INFLUENZA.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VIII, Issue 311, 4 December 1918, Page 5

INFLUENZA.

PRECAUTIONS IN AUSTRALIA. [PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.] Sydney, Dec. 3. The weather is_ very hot. The medical authorities welcome the heat as enhancing the chances of holding the influenza in check. The ‘‘Medical Journal” is optimistic about keeping it in check, and declares that in another week the quarantine service wii) be in the proud position of having achieved the greatest triumph of its kind in the history of epidemiology 7. THE MAKURA AFFAIR. MAYOR FINISHED WITH MINISTER. |CAN HAVE NO MORE DEALINGS I WITH HIM. | . • (Press Association.) ■ • Auckland, Dec. 3. I The Mayor says lie is placing the [matter of a iioyal Commission before the City Council. “1 want to 1 use every possible means of riguting I the position without resort to law, ? anc! 1 trunk it will assist the Cabinet • if they know just exactly how mat--1 ters stand heiv?,” he says in a teie- ■ grain to the Premier, ”1 feel it will I be impossible lor me in an official [ capacity to deal with the Minister • for Health at ail. it will readily be ’ seen how impossible this will make i the position between the Department and the city. In fact, the j gravity of the situation is such that I! some, remedy must be found, and found before Sir J. G. Ward and Mr. Massey leave New Zealand. As the position now stands, to leave Air. Russell in undisputed control of several departments during the ab1 sence of tiie national leaders would be nothing less than disastrous to Auckland, and would inflame public opinion her,e to danger point. Nalur- I ally 1 think that nothing short ot ‘ an apology from the -Minister, given as publicly as the insult has been, 1 will enable me to resume normal relations with him, and even sucn an apology cannot efface the impressions which his action has produced. I cannot igi.ore the state of public opinion here, the force of which 1 hope Cabinet will appreciate, nor can I let the interests of Auckland 1 be jeopardised as they must be it ; the -Minister’s action is allowed to 1 pass unehalleng>?d. Cabinet should consider what steps should be taken.” HARBOUR BOARD SUPPORTS GUNSON. Auckland, Dec. 4. The Harbour Board approved of 1 the telegram sent by its chairman to i the Premier protesting against the , outrageous and insulting telegiam scut by' Hon. G. W. Russell to trie 1 Mayor of Auckland, adding that ; until there is satisfactory proof that the Makura is a clean ship she will not bo berthed at the Auckland 1 wharf. The telegram concludes :— ; ‘‘We are sure you will insist on the < withdrawal of,the gross reflection on ! the Mayor and council.” ! Later. I There were two deaths rom infiu- ; enza in the main hospital yesterday, | but there were no deaths in the ■ other hospitals. REQUEST FROM PASSENGERS. The Prime- Minister on Monday' night received the following telegram from the Union Steam Ship tompany at Auckland:— I ‘‘Saloon passengers Makura desire ; following message be sent to tiie Prime Minister Saloon passengers met this afternoon —and unanimously resolved that the health of passengers and crew is endang’red by their being confined for an in- | definite period on the ship on which influenza is alleged to exist: that I the New Zealand passengers should ! be landed in quarantine and Aus- j tralian passengers sent on in ship as 1 soon as possible.—(Signed) Captain ! Crawford, R.M.S. Makura." The 1 request has been referred to the Public Health Department. ! AN AMUSING INCIDENT. | EADY HAS SOMETHING TO j SIIUW KuobiaLL. I Wellington, Dec. 3. » A rumoured attempt to spirit tni- i Jlmister ot ileaitii away on some 1 tuj GLUiModS JutilTU y Jclbb night is \ <l: agoing tnuun inlurebt in Uav iou- ’ -bies. it appears that at a late numI 1 vaulted Uie Mimster ami i I sir. Lux, , Mayor of Vi elimgi.oii. Im- ' ■latter was told by Ins wire. Although uiJiMeneving, Air. mKe ucpurLuu. ; the matter. liicn Air. ; . Russell s message arrived, stating . that air. Lulie mid a heart seizuic j in a cab near Parliament Buildings. [ < Air. Russell and others, after ae- 1 ( quainting the police with their sus- ! ] L /ii.