INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC

Evening Star, Issue 16909, 5 December 1918, Page 6

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC

I HOSPITAL CASES STEADILY DECREASING. ONLY 11 ADMISSIONS. 56 CLASSED CONVALESCENT. . It is disappointing to learn that 101 notifications were received by the Public Health Office this morning, this total being made up of 4 from Waitaki, 56 from ; Otago, and 44 from Southland. But tho health and medical authorities do not vitivv this increase with, any anxiety, since 'they knew, and wo now pass oa the knowledge to the •public, that tho sudden bump up is due to the receipt of a large number of notifications Unit have been delayed owing to certain doctors in country districts being so constantly on the run that they have not had time to make out returns. Some of tho cases now notified originated about the middle of last month. from all other ([natters wo leurn -upon undoubted authority that the epidemic is abating in Otago. " , Evidence of a mo.-t sumifleant nature in that direction is supplied in the fact that the admissions to tho Dmiedin Hospital for the 24 hours up to 9 a.m. to-day numbered only and wo may add that the deaths at that institution are still keening down, also that 32 patients were to-day moved out of tho main hospital into tho auxiliaries, being classed ns convalescents. Br Bowie, who personally knows ©very case in the hospitals, is quit* hopeful about tho prospect medically, and is contemplating preparations for a return to normal. He is, however, still discontented with tho removal of the restrictions so early. To use- his own words, "I am very much disappointed at the restrictions being removed. If things had been left ns they wore till next week we would have been able to let the patients go with some kind of confidence." Dr Ghamptaloup, tho Acting District Health Officer, says that there axe requests for permission to reopen the libraries, but these mid other places still under the restriction will have to wait- A little longer. If the picture theatres are scrubbed "out and properly disinfected they will be ready for use as soon us the restriction in their case is lifted. THE HOSPITALS. Dr Bowio supplies us with the following statement after making his rouud this morning : —Main Hospital.—Dangerously ill 21 Seriously ill 50 Moderately ill 43 Convalescent.- 19 Total 138 —Knox Auxiliary.— Seriously 111 '.. 8 Moderately ill 25 Convalescent 21 Total ... „ ~ 54 —Hanover Street- Auxiliary.— .Seriously ill ° Convalescent 1° Total 19 The aggregate is 211, or 13 fewer than yesterday. PREPARATIONS FOE ('L< • SING DOWN. Tho following telegram has been received bv the Public Health Department. Dnnedin" from thy Chief Health Officer at Wellington: "The following wiro has been sent to all Hospital Boards except Dtinediu : ' Please ensure that all temporary hospitals in your district are dosed. as F(.iv>n as aveommodatiun at your permanent institutions is sufficient to take patients therefrom. Pleaso also ensure there is no unnecessary expenditure on motor-cars, which should be provided as for as possible voluntarily. Minister wishes daily return, showing number of admissions.'discharges, and deaths at each hospital. Deaths to bo under heading: of Maori and European. Please supply this daily, if possible.' Please take necessary action in regard to institutions in JJuuedin Hospital District." CENTRAL BUREAU. Tho medical departmrat of tho lmre.au report a continued decrease in Hie number of calls, there beimr yesterday only 2.3 m asjainst 55 i;n Tuesday. Up to noon to-day only four cases were dealt with frnm"here.*an<i these were all old, and*not serious. Gratifying expressions of appreciation of services rendered by the medical staff are being received. The V.A.D. work is going along smoothly. Two workers have been sent to Cromwell to nurse a ntunber of cases which have appeared in tho Gorge. "Whenever possible, aid b sent to the country, but. ns before stated, it is difficult to oh tain tho services of woman for wont .so far afield.

