THE INFLUENZA

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10136, 26 November 1918, Page 6

THE INFLUENZA

GENERAL IMPROVEMENT PKO3LEM OF THE CHILDKEN. STATEMENT BY HEALTH MINISTER. In the course of an important statement to a "Times'" representative Inst night, the Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister for Public Health, stated that the improvement in the four chief centres was j continued. In Auckland, not only was the position improving, as shown by the figures, but there was a very much more hopeful tons. \t 12 noon yesterday, out of tno4.il beds in the Wellington emergency hospitals there wero ±a male and 10 \emalo beds vacant. The admissions duriug the last twenty-four hours weio 03, ana 81 had been discharged. GOOD WORK AMONG MAORIS. Tho Hon. Dr Pomare had started on Saturday and mado a tour of all the Maori districts between Wellington arid talnierston North. At last advices he, had reached Kanakau, where -he nau opened u temporary hospital, and. he reported that, although the disease was severe amongst the natives yet he had every reason to hope that the work that was being done would save a considerable number. The.information that was coming in with regard to the deathrate among the Maoris was of a serious character. Tho position was grave at Otorohanga amongst tho King Country natives, and urgent requests had been sent to Auckland to endeavour to dispatch further medical assistance ironi there. , , ~ In a letter received from, him by the Minister/ Mr W. T. Jennings M.±\ for Taumarunui. stated: "I am glad to say that all reports from Ohura, latu, Jlatiore as well as Otorohanga, show a marked improvement. I have been as far as ."Druti, and find matters being well dealt with by the Taranaki health authorities." VALUE OF ORGANISATION. One striking fact brought out by the reports that came to hand, said J>l r Russell, was the success of effective organisation in dealing with the epidemic. Ho had received that day a report from the town clerk ot Cambridge, which set out a fine record ot organisation; and the effect had been that up to the date of * ly, November 22nd—37 cases had been treated at the hospital, the large majority being from outlying districts, and only two deaths had occurred, while nine patients were convalescent and six had been discharged. GROCERS' ILATE NIGHT? The Minister had received a few days ago a letter from the secretary to the Wellington Grocers' Industrial Union, dealing with the special difficulties ot men working in that trade, owing to many persons, who had either just recovered from the illness or were in continuous contact with patients, making purchases in the shops. A suggestion. was made that no person should bo allowed to enter any shop, especially a grocer's shop, until six days after recovery from the disease. This had been referred to the Chief Health Officer, Colonel Valintine. who reported that it was impossible to impose any euch restrictions, but that he was of opinion that Friday night work should be suspended during the epidemic The Government, said Mr Russell,..did not wish to take action on this point compulsorily, but he would be extremely pleased if the grocery trade would so arrange matters that' there should be no late night on Fridays until the epidemic had completely subsided. THERMOMETERS HIGH! The attention of the Government had been drawn by a member of Parliament to the enormous rise in the price of thermometers. Tho statement was made that they had gradually risen to 12s 6d each, and that the chemists who assed this price at once said that it was in consequence of a "ring." The matter had been referred to the Right Hon. the Prime Minister for consideration by the Board of Trade. UNDERTAKERS PROFITEERING. Another question that had come tinder consideration was the very high prices being charged for funerals. _ In papers from one part of tho Dominion it was reported that the price had been raised to .£25 in some cases, and practically a demand made for cash before undertaking the work. Mr Russell stated that he was not aware how far this statement was supported by facts. In idl necessitous cases the Government would of course, pay for tho burial of those who had died without leaving any estate; but if information was supplied to the Government on this matter, action would be immediately taken to see that nothing in the way of excessive charges was permitted in connection with burials. VACCLNE-A OFFER. A few days ago, added the Minister, a statement appeared in the papers en tho authority of Dr Frengley, DeputyChief Health Officer, that those treatiug influenza patients would not take upon themselves to experiment with vaccine. Ho stated that vaccine could only he used safely after closely observing its effect. With reference to this matter, a gentleman occupying a high position in business circles in Wellington had offered to allow any experiment that might bo desired to bo performed upon himself. He insisted that there should be Ho publicity as to his name, and lus letter had been referred to tho Chief Health Officer for consideration. A considerable number of offers were being received by the department from all over the Dominion of specifics and cures for tho disease. NURSING CLASSES.-TWO OFFERS. With regard to the proposal for establishing nursing classes amongst the masses of the people, most gratifying letters had been received from Mth K. Preston, lady divisional superintendent of the St. John Ambulance Association and Mrs Portor, organising secretary of tho Women's National Reserve of New Zealand each of whom offered the use of tho organisation of her society for tho purpose of forming such classes. These offers would be carefully considered when the scheme evolved a littlo later. CARING FOR THE CHILDREN. Last evening, a deputation from the workers attached to St. John's School emergency hospital, waited on tho Minister for Public Health with reference to tho fact that seven children, whose parents were either dead or disabled by the wndemic, were in hand and no provision had 'been Snado for their board for the night. Tho Minister therefore forwarded a request, through Miss Phoebo Myors that they should bo taken in for tho night by the South WellH'iT'.on School, RintouL street, whero there were a number of vacant beds. A proposal had been made, stated tho

