, or by combination, purchase from wholesale places and breweries liquor in the quantities allowed by 'law. The question of bringing the Dominion under a temporary prohibitory law in regard to liquor has not come into consideration in this matter. Instructions were being issued under Clause 18 of the Public Health Act, which gives authority to exercise the special power only for the purpose of more effectively checking or preventing the spread of any dangerous infectious disease. Three high medical authorities in tho Dominion supported the shuttitng down of the liquor trade under the clause quoted, providing facilities were given for tho purchase of alcoholic liquor in accordance with medical prescriptions. r

■ SHORTAGE OF COAL' MAYOR TAKES QUICK' ACTION. Problems crop up every hour in dealing with the influenza trouble. A. big city like AVellington cannot be thrown into battle against a serious epidemic 'within a day or two without finding difficulties, apart from those associated with the shortage of doctors and nurses. On Saturday the Mayor told a Dominion reporter that the striking shortage of coal had been brought, forcibly under his notice by dealers bein* finable to supply households where voluntary workers were doing their'best to keep things iroinir. When the hospital at tho Wellington College was being established on Saturday no coal could be got to Hirlit lie the firos mid so secure an .idei/u-ito supply of hot water, and make arraupc.ments for the cooking of-meals. He found that the dealers could not !!(:{ si'pnlitK. though there were stearrwrs lying in tho harliour with full cargo:.?. Tin at once got into touch with tie I'r'in! , Minister, and steps-were taken to bnnsr Mie'Karoo alongside, and iliecYi ■.•■»<» iflO tons, to bo placed nt the disposal o f thi» dealers for distribution under tho eye of the Mayor BURIALS IN THE CITY.

SOME NEW ARRANGEMENTS. The Mayor took action on Saturday to prevent any unnecessary overlapping m the matter of undertaking. There has been something of the kind occurring during the past week, and His Worship has como to tho conclusion that it would bo bettor , to divide the city into defined districts, and give each undertaking firm a district to attend ,to.

The' Minister of lnt&rnal Affaire (Hon. G. W. Russell) has approved tho following practice to be adopted with regard to burials and registrations during tho epidemic:—(l) The clergyman performing thu burial service should every day furnish to the Registrar of the district a notice of every burial whoreat he officiated; (2) all undertakers should observe every care to see that nil particulars required by law to be furnished by tho Registrar are kept, in order that such particulars may be so furnisjieel at the first available opportunity: (3) undertakers should bo informed that the bodies of persons dying from influenza may be taken from tho house or pii«?e where death occurred direct to the cemetery, Mid mny, if necewiry, be temporarily buried until the atteudanco of a clonryman is available; (4) in order to prevent nny unnecessary delay in bnri.il it is flpsirnWn that ministers'of religion should facilitate in every wey the prompt burini nf Vidias, Mifl should occasion arise, that they will be pieDared to iiTinoint. TeTire« , nta'-i' , ps of the various religions to be in attendance at cemeteries. POSITION ON WATERFRONT

MATTERS GREATLY IMPROVED.

"Matters have greatly improved as far Cβ the ships at the waterside are concerned," said Mr. W. A. Kennedy, manager of the Union Steam Ship Company, when approached last night by a Dominion reporter. Mr. Kennedy said that he could not give any definite information regarding tho movements of any of the Union Company's ships, as tho position changed literally from hour to hour.

There was very little n>oveiiic-nt in shipping during the week-end, and no work whatever was done on the waterfront. The Nikau arrived from Nelson on Saturday evening with a number of passengers, and she sailed again on tho return journey early yesterday morning. The Mararoa got away for Jjyr--\:nii .-it 4.15 p.m. on Saturday, and carried a full complement of passengers. The , Government steamer Hinomoa arrived at Lytli'lton on Wednesday night witli two influenza cases. The sufferers were members of the crew. They were removed to the casualty ward at Lyttelton, and the vessel came on to Wellington on Saturday. She arrived yesterday afternoon with about 20 passengers and mails. No Natives wore brought from tho Chathams.

Departures to-da.y are very uncertain, but the Opawa is timed to sail for Blenheim at 5 o'clock this afternoon, taking passengers only. The Mararoa will sail for Lyttelton to-morrow afternoon.

Cases of illness continue to o:c'ir <u ships in port, and sonic 20 niiin had to be removed to hospitals during ihe veekend from various vessels. Fortunately, the number taken yesterday inow-J ,n marked improvement compared will, the previous day. On Saturday afternoon a start trs ' mnd? wiHi disinfecting (he various vesSfls berthed at the wharves. I'lic work was carried out under the supervision of Captain A. V. Hale-Monro, traffic, niiuiajrer, Wellington Harbour Board, who has been appointed Government lieallli Inspector.of Wharves and Shipping. A health committee was associated with him, and the fumigation was continued all day yesterday, when the public were I excluded from the wharves.. The Moana, ■ the colliers Knmo and Kann.i, and several small vessels were thoroughly disinfected. It is anticipated that in a very short time all the ships will be 'pronounced clean, and that work on the waterfront will be resumed in the usual manner. As a matter of fact, a commencement will be made to-day to unload coai from tlio Kamo and Knnnn.

To-dny a clearing station for "suspect" cases will be established n( the Kerry waiting room. Beds will be filled nil, and an attendant: will bo placed in charge. All men showing symptoms of the complaint will be examined at this slation, thus nliviatim; Hip necessity of Ihe medical officer. Dv. Kendall, visiting any particular ship on receipt of an inquiry. The following arnnwnpi'ls have boer. made for copiiiß with the epidemic in relation to shipping :—(1) The central bureau is at Ihe lolls office. Queen's ■\Vharf, and a special officer is appoint-

Ed for all hours; (l>) Hip muster or oilier responsible, officer must report iinniedwlely any .suspected wise of illness on tliu vessel'concerned to the bureau; (3, the bureau offiefcr will at once notify a medical officer, Vho will attend at first opportunity; W) tho suspected person will, until such time as the doctor deoides, be kept us fur iis practicable isolated from the remainder of the crew; (5) tho fumigating staff will attend each vessel daily, and will carry out preventive disinfection generally; (G) all vessels to bo washed down twice daily; (7) every person coining ashore or going aboard any vossol at the wharf must first pass through the inhalation chamber; (S) ss a guarantee that tho above rule has b?en carried out. tlid certificate issued at the inhalation chamber must be produced on demand to the officer appointed.