THE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC

Evening Star, Issue 16908, 4 December 1918, Page 7

THE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC

THE CHRISTMAS TRADE. [Special io the ‘ Star.’] CHRISTCHURCH, December 4. Dr Chesson’a proposal to stop Father Christmas displays this year is strongly resented by business people. The head of one oi the largest toy establishments in tho city stated that the order, if not absolutely necessary, was certainly a very hard one. If it was necessary, he and all the other business people concerned would gladly accent the Health Officer's dictum, and would put up with the loss It seemed, however, that Dr Cheseon himself had some doubt on the necessity for the order, otherwise he would not 'have asked the City Council to taka a stop that he alone had power to take. His action was evidence of weakness. There was no doubt whatever that interference with Christmas trade would bring about a great loss. Christmas goods had been bought at high pnees. Next year prices would be lower, and the high-priced goods must bo sold at less than they cost. It was a very sevnu’s position in which to place .business people. Those specially concerned'thought, that Ik-fore the proposed step was taken it Fir.uibl he proved beyond any doubt that no finer course in the. public interest was feasible. Other business people in addition to these who don! in toys and presents are lua-med by Dr Uhesson’s announcement. The manager of a boot shop stated that in his opinion the City Council took the right step in refusing to have anything to do with the proposal. There was'no doubt that the elimination of the Christmas trade would cause hardship. Heavy stocks had beer, bought for the Christmas trade. Loss would he entailed if they could not be sold at the Christinas season. The closing of shops at 3 p.m. had inflicted a loss or no k-s.« than £uCC on his establishment, and now further losses apparently were to tome on top of it, POVERTY BAY NATIVES. [Per. United Basse Association.] * GISBORNE, December 5. Considerable anxiety has been occasioned by the large number of cases at various Maori pas in tho outlying districts. It is believed that there are ICO oases in tho Tiniroto district. Dr Bowie has been sent from Gisborne to investigate the position at tho Native settlement, between Gisborne and Wairio. VTairoa reports several deaths amongst the Natives at Te Reinga and JRuakitnri. As both the doctors at Wairoa are ill. Dr Bowie will also help there. A Native taugi at Honutaike was dispersed to-day by the health inspector, who ordered 300 participant* to return home. The body was immediately buried. THE FRIGE OF ORANGES. CHARGE AGAINST CHINAMAN. NAPIER, December 3. In the Magistrate's Court, before .Mr R. IV. Dyer. 5..M., Yen Kee was fined £25 and costs (£1 7s) for unlawfully charging excessive prices lor oranges. On a second charge of a similar nature lie was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. Mr Dyer reopened the case in the afternoon. Tills course was necessary owing to a point having been raised as to the question of jurisdiction. The legal procedure is complicated owing to the operation of the Trade and Commerce Act, The Magistrate said he believed that jurisdiction might belong to the Supreme Court, I'iic case will be again heard on Thursday by the Magistrate. IBy Telegraph.] Blenheim.—Good weather conditions favor tho pre.q e-ts of an improvement in regard to the epidemic. Tha position shows no marked U: mge. The death roll has been augmented by five, including a nurse a: the hospital, making a total of 26. Gisborne.—Tho position regarding tho irdinn.-n epidemic is becoming more'"satisfactory in the town and suburbs, where there have been very few fresh cases during the last few days. The deaths in No- j vcrnfcer from influenza totalled 50. Includii.: d,/ ;; Natives from the outlying sh,,:rim: stations, (treat sympathy is ex- ' prcsscG ir: Jim Susan Gray, ot Kaiti. who has hj o: three grown-up sons from influenza within the past week, t .Another son was killed recently at tho front. AUSTRALIAN REGULATIONS. THE AUTHORITIES PLEASED. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. SYDNEY. December 5. The weather is very hot. Iho medical authorities welcome the heat, as Is enhances the chances of holding influenza in check. Tim Medical Journal ’ is optimistic of keeping it in check, and declares that in another week the quarantine service will bo in tha proud position of having achieved the greatest triumph of its tind in the history of epidemiology. ORIGIN OF OUTBREAK. DEPARTMENTAL METHODS. DOCTOR’S SCATHING LETTER. [From Our Pailliamevtasv Hepories.] WELLINGTON. December 5. Dr Lloyd Clay, of Wellington, in a letter to'the ‘Dominion,' makes some very interesting comments on tho influenza epidemic. Ho says ; As a medical man who has travelled practically over the whole work!, ami who has had §, Jorge experience of the precautions taken at the chief ports of the world against tho introduction of infectious and contagions diseases, and. who has also had a fairly wide experience of the slum conditions obtaining in many largo centres of papulation, kindly allow me to congratulate (Sir Morton, ouv City Engineer, on his able report, and also the Slayer oi Auckland on his attitude toward the Department of Health. So far as my personal experience gees —• ■aid it. is, I iiave. indicated, a wide one—--1 am hound to admit that the quarantine conditions imposed in New Zealand are among the most casual and unsablsfa -tor. - that I have ever encountered, while again the methods adopted and practised by the lay stiff of officers employed by the Health Department for the disinfection and fumigation of infected homes or apartments are for most part equally casual and unsatisfactory. “ .Security.” said Shakespeare, “is mortal.-’ cTiie/rst enemy ! ” “ Security,’’ in the mod. classical and Shakespearian sscar. meant being off one’s guard from what vc characterise as a “ false sense of security.” Well, I cannot doubt that, eo far as our Health Department and tho epidemic are c-iuccrned, our remoteness , from the larger centre;; of the world’s papulation has proved our “ chiefcat enemy.'’ The Health Department has had more tha■>. a Fall year’s knowledge of the fact that a virulent typo of influenza prevailed in various parts of the world, and yet tin adequate or effective precautions can be said to have been taken to prevent its introduction into New Zealand. I Iki'.c no hesitation in affirming that even the Turks aro infinitely more up to date in connection with the quarantine methods ami disinfecting devices in vogue at their ports titan we in New Zealand. For example, the Turks, if there is the slightest suspicion that a ship entering their ports is carrying passengers suffering irorn an infectious or contagious disease, subject all passengers and their belongings, as well as the ship, to therongh-geing process of disinfection. Passengers are provided with clean garments while their own clothing and belonging are subjected to .some hours’ treatment .in a high temperature in a special disinfection chamber. (Passing through an inhalation chamber is at best merely ot problematic value). Again, at Almost all the great porta of the world most exacting conditions axe imposed on infected ships and passengers. In the ease of infected ships no cargo is, as a. rule, unloaded until the host port is aaached, when ship cargo and everything .