The Rev. Mr King informed our reporter this morning that there was an uneasy feeling in some districts which were rao'idlv becomiun -clean, and which within* the" last- few hours showed a tendency to co back. The opinion of many is that the" set-back is due to the premature removal of restrictions bv the Minister ot Health, and a protest is to be forwarded to the Health Dea-prtment. It is pointed out that, should a recurrence of the epidemic take p'fice. the utmost difficulty will be experienced in obtaining workers to carry on the fight. Among the donations this morning was one from " A .Schoolgirl," who, m sending £l, mentioned that she had savod the money to buy a tennis racquet, but would like it now to be spent in any way that would help sufferers by the epidemic. To noon to-dav the total amount received in donations exceeds £1.600, and the hope is expressed tliat before mauy more days the fund will have equalled Auckland's total of £2,000. Among the latest amounts received are the following :—Mrs J. H. Small £5, Mr C. G. V. Leijon £o ss, King Edward College teaching stall £5 ss. Mrs Wm-dell £5, Air James Dunory £5. Stamp Office employees £2 ss. -.die New Zealand Paper Milk have sent l,t)0(J paper bags, Mrs Hughes a large box oi egss, and Mr Wong Wai a large quantity o*T vegetables. THE TRAMWAYS. The Tramways Committee, at a meeting held at 5 o'clock last evening, decided to resume the normal car service. T i\ith the exception of a few of the specials, therefore, the tune-table will bo the same as that in vo<:uc before the outbreak oi the epidemic. The Kaikorai cars uno gradually resuming nojinal service. Tho usual time-table will be run till 5 p.m., and from thence a half-hour service till 10 p.m. The Roslyn service has boon extended to 10 p.m.,' as announced yesterday. THE RAILWAYSThe resumption of normal conditions on tho Tathvavs is being delayed by tho fact that 44 loco, men are still off sick. Until n number of these return it will be impossible- to improve matters, bat it ts hoped that within a few days suffici-ent men will have resumed duty to enable the original time-table to be worked. DESTITUTION. Tho secretary of tho Otago Hospital and Charitable Aid Board is a*ked by the Chief Health Officer to obtain for the Minister's information reports as to case." of destitution arising from the- optdem;.; in rcga,rd to loss of father or husband, loss of mother or wife, or loss of both parent*. Mr Jacobs has sent out circulars asking for tins informatio.i to tho various io--:;I authorities and tho Rev. .Air Kin s and tho hospital committees. "NORTH-EAST VALLEY. Tho number of new oases reported Ita.s averaged six per d-ay for tho past four davs. It is mostly amongst tho fofks that the epidemic is now showing itself, but fortunately most of the cases have so far proved comparatively light. There- is still need for the distribution oi euitablo nourishing foods to tho many homes wbe.ro present conditions prevent the preparattgai, .-of isjucb. Any ladies wOio

can epai-e an hour or two to tittend at the bureau will be iieaiiiiy welcomed. The most suitahlo hou>s are between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. It is n-t these hours that the dainties tmisi b? sent out. The willingness of many boys and f,;h-!.-: in a-ssistntg the work by lunu'in.p; messages is most commendable. Mr S ted man continues his unstinted assistance in the use of hiv aw to enable workers to visit tho mono distant-oases. 'Hie con--vonar of committee (Rev. R. Iv. Evan?) wishes to acknowledge the following gifts: —Lodge St.. John Kilwinning, £o ; Miss Bardsiev, £1 ; Anonymous, £1 : Mrg, Ko-be-rts,, 103; Mits Tiic.ormn, pots of meat and jellies. Prompt advice or aid will be reaidcwd bv tho Y.A.D. workers if message* are- left at the 1 Lai I or sent by telephone No. 455. Gi ft* of fresh, eggs, even in small numbers, will bo welcomed The committee arts very grateful to all tho,~c who send in »ueh regular supplies of broths, -jellies, eustaad,s, lemon squash, ate. KAIKORAI BUREAU. Within the tost day or so fully 20 ctwes have been struck elf tho books, av.d pnaetiealiy no fro-h c*«o3 aiv being reported;. Yesterday .afternoon was the first slack time sirteo tho bureau has been inaugurated, ami aa somo of the workers havo b&eni in 14 or 15 hours a clay a*-t-end-ing to needy cases, they we muoh dn need of rest. Tho committee- .again express their ajipveoktion of tho kiT.«ncf ? s of those friends who 'have sent along nouiitiiment for the varioits snffeircrs. A monetary donation "has been receivetJ from Misa BamlKM'ry. TAIER3. Mr John Logan, county clerk, repoi-ts to tho Hospital Board that" ialthough swi-Üble buildingC! ha\-o been arranged for, no oeca.ciors baa presented itself for proceeding further in* t-ho matter of providing temporary relief. Any oases requiring hospital treatment have bean isoiit to Dunedin. With tho exception of the Middlenia.rcli district, the Ta:«wi K well provided with dootors, theore being throa in MosiCiel. Midd.kma.reh -has- been supplied with a V.A.D. man from Duneddn, who is said to liavo done excellent work in a most pa-acties,! nuuunar. Tluaw bare been two dca-tlia «it North Taeiri and ono at Brighton. GREKN ISLAND. Mr T. Thomson, Towrc Clerk, reports that the seiious cases havo l.won sent to the Dun-odi't Hospital. Mr Anderson, the rtwleut acting a-s temporary medical o-ftl-cer. hys paid 565 visits to 294 persons b&tweei! the 14th Novomb«r and tho 2ml Pecomljvi".

