THE EPIDEMIC

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10138, 28 November 1918, Page 6

THE EPIDEMIC

ON THE WANE MARKED IMPROVEMENT SHOWN Tha epidemic is decidedly on the wane. Not only do facts and figures prove this, but hospitals are being vacated, business is fast resuming its normal state, and thero is an. undoubtedly healthier tone prevailing. The panicky feeling has supsided. The city and district reports are all reassuring, and tho prevailing note is one of confidence in the abilitv'Of the organisation to stamp out the" flickering embers of the influenza. There was a marked decrease 1 in the number of cases under treatment, and the hospitals show a largo number of vacancies, SLJiaving been reported as having occurred on Tuesday.. In Wellington South about a dozen new cases have been reported, but, none of them Have proved serious so far. Altogether, the position • shows a rapid improvement, and it may he taken that the plague has spent its force. The machinery for copipg with it has worked vorv well, and. excellent work has been aono bv all those who have asisted in the fight. STATEMENT BY DR.MAK6ILL In an interview with a “New Zealand Times” representative yesterday. Dr Makgill (District Health Officer) stated that there is a great improvement in the city and the suburbs. There are' still a few mild case 9 reported daily, out the epidemic is well in hand and things are generally assuming their normal state. He also added that a children’s hospital was opened at Kelburn and would already accommodate about fifty. WELLINGTON NORTH % A good number of cases in,this district is still receiving medical, and nursling attention. If''patients *in" the convalescent stage could only be induced to take more care ‘of themselves arid carry out strictly the medical instructions the demands on this organisation and on doctors and nurses would be greatly diminished. A quicker clearance of the epidemic in this district could be effected if the hospital, could manage to take in more cases from poor localities, and thus stop the spread of infection to others. Supplies of beef tea and nourishing food are still being largely distributed. Very few new 1 cases' are being reported. IN THE SUBURBS PBTONE. Several mtients lave been discharged from the Potone temporary hospital, and there is a general improvement throughout the borough. During tbe past two days six or seven patients have been admitted to hospital and there have been three deaths of patients whose cases were practically hopeless when they .were admitted. The. ladies* committee is making an inspection of the district and cases of necessity that are coming under their notice are being dealt with at once. ... LOWER HUTT. The - conditions at Lower -Hutt continue to improve. This is noticed not only by the committee of citizens who have been fighting the epidemic, but also by the local chemists, in the falling off in the demand for • disinfectants and medicine. There were no admissions to the temporary hospital yesterday,'but a few new cases were reported in the district, none of them being of a serious nature. There are T 8 patients in the temporary hospital; a - number of whom are convalescent and in a condition to be discharged when the weather is favourable. There was only one case under treatment that was causing concern. EASTBOURNE. At Eastbourne and DayVßay'Bs cases of influenza have been reported. The temporary hospital was established and equipped at' Eastbourne in twenty-four hours, and received the first patient within that period. The . hospital, was in charge of Nurse Hall, and until Nurse Nankitell was stricken' with the disease she gave valuable help. There were seventeen patients in the hospital ami four had been discharged as cured. Thera had been no deaths at Eastbourne, and two had taken place at Day’s Bay, from whence sixteen cases were reported. Through the kindness of Mr Dingle, an ambulance had been secured and had done good work, horowhenua notes (From Our Own Correspondent.) OTAKI, November 27. Further deaths . from influenza have occurred. Mrs Malcolm (Levin) and Porter Leri Walford (Otaki) succumbed at the Otaki Hospital, ..while Mrs H. Channings, Harry Stokes, Charles Groomc and David Wilson have died at Levin. Tho number of patients at the temporary hospitals is decreasing, but a few serious cases still remain. - Only two cases were admitted to the Levin Hospital on Monday and one yesterday. There are ten patients in ' tho convalescent stage, and Dr Bryson reports that all now cases a*re of a very mild. form. Four of the borough councillors have been affected, and four of the post office staff are still off duty. Mr G. H. Harper and Mr R. F. Smith (solicitors), who have been ill with influenza, have again taken' (iff* their duties. Mr H. Larkin ' (stationmastor) has also returned to his post. AT THE CAMPS The report from Trentham yesterday stated that there had not been any deaths during the preceding twenty-fquf hours. Three men attended the morning sick parade, and one of them was admitted to hospital suffering from influenza. The total number of patients in hospital was 344, of whom 276 wore suffering from influenza. There were 15 serious cases, two being patients who were suffering from cerebrospinal meningitis. A complete report was not received from Featherston, but it was ascertained tluit eight men attended the sick parade and that there had not been any deaths since tho previous report was submitted. At Awapuni one man reported sick. The sixteen men remaining in hospital are doing well, and there are no serious cases under treatment. No deaths had occurred- _______ Tho assistant cook of tho Kittawa, T. Hayden, was found to bo suffering from influenza yesterday; and was removed to tho Missions to Seamen hospital. Three children on the'hlilk Occident were also found to bo infected yesterday. The inmate of a hovel visited hr the Welhnglon Central sanitary workers admitted that the place had not bcmi cleaned out for twenty vears.