Minister, that iho children's class room at the Training College, Kelburn, should be used as a clcaring-houso for children, and that special provision should be made for who _ were affected by the uisease, tho convalescent or uu. affoctal cases being concentrated at ths Miraniar Golf Club-house, which, it was reported, was now full. This question was under consideration by the department and would bo decided as early as possible to-day. The chief diliiculty was that of obtaining the necessary staff. Tho number of nurses who were down with the disease was very large. That day, on communicating with one of tho nurses' homes in the city, it was tound that 12 wero lying ill themselves, and at another two wero ill. The necessity for trained women being placed in charge of institutions was absoluto; tho policy, therefore, must be to endeavour to concentrate in institutions where a capable staff was obtainable. Hero and there throughout the Dominion there wero cases reported 01 children being affected by tho disease. Happily, up to the present this bad not been general; and it was to bo devoutly hoped that tho malady, which had taken so heavy a toll from the adults, would spare the children of the country. Everything possible in tho direction of caring for the children would bo dono by tho department. TRIBUTE TO BOY SCOUTS. "One of, tho classes of workers who .have done yeoman service throughout the epidemic in all the cities of tho Dominion," said Mr Russell, "is the Boy Scouts. These lino lads have dons a vast amount of work in carrying messages, medicines, food, etc., in visiting houses, and in many other ways; ana I feel that tho Government is under a deep debt of gratitude to this organisation." DISTINCTLY BETTER VIEW OF CHIEF HEALTH OFFICER. "Things aro distinctly better," stated Colonel Valintine, Chief Health Officer, to a "Times" representative yesterday. "I have just beon to the Seamen's Mission emergency hospital, and they have eight empty beds there. All hospitals havo empty beds now, so that it looks f.s if we are over the worst of it. Of course, precautions must not be relaxed in any way, because we may have another wave of it, but I trust not." SATISFACTORY REPORTS INTERVIEW WITH THE MAYOR. The Mayor (Mr J. P. Luke) had an exceptionally busy day yesterday auswermir correspondence and attending to[Various duties in connection with establishing convalescent Jiomes and matters dealing with the epidemic. When interviewed ho said tnat the reports from the various hospitals and convalesoent homes were very satisfactory, in fact more so that had been the case since tho epidemic mado its appearance. The conditions w&re so bright that it was confidently considered that the scourge had been mastered and that tho health of the community would soon be back to normal. Precautions should still be perservered with however as a preventative* Mr Luka said that tho work of tho doctors had been most praiseworthy, also that of tho nursins: staffs and citizens' committee. In fact tho different units had co-operated in such a splendid manner that tho more urgent oases were reached with a minimum of delay. The nurses in all the hospitals—tempotaty and public—had worked exceptionally hard to cope with tho disease and it was only thoir wonderful fortitude and willpower that had enabled them to -withstand the creat strain which they had been called -upon to endure. The community was deeply indebted to many willing helpers during this distressing period, and the Mayoress expressed her heartfelt thanks to the staff at the Town Hall who had so ably assisted in the distribution of food, medicine and comfort? to the sick, and to all those who len* their motor-cars for the purpose and for ambulance • work. Mr Luke added that the Health Department had been of great assistance in eopins: with the epidemic as had the services of Maior McCristell, whose- organisation abilities in regard to equipment was of particular importance.