-lousS ut a hoax, wfnt to a taxi j driver, who said he had been paid a j pound to stand by, but he dal not ■ j Know his employ er s purpose. J 1 Une or two persons escaped from 1 the taxi, but two remained, a man t and a woman dressed m man’.clothes. i W hen taken to the Police Station : .. the latter said she was responsible , ’ for the scheme, and wanted to take | the Alinister to what she described 1 f as some of the “hell holes” of Wei- , ( lington. I 1 Air. Luke stated to-day that the woman had been a strenuous voluntary helper during the epidemic and worked day and night. He had ap- | j pointed her as an inspector. i I It is understood the woman will , be placed under observation so that ‘ her mental condition may' be ascertained. v WELLINGTON. ■' 1 t. Dec. 3. The Mayor said to-day that the ’ epidemic appeared to be slackening I off very considerably, especially i for as serious cases are concerned. * Reports from all the hospitals ami : convalescent homes continued very . 1 encouraging. The Mayor added that the Press Association had been J asked by the Health Department. 10 q circulate the information that th? I embargo on the hotels had been re v moved and bars will be permitted t > ; ! reonen at 9 a. m. to-morrow. j r The situation in the jnilitarv | , camp? is so far improved that onlv • t 22 influenza eases are now in th? n l-.osnital: 16 cases are serious, c Only two cases were admitted to- , c dav and there were no deaths. » r

DUNEDIN. The improvement regarding the epidemic continues. There were fewer admissions to hospitals to-day and the death rate is the lowest since the outbreak became serious. Valls for medical (assistance also show a reduction, but nursing assistance is still in great demand. Later. Notifications for Otago and Southland were 34. Hospital cases in Dunedin are 224. These figures show' a steady abatement. The District Health Officer is of opinion that the sudden removal of the restrictions by the Alinister is too early, seeing that Otago caught the epidemic a fortnight after the north, but the Alinister's directions have been obeyed. CHRISTCHURCH.

At the Police Court to-day a tramway passenger was charged with /traveilig before the expiration of the period of convalescence after suffering from influenza. He was ordered to pay ss. witnesses’ exi penses. This is the first case in Christchurch of a breach of the health regulations. Several publicans were charged with keeping their hotel bars open . after the dace of closing as ordered ( (by the Health Department. One , defendant pleaded guilty and the , penalty was deferred till the hearing ’ of the other cases, which were ad- \ journed. ( Later. The conditions in connection with [ the influenza continue to improve. [ There were six admissions to the . hospital yesterday and two deaths. ’ BLENHEIM. Improved weather _ conditions favour prospects of improvement. [ The epidemic position shows no [ marked change. The death rate is , augmented by five deaths, including ) a nurse in the hospital, making a i total of 16. 1 ELTHAM. • The position is greatly' improved -IJoeally 111 connection with the epirltmii Onlv thi ci uimissions have 1 ■born made to the emergency hos--1 pitals since Saturday. The total ■ deaths in this district to date is 16. 1 — —— GISBORNE. ; Dec. 3. Ihe position regarding the influ- ! enza emdemic is becoming mcieas- . * inglv satisfactory in the town and 1 suburbs, very tew tresh cases occurred in the past few days. Considerable cause for anxiety occasiomd In th< large number of cases in the various Maori pahs and outlying districts. It is believed that there are 100 cases m the Tinfroto district. Dr. Bowie has been sent from Gisborne to investigate the position in tne. native settlement between Gisborne and Wairoa. I He reported several deaths amongst the natives at Tc Reniga and Ruakiituri. As both doctors m Wairoa are nil Dr. Bowie will also help there. (A native tangi at Manutuke was dis- : persed l>v the Health Inspector to dav. who ordered three hundred participants to return home. The ibodv was immediately buried. ■ Deaths m November from influenza , totalled 50. including a dozen 1 natives from the outlying shearing ! stations. Great svmpathv is left I here for Airs. Susan Grey, of Haiti, ■who lost three grown-up sons from ;influenza within the past week and 1 another son was killed recently at rhe front. SOLDIERS’ DEATHS. Wellington, Dec. 4. Additional soldiers’ deaths reported as a result or the influenza ■ epidemic number eighteen. Some of Haese died in hospitals elsewhere I than at the camps. NAPIER. COMMITTEE WORK. ; The Citizens’ Committee met this . morning. I Convalescent Home.—Dean Alayne j reported that the committee met yesterday when it was decided: — 1 '‘That the matron be asked to place i a sister in charge of the home, the