WAIKOUAITL Mr B. W. Fell, Town Clerk, reports that three patients are being accommodated at the local school, which is being used as a tenvporary hospital, voluntary helpers giving the attontion. The Palmerstnu doctora visit the district daily. Two of the oases are now convalescent, the third not quite out of danger. Probably fewer than one-fourth of tho residents have. Wen affected. One death occurred, and there are three rather serious cases at present. OW A KAMi- P. Walker (secretary of the Hospital Committee) reports that the Owaka School, the Prosbvterian Church, and the 1.0.0. F. Hall are being used to provide temporary hospital accommodation. The majority of lhe\staff are voluntary workers. Dr Steuhouse is in charge. Tho hospitals were opened on November 22, and during the week 46 patients were admitted, and t-liero were six deaths. .Seventeen members of the staff contracted the complaint within tho week. Of the, cases now in hospital (57i only two are of a. serious nature : the reaminder are progressing fairly satisfactorily. CKNTOAT. OTAGO. Our correspondent at Clyde telegraphs: Influenza throughout the Central is rapidly abating. There- have been no fresh case* at Alexandra or Clyde for somo days. Interviewed this morniiiL'. Dr Hyde was decidedlv optimistic. There are now only five caws in the Dtnistan Hospital, and ail are- progress! nff well. P.S.S-A. A deputation from the Dnnadin Presbytery, consisting of the Rev. John Miller (Acting Moderator), the Rev. John Kilpatrick (clerk), and Mr T. Somerville (acting convener of the Presbyterian Social Service Association Committee). paid a visit vesterday atbemoon. to the building at the corner"of Driver's road and Highrrate—now used by the association as a temporary home for ohildreu whose parents are iil or*dead—the purpose of the deputation being to convey to the Misses Brown and their helpers '(Misses Budd, Smith, and Louden) tho hearty thanks of tho Presbvtery for undertaking this philanthropic •work. The association havo the use of tliia property for two months. Ton children are" Iwing looked after there. They aro all well and happy. The deputation then went to Burwood avenue mid gave a- similar messa-ji'o to Miss Waters, who has undertaken the management as a home for convalescent women of tho property recently given to the association. This place is now ""ready for the reception of patients recommended, by Dr Bowio or Dr Riley. It is a beautiful" modern residence. Books and magazines aro wanted. IN AMERICA. HUNDREDS DAILY. Tho influenza epidamie had assumed very sorioiiß proportions in tho United States and Canada when the Now Zealand Press delegates passed through on their return journey from Britain (says the Auckland " Herald '). Members of tho delegation, who are passengers by tho Makrcra, stated that the epidemic-had not developed seriously in Britain when they left on their return journey about October 5. but when they reached New York on October 19 the conditions there were alarming. At that time there was a dailv record of between 600 and 700 deaths In Now York. At Montreal between 200 and 300 were dying daily. The delegates crossed Canada to Vancouver, and found that tho epidemic had spread across the whole continent. Passing through the province of Alberta, every passenger on the train had to weir a maek. At Vancouver the influenza appeared to bo less serious, but the-re were manv deaths there also. No part of tho United States or of Canada escaped. Soma American States reported more deaths within the State from influenza than t-ho whole loss of life to the United States oh account of the war. ADDITIONAL OASES O-N MAXURA. SYDNEY PASSENGERS IMPATIENT. AUCKLAND, December 5. Sixteen more cases of influenza aro reported on tho Makura, malting a- to'wl of 29, including ono passenger. There are only four acute cases. Twenty-sis have been Temovcd to isolation quarters on Motuihi Island, and throe more will be landed to-day. The Union Company havo decided to discharge all the cargo before tho Makura leeves for Svdnev. The Sydney pa.sse.nizers aro appealing to the Federal Prime Minister to get the Makura, despatched to Sydney witliout further delay. GOOD REPORTS FROM WELLINGTON, j ALSO FROM MILITARY CAMPS. [Per DNitED Pkkss Association.] WELLINGTON. December 5. The deaths from influenza in the Wellington hospitals for the 24 hours ended noon yesterday totalled three. Two hosoitals'have been closed. . j Telerjrams from the country districts indicate "a- rapid abatement of tho epidemic. The, doctors and medical students will be removed to more in footed areas for work, especially among the Maoris. 'Die camp reports show a rapid decrease among the* soldiers. Only 144 remain in hospital at Featherston," Trent-ham, and Awapuni. THE CLOSING REGULATIONS. WAIMATE, December 5 A meetine of retailers decftled to urge the reimposiug of the closing regulations, tho "Health-^^rtnient i being

considered premature as far as this district is concerned. The. Hospital Committee last night passed a similar resolution. Dr Pitts stated to the committee that he knew of no iniluen/.a ease in this district which was not traceable to Christchurch during carnival week. There have been no deaths from influenza here since Monday morning. There are 40 cases here and 20 at Morven. LBv Tei.egiupu.] Mnsterton. —Since the influenza outbreak 62 deaths have occurred. The epidemic is now abating. The relief funds stands at £2,500. Pahiatua. —The epidemic is now in hand. The total admissions to the emergency hospital, were 67, and the deaths in hospital 11. The total deaths in tho district were 26. Christehuroh. —The epidemic is abating slowly. During the 24 hours ended noon to-day thore hsve been seven, admission* to tho hospital, and one death. There a-re 151 -cases still in the hospital. Tho Central Police Station are in the happv position of having'' all their men who'iiave been laid aside with the influenza back to duty.