; is thoroughly disinfected, while passengers landed at intermediate ports are subjected to strictest disinfection and quarantine oorwiit ions—-R3 is being a-iKi always has been done in Australia. _ As' for the slam conditions obtaining hexvj and elsewhere, I find myself in entire agrement with Lieutenant-Colonel Wylie and Mr Morton when they suggest that the habits of some people arc such that in every community large and small, slums and filth are to bo encountered. In any case tho Health Department need not attempt to lay the flattering -unction to its soul that tie' present epidemic is duo to the filth and • slumraoiy' of our cities and humble homes. 'Nmv, there can bo no disputing the following facts ; 1. The epidemic was introduced from abroad; effective disinfection 'and effective quarantining could have prevented its introduction. 2. The infection spreads from individual to individual—directly for most part — and slums and filth, pernicious as they are in connection with epidemics, can bo regarded only as indirectly coutributant to the present epidemic, which has respected neither persons nor places, sanitary or insanitary. 3. The Health Department alone* could have prevented the introduction oi the present virulent malady into the Dominion. 4. After the actual introduction of this form of influenza into the Dominion only an efficiently-equipped and organised Department of Health could have coped with it effectively. Now, while sympatliising. with the ofhcers of tho Health Department in the formidable task confronting there, I must express my emphatic conviction that the Minister of Health has completely faded to impress the Government and Paid lament as to the imperative claims and needs of that an epidemic such as this should find tho representatives of tho Health Department. tliroughout tho Dominion .so handicapped and so helpless? It is almost incredible that our Health Department, at a. critical juncture such as this, should have apparently to roly so very Largely on the gratuitous service of tho charitably-dis-posed. Wa have been reminded during the last four years of the tact that the war found tho Empire unprepared. Similarly, I regretfully affirm that tins epidemic has found our Health He- j pertinent and its oraaiorations wholly iin- i Prepared for the of their nm.-t ; Important, functions. Let- us trust > that ! our awful experience during this visit a- j tion will rouse us to ft souse of our obligations to the people of the Dominion, and convince us of the necessity of providing an adequate and efficient sf.rvff ol medical experts to organise our cities and provinces for the important task oi— i 1. Preventing the introduction into and ! the spread of chscr.-.i in the cities of pro- j vinci";! areas ot whica they a.ro in charge, I 2. Coping effectually with diseases when | introduced or become epidemic. ~ | 3. Making provision for the effectual j disinfecting of rooms and homes, belong- j inga and surroundings, or persons suffering ■ from infectious diseases. j These medical experts to be appointed | by the different local bodies, subject, of j course, to the approval of the Government. ; To ensure tho estaolishiiicrit of a fnor- | ouglily efficient system ot safeguarding j the iTroth of the community and of _ giving j effect to the foregoing recommendations, of ! the City Engineer. This would practically mean the same system as adopted in | England. I am prompted to write to j this effect, sir. solely from a desire to ren- j der it impossible lor the inemoers of my , o-oiVssion* end' all others who have wit- j nessed tho tragedies in so many o? the. j homes of our nurorl uiui’o Fellcev-citizcus | during tiro nest few w- -• J - to experience another such devastating visitation.. —I ;im, etc., D. Li.ovd Cl.vt, ALR.U.S., Eng., etc. r.S.—I would suggest that Parliament insist on tho publtoalitm of a client or j "map - ’ indicating the mortality statistics ; ot tho larger centres of population j throughout, the Dominion on each day of, I say. the past six weeks. This would aI- | most without fail furnish, clear proof as j to the port of origin, of the malady in its virulent form, and also as to its “ itinerary ” after being introduced into the Dominion. It would serve to impress the lay mind, and would be of considerable vrino to tho medic;!! profession and to all concerned with the problems of sanitation and hvgiene. “ - ;

I Mr Peter 8,-:r. to: rtveoirf.r for | the Young Itchier.-;’ League (Dr BarnamoV ; Hometo. re-pci'to that ;» tin ft- for £lB3 6; ; 10 ! was fonwtlctl to Lon Jon last week, making a tetri of £837 7~. 7d i’c-i* the y-.-ar. j i- •y.mnaivA vrilh £656 G r \ tor D-d yt t. : inuicnso would draffidns have b-vn > creator but for tbv i-loring of tho school* ■ on aocouci --f tlm tp.dem’.c. ’ ■] lio German Finance .Mmltlor '-dimaics the total cost of the war to European : Powers at £27.SCC.C‘X).CCO. and the coat j per head in Germany at £5-0, in Erghind j at £l2O, and. xn France .at £125. j A ftnkii'-g ration of the advance ! in the value of nourls was afforded re- [ cently at (.hrintieV. A iieridiuv' of 52 | pcrrD. wh’cli was ha.iiri-.t in 1C63 at n ■ London jeweller's for 110 guinea;;, i brought £1.500. ' {