ladies be asked to assist, and tht I question of admission was left it I the doctor’s hands. i The Alayor said he hoped this J home was to be solely for ladies. He j understood the Hospital Board had I agreed that “Highciiffe” be utilised ■ solely- for females. Burlington Road I Hospital could be used for men, but I he did not think it would be necess- ■ ary as the men were anxious to get [ away. < Air. Kohn said he considered it ; should be a home fo” males and i females. It was a sad case of a man • without friends or relatives that had I first suggested to him the desirability of having a home for males and ' females. ' _ Dean Alayne said : t was the first : time he had heard that the home ,' was not to be used tor both sexes. | Mr AlcLernon said if it was neI eessary males could be accommodat- | ed, but he was of opinion that 1 females should be given preference, i Air. Keesing said the matter would be best left in the Hospital Board’s hands—the doctor and matron would no doubt do what was best. The committee agreed however, fhi'.t, ladies should lie given preference. An Orphanage.—Dean Alayne also stated, that their church intended to establish an orphanage for destitute boys at Burlington Road Hospital as soon as it was closed for " patients. An orphanage for girls has been opened at Waipawa. A resolution was passed to the effect “that the Committee learn' with gratitude that the Church of England is establishing orphanages for children left destitute through this epidemic.” Widows’ Pensions.—Air. McGrath moved that the Government’s attention to the desirability of increasing widows’ pensions, also that they lie asked what provision is being made for the children left destitute through this epidemic. As information rccr-ived by the Committee yesterday shows that proper provision was being made for the children, it was decided to take no action in the matter. The motion re widows’ pensions lapsed for want of a seconder. Th? Third Wave — Cr. Harvey pointed out the advisability of inquiring of the Health Alinister if h? has any data of the probable third wave of th? epidemic, so that all preparation coukl be made. He moved accordingly. The Mavor said it was wi.-e to keen vigilant bv making t 1 ”’ town as sani’ariix- perfect as possible and j determine to k?c-n a clean town, ml order to thwart rhe enhleime. The I motion was unanimously- carried. •

The Esk River Trouble.—The danger of the insanitary state of the old Esk river bed through Petane township was again under discussion. Cr. Harvey and Air. W. J. AlcGrath said there were several natives living along the river, in fact most of the residents, including thre.e dairymen, were dependent on it for domestic purposes. .As the result of its present condition the water they were receiving was a mixture. The Town Clerk said they were now awaiting.a reply from the Department, giving the Health Officer authority to report on same. Air. Logan said, if they made another attempt and got- the Health Officer to report, he was sure the County Council couM be relied on to do what was necessary.. On Mr. McGrath’s motion, it was decided to wire the Alinister for Public Works that the Health Officer for Petane be sent immediately to report on the insan : tary condition of this river, with a view to remcdiary measures being taken also that it be pointed out that Napier relies on this district for part of its milk supply. GENERAL. All reports showed that the position, was greatly improved. Mr. AlcGrath said that, in one ! house in. his district, where 14 people j had been down with influenza, all ; were now recovered. ; At the Convent Creche all things ; are progressing satisfactorily,, but two of the Sisters are now seriously ill of the epidemic. Mr. H. B. Lusk said he had visited the three hospitals and, at Napier West, where all the most serious cases had been sent, there were now only two extremely bad cases, and