INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17007, 14 November 1918, Page 6

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

ENCOURAGING SIGNS.

FEWER CALLS FOR AID.

EFFORTS BEARING FRUIT.

•MUCH WORK STILL TO BE DONE.

A marked improvement was apparent yesterday in connection with the prevailing epidemic of influenza, the calls for assistance being noticeably fewer, while the great majority of the cases admitted to tho various hospitals were of a less serious character than the admissions of the last few days. While it is yet impossible to make on exact estimate of the number of deaths occurring outside the hospitals, there is a noticeable falling off in the death-rate in these institutions, and as most of the serious cases have been concentrated at these places, it can be taken that this falling off is an indication that the epidemic is definitely on the decline. It cannot be emphasised too strongly, however, that precautionary measures must i still be employed, a any relaxation now | might mean a fresh outbreak and the de- | feat of all the efforts so far made. The chairman of the Hospital Board, Mr. William Wallace, stated yesterday that there via never ft time in tbi course of the epidemic when the need for the exercise .of every care was so imperative. _ " The ' lives of most of the patients now in the ' hospitals depsnded on the care which they ' receive," he said, " and the call for nurses | and more nurses to ensure a continuation | of the admirable work now being done is ! again made. Every woman who has had some training to nursing and who is not doing her share to combat the malady, is neglecting an obvious duty." The deaths at the hospitals lor the 24 hours ending midnight was 20, and this included two children at Myers Kinder- ] garten, and five at other institutions. The Technical College has now over 100 I cases, Kilbryde has all its 65 beds occu- , pied, and the Vermont Street school has j 79, with 14 in the convalescent ward. All the hospitals are reporting general imj provement in the condition of patients, ' and at most of them some convalescents I have already been discharged.

Care oi the Children. There are now 35 child patients in Myers Kindergarten, where Sister Broun, the assistant lady superintendent of the Auckland Hospital, who is now convalescent after an attack of influenza, is_ in charge. The conditions at this institution are almost ideal, and the tiny patients are having everything possible done for them. There are now over 30 children in the Y.W.C.A. building, and they are as happy as children can bp in strange surroundings. The appeal for children's clothing is meeting with a ready response. At present the most urgent need is for small nightdresses of any kind or quality, and they need not necessarily be new. Much of the clothing worn by these children on their admission has been destroyed, and as they recover the need for full outfits will be felt. An experienced volunteer laundress is also required for the Y.W.O.A. to take charge of this department. Mr. C. C. Sandford, of Te Papapa, the contractor for the special supply of milk for the children's wards at the Auckland Hospital, has volunteered to supply milk for the children, and this offer has been gladly accepted. St. -Sepulchre's parish ball has been offered as a hospital, together with a number of volunteer helpers. The building has been inspected, and should the need arise it will be put into use. Mr. W. Wallace, chairman of the Hospital Board, and Dr. Maguire, medical superintendent, made a tour of the temporary hospitals yesterday, and later expressed themselves as highly gratified at the work done by the various staffs especially in view of the strenuous conditions under which they are working. The nurses who have been ill with influenza, and are now at the Alexandra Home £ilerslie> are progressing satisfactorily, and all are anxious to return to their duties to assist, but Dr. Maguire has forbidden this, foaring to expose them to the danger of infection before they are quite recovered.

Another Temporary . Hospital The equipping of St. Joseph's School, Grey Lynn, is proceeding as fast as the necessary material can be obtained, and should be open by the end of the week; but, as is the case elsewhere, the chief difficulty lies in the provision of a nursing staff. The Av&ndale Jockey Club's buildings at Avondale havft been placed in tha hands of the Health Department. The ambulance room, fully equipped, is in excellent condition. It is probable that the buildings will be used as a temporary hospital. > The organisations controlling the Trades Hall yesterday offered the building to tho Hospital Board for conversion into a hospital, and also a donation of £50 towards its equipment. The building was inspected by Mr. Wallace and Dr. Maguire, ana will be used if. required. A report was received yesterday that Nurse Bennett, the Hospital Board's district nurse at Warkworth, was dangerously ill, and as there were a number of serioua cases in the district, with no skilled attention available, the board sent out a nurse by motor-car. With a view to preventing infection being carried to nurses from patients oougning, steps aro being taken by the acting-chief health officer, at the suggestion of prominent medical specialists, to provide all nurses attending i/ffluenza patients with masks, to bo worn over the mouth and nose. It is hoped to have a supply of the masks for distribution tonight. i Inhalation chambers are now ii ; operation at the Public Health Office, Albert Street, Railway Department Gov srnment Buildings, Mount Albert Boroug i, Leys Institute, Ambulance Station, ,on the Queen's Wharf, Town Hall, /and at Helontville, Devonport, and Birfeenhead. It is hoped to hiatal inhalation chambers at Takapuna and Northcote in the near future, while an inhalation chamber will be placed in the Trades Hall as soon as the necessary appliances can be secured. Referring to the epidomio among the Maoris, Dr. Frengley stated yesterday that reports received bo. far indicated that the Maoris had not suffered as much as the He thoueht. this might possibly bo Hue to the fact that, there is always a certain amount of influenza among the natives, and thev were therefore to some extent immune from the present epidemic.

ON THE NORTH SHORE. EXTENSION OF ORGANISATION. Tho condition, at Devonport is still satisfactory, but there were many applications for' food and medicine yesterday. Improvement is again noted in the Takapuna district. At Takapuna itself, Nurse Barr, of the Health Department,. is in constant attendance. There are as yet no serious cases between Olenfield and; Takapuna. One patient is dangerously ill near Albany, and in the Dairy Flat and W&inui districts two dangerous cases fire reported. All cases in thi..«e districts 1 are to r>e reported to the postmistress at Albany and the postal authorities at Dairy: Flat. Nurse Penn is stationed at Milford, and cases at Brown's Bay and Sheriff's V Hill are to he attended to by Mr.'F. Quick. A new dispensary has been opened at Northcote, in the schoolroom. A qualified dispenser has been placed in charge. Residents of the district, in addition patients, may obtain standard medicine th?re, thus obviating the need for .a special trip to the city.