INFLUENZA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17949, 16 November 1918, Page 7

INFLUENZA.

EPIDEMIC SPREADING.

ORGANISED CAMPAIGN UNDER-

TAKEN

HOSPITAL HAS NO FURTHER ACCOMMODATION.

The reports received concerning the influenza epidemic yesterday were not of a reassuring character. It is obvious that the disease is making rapid headway, and the number of new cases is on the increase daily. The position at Christohurch Hospital is very acute, and it is definitely stated that no further influenza cases can be admitted after noon to-day. The ordinary patients from two wards have been transferred to the Bottle Lake Hospital, to make room for serious influenza cases, but no further adjustment is possible to cope with the position. Doctors and relatives of patients are therefore strongly urged to send no cases to the Christohurch Hospital after noon today. HEAVY MORTALITY REPORTED. In the .course of a short interview last evening Dr Fox, medical superintendent of the Christchurch Hospital, said that the position was very serious indeed. The hospital was taking only the most acute cases, and a mortality of about 60 per cent of these seemed probable. The nursing and other staffs were much depleted through the epidemio, and the work of the hospital was being carried on under most disheartening circumstances. Yesterday, up to 9 p.m., there were forty-seven influenza cases admitted, and. fifteen deaths occurred through the epidemic. CAMPAIGN FULLY ORGANISED. STATEMENT BY DR OHESSON. In a statement made last evening, Dr Chesson, chief health officer for the Canterbury district, said that the whole district had now been organised. The organisation of the medical service had been completed and was now in working order, and under the new system any medical man receiving calls to attend influensa patients other than in the families which he usually attends would send such calls on to the central depot; telephone 8707. The lists would then be compiled and sent on to the Department's office, where a tabulation would be made into district blocks. The tabulated lists would be forwarded to the doctors specified for each block. This would prevent overlapping, and it was hoped that it will also case the work of the doctors.

Dr Hendry, from Banmer, arrived in the city yesterday, and is now attached to 'Dr Chesson's department. Dr Hendry will be associated with the auxiliary hospital at the Royal Hotel. Within an hour of his arrival in town .Dr Hendry started visiting patients. Dr M'Gibbon will have charge of the Royal Hotel Auxiliary Hospital for the first fortnight. HOTEL BARS TO CLOSE AT 4 P.M. Dr Chesson states that all hotel bars and chartered club bars of the city and boroughs, and within three miles of tho boundaries, have been ordered to close a-t 4 p.m. daily. All marble bars, tea rooms, refreshment rooms, etc., have been ordered to close except between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., noon to 2 p-m., and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Hairdressers' and barbers' saloons have been closed absolutely. Tho order in respect to these extends right throughout the Canterbury .and Westland district. Indoor religious services are prohibited. BODIES NOT TO LEAVE DISTRICT. Dr Chesson also referred to tho ■amount of work thrown on undertakers at the present time, .and tho lack of assistance owing to the depletion of their staffs, and said that it was necessary that bodies should not-bo taken out of the district. This entailed considerably more work, and was not desirable from fi public health standpoint. The Department would not, therefore, issue any further permits for removal to any other part of the Dominion.