hopes were cherished for their recovery. All the other patients were very cheerful. There was one death at the Napier Hospital. NAPIER NOTES. HOTELS, ETC., RE-OPEN. Marble bars, tea-rooms, and refreshment rooms within the Hawke’s Bay Hospital District may re-open as from 12 o’clock noon, on Thur-,-day next, and thereafter from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. ’ In accordance with the advice received by the Acting Health Inspector that the restrictions on the sale of liquor have been removed, the hotels re-opened from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. As far as the epidemic is concerned, with the return of sunny weather a general improvemen t is noticeable. Calls for assistance are few. With a continuation of the present weather it is hoped soon to stamp out the disease, which is now on its last lap. For the first day since its opening there were no admissions to the Napier West Hospital yesterday, and no deaths or discharges. On Alonday night there was one death. Two cases were admitted to the isolation ward yesterday and one patient discharged. Since Monday, the deaths have been comparatively few, . as compared with th? two previous weeks. HASTINGS EATERGENCY HOSPITAL. The conditions at the Hospital continue satisfactory and everything is still improving. Three patients were discharged yesterday, .one sent to the Convalescent Home in Havelock North, and there were two deaths, leaving 39 patients in the wards. The deaths were Albert Berthal Hansen, of Hastings, described as a drover, aged 36, who leaves a. widow and six children, and Edward Gleeson, single, aged 22, son of Air. J. Gleeson, of Palmerston North. There are only five cases which can be classed as very ill, and these are all improving The services of some thirty of the staff have been dispensed with, ow- ; ing to the satisfactory position, and three more were likely to leave to- ■ day. MAORI HOSPITAL. The conditions at the Drill Hall. Hastings, are still progressing most favourably and, out of tne 59 - patients 111 the wards yesterday, 13 have bet-iU sent to the convalescent ’ marquee, leaving 46 patients in hos- ■ pitai this morning. 'Uicre were no ■ admittances yesterday, but four cases were admitted to-day.

UAS’ITAGb NOTEB. 1 The Alayor appeals for supplies of 5 vcgetubieo ci ad kinds lor Lhe -1 i-iuc-.-cmuse Hospital. U V i.-ituis to tue woiii ulesceut Home i; al liaveiucK Norin will be uamitteu 1J iw.t w wii tue iiours oi iU.LiiJ a.m. and C noon, mid between 3 and -i p.m., ■ I Cdcii mix. ■ 1J inc rood Collecting and DisrtiI bating Cepul uesii es to acknowledge ■ i tiie luiiotvmg donations : —-ltrs. Iteyli Holds £l, air. H. c. barren X 5, -Ur. 1 -a. -■•I. Georgetti £5, Miss -Ucßonaia L 6/-. AMGixc HIE SUFFERERS. , Airs. Louis Yokavitch, of Westshoie died train influenza at tue Napier West Hospital yesterday at tue. age ut 62 years. Air. William Hicks, aged 30 years, of Port Ahunri, died at the Napier West Hospital yesterday from in- . fluenza. His wire. Mrs. Dorothy C. Hicks, died from the same malady ! on Alonday. They leave four children. 'lae late Air. Hicks was ■ employed at AleC'arthy and Co’s., . bort Ahuriri. I The death is reported at Palmers- ■ ton North from influenza of Air. •Frederick James Turner, a well- : ■ known settler in the Rongotea district. The deceased, whose youngest brother is the Rt-v. N. Turner, of Wanganui, leaves a widow and four ehildi eu. Mr. D. Seymour (general secretary of th? New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association), who has been seriously ill from pneumonia, has improved slightly during the last few , days, but bis condition is still eriii- [ Air. R. Carnahan, mate of the 1 steamt'r Huia, lost through influenza , last week his mother, married sister and brother. Airs. Carnahan and her t daughter, Mrs. Corbett, sueeumbed ; to the disease at Rotorua, mid Mr. ‘ Angus Carnahan, her son, ilii it in - Featherston Camp. , J. Miss Annie Skidnior". daughter <>! I , Air. and Airs. J. Skidmor". of Na-|; pier, died at. Wellington yesterday j • from i 11 tiiienza. Shortly belore the | , outbreak of the epi'Fmie. the ilo-!' ee.-tsed young lady went 10 Welling- 1 ion to join the nursing staff of tie’ < G l 'neral Hospital, ami whilst en- t trailed in work in comleetion with ■* emdemic contracted it herself and after a short illness succuinbefl. The death occurred nt Te Aroha • ■’> Svwn’av of Mr. C. W. Patterson. vnrtH-i’st ><WI ni Colonel G. AV. S. hp-irrer-on. Officer Commanding the i • Xuekhnd Military District. The lai” ( (Hr. Patterson was a returned sol-, i I di'T, having returned about, six '

