NURSE MAUDE'S DEPOT.

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

NURSE MAUDE'S DEPOT.

WORKERS WANTED

Nurse Maude has opened a new depot on the west side of Cathedral Square, in the premises lately occupied by Owen's tailoring shop, and close to the Red Cross Depot. It will be known as'the Nurse Maude Influenza Depot, and it has been opened as a central depot, at which Nurse Maude can organise the campaign for obtaining vol-

untary women helpers, give instruction and necessities to those who volunteer, and receive reports as to the progress of tho work. When seen by a reporter yesterday Nurse Maude made a strong appeal for more and more women workers. " Try and stir up tho public," she said, "and say that the women must come and help. Many women were frightened to come because either they are afraid of catching the epidemic themselves, or else of taking it into their own homes. Tell the people," continued Nurse Maude, " that we supply the women with masks and disinfectants, and then there is no danger to them becoming infected with tlie disease. Hundreds of people in the city are dying, or are in a serious condition because of lack of attention, and so far only about thirty women have volunteered. That is just a drop in the bucket. Wo want » hundred at least. It does not matter if the women are trained nurses or not, so long as they can do domestic duties." In conclusion Nurse Maude said: "If the women of Christohurch are women at all, they will come and help us at this time." She then hurried away to superintend the work of getting the new depot into order. The telephone number of the new depot is 3707, and that of the medicine stall in the patriotic bazaar, Cathedral Square, 3706. Nurse Maude requests all those nurses and voluntary helpers who attended cases under her direction yesterday to revisit them ugain to-day.

THE INFLUENZA REMEDY. A WARNING. The medicine which' is being sold at the depot in Cathedral Square is not a preventive or prophylactic, and is of no use' whatever in averting the disease. It is a first aid remedy for influenza, intended to bo taken in cases* where medical advico is not obtainable. Misunderstanding of this fact has caused many individuals to dose themselves heavily with tho remedy in hopes of warding «ff an attack, the only result being nervous depression, the usual effect of the drug on a healthy system. Only persons affected by influenza should purchase this medicine. There is already danger of a shortageA HUNDRED HELPERS WANTED. Mr W. S. Wharton, secretary of the North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, made an urgent appeal last night for more womeu helpers. At present only about thirty had offered their services, whereas the number required was nearer 130. He said that the Public Health Department would be willing to pay 10s per day to any competent woman who had some knowledge of nursing. Provided she could satisfy Nurse Maude as to her capabilities, Dr Chesson would approve of her appointment as a salaried nurse. " 'What we want," said Mr Wharton, "are people with leisure and people with motor-cars. If they won't do the work for nothing wo shall pay them, but wo must have more helpers'" Continuing, Mr Wharton said that he did not think the people fully realised the situation. "If they could only see what is going on it would make them shed tears. I don't want to create ai panic, but wo must have tho people to help us." Tlie doctors were going down like ninepins, and even if they had three times the number of doctors, they could nob cope with the cases. Mr Wharton said that great credit was due to those women who had assisted at the depots in Cathedral Square, hut they were overworked, and ran the risk of a breakdown. Last night ten men volunteers had relieved those at the medicine depot. Great credit was also due to Mr A. M. Loasby, who had given the hoard full service from morning till night.

PROVISION OF SOUP

KITCHEN STARTED,

HELPERS NEEDED,

Mrs Ha6tio and Misses Ross and Fail-hurst, by tho kindness of Mr E. E. Stark, city electrical engineer, have established a soup kitchen in the electrical department's offices in Manchester 'Street, near tho Tepid Baths. They aro making mutton broth and other soup suitable for invalids, together with custards and jellies, and tiiey ask for helpers—Boy Scouts or College Cadets, perhaps—to carry the soup to Nurse Maude's depot in Cathedral Square They have been informed that there are only two men at the abattoirs, and they cannot get a shin of beef in town. They therefore ask country residents to send them fowls. The attendants at tho kitchen have been sprayed. Mrs Hastie and Mrs Ross suggest that every family that requires soup should display a flag at the gate, and hang a billy there. Runners will be sent out with soup to fill the billies where possible. In this way soup will bo supplied to patients without any risk of infection being run. Yesterday tho work was hampered to some extent through lack of cooking and other kitchen utensils. Large size enamel basins and a cullender are urgently required. Receptacles for jellies and custards will also he needed. As no guarantee can be given that these latter will bo returned, elaborate dishes of value should not be sent. Cups that have had their handles broken off and other plain chinaware receptacles of a suitable kind will do. These are urgently required. An appeal is also made for eggs, milk, sugar and other ingredients of custards, and also for jelly crystals and, if possible, wine to put in. the jellies. Soup will be sent round to the depot in Cathedral Square, but it will also be supplied at tho kitchen it-self between 12 and 3 p.m. to-day and tomorrow.

The Gas Company has kindly lent its kitchen to tho Women's National Reservo for the purposo of making beef tea and nutritious soups for influenza patients, free of charge. Miss Whitcomb will be in charge, and members of the Women's National Reserve will undertake to make the soup. Contributions of fresh mutton, beef, or the money with which to purchase meat, will be thankfully received. It should be addressee! to Mrs Wood, president of the Women's National Reserve, care of the Gas Company. Besides donations of meat, lemon cordial, would also be acceptable for making drinks. Tho Rf 4 Cross Comforts Depot has secured tho services of Miss Beck, of the Technical College, to tako charge of the Red Cross kitchen during the illness of Mrs Brown, who is suffering from influenza. Tho whole staff worked hard yesterday making soups and broths for distribution. Beef and mutton for making tho soups and broths are urgently asked for by the Red Cross organisation.