INFLUENZA

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 July 1923, Page 7

INFLUENZA

THE LATEST REPORTS. If the number of drawn blinds in Greymouth residences at present were given the usual significance —death in the house —the undertakers would be working overtime and the cemetery would be overcrowded. Fortunately, it is only mild influenza, and a few days’ retirement in peace and quietness effects a cure. The influenza is not pneumonic, and care and commonsense only are required of patients. There is only one treatment,_and that is rest in bed. Drugs may relieve such symptoms as headache or sore throat; to defeat the main infection the human body must work its own cure. Most of the deaths ascribed to influenza within the past few weeks were cases in which the heart failed from exhaustion. The patient was on his feet as soon as the fever subsided, and the heart-muscle, poisoned by the toxins of the infection, was unable to stand the strain, fl he actual fever period of influenza only lasts from three to six days, but the body is left in a state of-.enfeeblement out of all proportion to the infection. The very greatest care should be exercised, especially by those in middle life, in resuming the activities of daily life after an attack. There have been no further influenza cases admitted to the Grey River Hospital, and the present inmates are progressing satisfactorily. The nurses who have had influenza are also convalescent.

A chemist stated to-day that there was still a fairly brisk .demand for influenza remedies, although the business done in those lines had eased off since Monday. He did not know of any serious cases. The Greymouth Technical School having been closed indefinitely owing to the epidemic, it, has been decided that the term holidays shall be taken now, instead of at the usual time, viz, August 24 until September 12. The school will re-open on August 13. This course cannot be adopted in connection with the primary schools, which must close at the usual time for the term holidays, therefore the children are receiving extra time off as a result of the influenza outbreak It was rumoured this morning that the State schools were to re-open on Alonday next, but the Chairman of the Greymonth Main School Committee (Mr J. Tennent) stated that he had not yet received any advice from the authorities regarding the time for reopening the schools. DUNEDIN IMPROVEMENT. (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, July 26. Influenza is apparently subsiding. During the last 24 hours there have been no further admissions to the Hospital. Two more country schools have been closed.