months ago after service, in the Rifle Brigade, with which he left in the Tenth Reinforcements. He had recovered from an attack of influenza, but suffered a relapse that ended with his death. The death of David Koorey took place in his residence, Heretaunga street, Hastings, yesterday, at the age of 30 years. Deceased, who was a Syrian, and a nephew of Mr. Carrem Koorey, draper, of Hastings arrived, with his mother, from Canada, about seven years ago, settling in Hastings, where he established a restaurant business, which he conducted up to the time of his death. He was of a quiet, unobtrusive disposition, and was highly esteemed by those, who knew him. Much sympathy is extended to his mother and relatives. Among the many who, in this Dominion during the last few weeks, have virtually sacrificed their lives to a full sense of duty in the emergency of sorrow that has overtaken us was Air. John Hickey, ‘whose death was announced on Monday last. A fine' young fellow, in the very pride of vigorous and athletic manhood, and only a casual visitor in the town, his services were promptly' given in response to a call for someone to watch and control a violently delirious patient. While engaged in this duty he himself contracted the malady which has proved fatal to so many of our townsmen, and despite every care and attention he succumbed to it on Sunday night last. Sincere sympathy will be extended to his relatives and friends in the AVaikato district, whenq? he originally came. GENERAL NOTES. I do not know whether any of my readers are afflicted with the pathetic belief in the superiority of “the good old days,” when life, so we are told, was so much simpler and truer than it is in these bustling degenerate times (says a writer in the Auckland “Star”). If any of them do, £ put it to them that the epidemic has shown that there is much virtue in the machinery 7 of modern civilisation. If we have slums, which help in the spread of disease, we also have swift means of coping with an outbreak. In the old days they had the dirt and squalor without these mpans. Just fancy, for instance, what the campaign of the last few weeks would have been without the telephone and the motor-car. Think of the number of lives these inventions have saved. Alore would have been saved had every house had a telephone. Now and then there is talk of the simple life, and getting back to Nature. But the way to make modern life simple is to increase, not to decrease, its mechanical aids. It is simpler to ring up for a doctor than to walk a couple of miles for him, just as it is simpler to turn an electric light than to mess round with kerosene. A REPORTED CURE. A correspondent has forwarded to the (Sydney ‘‘Herald'’ the following extract from an American paper, under date Pittsburg, October 12: — “in response to hundreds oi telegrams irom medical men tnroughout tne country to-day, or. Ueorge F. baer, of tue Homeopathic Hospital staff, tins aiternoon uiacie public the formula at his discovery announced yesterday 7 of a cure and preventive tor Spanish influenza. Ine treatment, he said, is a hypodermic injection of a sterile solution representing 1.54 grams of iodine in chemical combination with creosote and guaiacol, in experiments, conducted here since the outbreak of influenza, Dr. Baer said, patients in acute stages of the disease have been made well in a few days, while in one case the employees of a bank wer,e inoculated with the solution, and, although exposed to influenza, failed to contract the disease. The injection, he said, is not a serum, but a solution. It is put into the veins of tho arms. The patients feel little ill-effect.” Commenting on the matter, a leading Sydney medical man remarked:—“The cause of death from pneumonia, consequent on Spanish influenza, is, we understand, heart tailure, and in such a case the drugs that are useful are those that would stimulate the heart muscle. I don’t see how this (referring to the formula mentioned) could do it.”