POSITION MORE HOPEFUL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17011, 19 November 1918, Page 6

POSITION MORE HOPEFUL

STATEMENT BY Ml NlSTfjrV

CONDITIONS IN WELLINGTON.

[BT tEMOBAPS.—PBESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, tamAay.-

The Minister for public Health states that report* up. to last night indicated that the top of the epidemic wav& had been reached. .Most of the deaths occurring appeared to be the result of neglect or ignorance on the part of persona affected. Those living in "crowded or insanitary quarters were the first.victims, many coming from among young men living in boarainghouses where conditions were not what they should be. Regulations were being issued which were designed to enlarge the Department's and local authorities' powers to enforce disinfectinn and destruction of articles which had been in contact with victims. The Government was also considering the supply of drugs, which, at present, was being drawn largely from the Defence stores. The provision of inhalation chambers in various . centres appeared to be producing good results. Equipment was being made in "Dunedin,_ and would he drawn upon for more necessitous cases in the North Island. The general position, •' though . still serious, the Minister added, was distinctly more hopeful. The situation Was improving in Auckland, -but the native race was paying a heavy toll. _ Advanced medical students from Dunedin University had been requisitioned for work in out-districts, - and the r organisation of doctors was now in hand. S To avoid overlapping in the city, areas were being blocked, so that doctors could be assigned to specific districts, and to attend cases at centralised stations. Instructions have been issued that all burials must be made within 24 hours.

All licensed premises, clubs, breweries, and wine and spirit stores have been closed completely, and alcoholic liquor is only obtainable by prescription. Shortage of coal for, use at places where voluntary workers are battling against the epidemic, such as emergency hospitals, led to difficulty, but this was met temporarily by a collier being brought to the wharf on Saturday, and a hundred tons unloaded for disposal at the Mayor's discretion. A cheering feature of tie epidemio is the comparative ; immunity enjoyed by children, fatal cases usually being among people over 45 year* of age. There were 150 absentees from tie post office this morning, 41 being postmen. In the telegraph' and telephone offices 202 are absent.

The health officer, Dr. Makgill, states there are indications that the disease is being got under in Wellington. Things now seem to be going well, be says, and the epidemio it lessening.

ORGANISATION OF DOCTORS. < DEFINITE AREAS ALLOCATED. [by TEIJEOBArn.— CORKESrONnBST.] '•'..'.,:'.":••'..■ WELLINGTON, Monday. A full conference of medical practitionere and the Minister, presided over by the Mayor, unanimously accepted all the Ministerial proposals for organisation of the profession. The allocation of-districts was left with Dr. Fyfe, president of the British Medical Association. ■*,.

DEATHS IN TRAINING CAMPS. FORTY-ONE SINCE SATURDAY, j [bt tattWUAia.— Assocutftnr.] ' ■':■".":.; WELLINGTON, Monday. Since Saturday 41 deaths have been! notified at Featherston, Trentham, and Awapuna military ( camps. POSITION IMPROVED YESTERDAY. (BT <nSLK»B*TB.—SMSCM!. OORRESPONDEOT.] , V WELLINGTON, Monday. ' Tim position in the camps in regard to influenza is much better to-day. The Minister for Defence states that reports from the camps and military hospitalr are reassuring. There have been no fresh admissions at Hanraer, and the epidemic is in hand at Rotorus* Two •eriou* owes Ml reported from Narrow Neck camp. ■:.-.:

OHEoiID IN 'fiBAVAKL ' '•";':■■ #EW SERIOUS CASES. ..%' [BY ASSOCIATION.] 'NEW PLYMOUTH. Monday. The epidemic hag been fairly* in the Taranaki district, but prompt and thorough organisation has kept it- in check and reduced the serious cases to a minimum. On Thursday it was*decided to close down all business in' New Plymouth and to stop running, the trams. A daily Inspection is being made, and medicines supplied, while the women have provided , nursing and other help. >To date about 10 Scr cent, of the population have been own with the diseJiiie. but many are convalescent, and there is reason to believe that tho back of the epidemic is broken. There have been Only two or three deaths so far, nil being contracted in outside 'districts. ■._

";■'. s -■> DEATHS IN OHRISTCEUBOB. FORTY-FOUR BINGE SATURDAY. [Bt imi«ftAt l ASSOCIATION.] * ~::.';.: OHRfsTOHuRCE Monday. The influensa epidemio it still serious in the city. Admissions to the central and temporary hospitals during -the past 48 hours total 117, the ," death roll being 33, while 11 mora deaths occurred to-day. Official reports suggest that the disease is now in hand, and that improvement may bo looked for. The medical superintendent of the hospital, Dr. F6t has ha*d to relinquish duty temporarily. Three other members of the medical staff, of the hospital have been ill but are now recovering. . The grounds and buildings of the Metropolitan Trotting Club have been commandeered for use as a temporary hospital. •:■':, ■;.■, , Colonel D. 8. . Wylie, officer In charge of the ' orthopedic hospital, and who is now in charge of Ohnstchurch Hospital, stated to-day that in the 24 hours ended at midnight 62 cases of influenza had been admitted to the hospital and the annexe at. the Royal rlotel. He said there was no sign of any decrease in the ravages of the d«ease hut, on the other hand, there was no evidence of any increase. While there was much to suggest that it had readied Its maximum as far as seriousness vent, he emphasised that the number of deaths at the hospital was nc criterion of the actual gravity of the epidemic, as only exceptionally severe cases were admitted to hospital. •

OTAOO AND SOUTHLAND. FORTY-SEVEN MORE CASES. [BY fTELKGBAPH.— ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN, Monday. Forty-seven additional pneumonia and influenza cases were reported to-day for the Otago and Southland districts.

NOT SEVERE AT OAMARTJ. FOUR. DEATHS LEPORTED. [BY TBUOIIAPH.— ASSOCIATION.] OAMARU. Monday. Influenza is widespread here, but is generally of a mild type, though there ate a few severe cases. ; Four deaths are reported, two being of cases taken off through trains in advanced stages. Energetic measures are being taken to combat ,the disease, and a Jarge hall is being fitted up as a supplementary hospital, in cue one is needed.