REGENT EPIDEMIC

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10210, 21 February 1919, Page 5

REGENT EPIDEMIC

Oft NIAGARA MEDICAL EVIDENCE BEFORE THE COMMISSION. Press Association. AUCKLAND] February 20. At the Epidemic Commission to-day, Dr D. G. iUassell, Port Health Officer for Auckland for over three years, said that when the Niagara arrived Mr Gunson and Colonel Patterson asked him to clear the wharf. He refused to do so, stating that there was no ono oil the wharf by his permission, and that the control of the wharf was in the hands of the military authorities. ■ When he' went Oil board he was met by tho doctors on board. He was given a list of tho ship's qascs by Dr Mackenzie, and examined each case. Ho formed tho opinion then, and still held it, that there were no cases of pneumonic • influenza on Tjoard. He questioned' those' on board With regard to the report that men were dropping down suddenly as a result .of tho disease, and ascertained that they were falling down from exhaustion, because they persisted in getting up when they wore ill. Theso men did not drop down suddenly. As a proof of tho fact that men were carrying on while they were ill, ho instanced the fact that ge'rs made them a presentation for their devotion to duty. The Union Company had guaranteed certain payments to members of the crew who contracted the disease. He understood that only seven or eight had claimed this payment. The cases on hoard, some fifty-eight in number, were properly isolated. About thirty-eight passengers were taken from the Niagara on the day of arrival, and sent to the hospital. It was he who allowed her to berth, as he did not see what else he could do in view of the fact that he was certain his diagnosis of simple influenza was'correct.

■■ln - reply-to ' a question from the chairman, witness said that whenever a man's temperature was 99 he was isolated at once. "There was a groat deal of- talk about the Niagara," witness continued, "and the number of deaths that had been caused which should be contradicted. There were only three deaths traceable to Niagara pationts. One of the nurses who wont to the hospital from the vessel had been previously nursing at Devonport, and was taken ill twelve hours after her arrival on board. She got worse | and worse, and was sent to hospital, but it was quite possible that she contracted the disease -at Devonport,. In so far as simple oases of influenza were concerned, the Niagara must have contributed her quota, but this did not apply to serious cases. The disease seemed to be dormant for a time, and then sprung into sudden virulence." It appeared to'' him that there was something in New Zealand which superadded to simple ' influenza, brought about a virulent form. In "glory hole," the firemen's qHarters, it was a wonder that those who were ill wer« alive at all. As far as he could see the width of the room in which they slept was governed by the number of bunks in it. There was a little space in the centre for a table and the room was used both as a sleeping and eating room. If the disease had been a dreadfully contagious one, he would not have expected to find any of those who occupied these quarters alive. _ The stewards' quarters were not quite so bad, but he mentioned the-fact that though they wer& waiting on passengers whilr> suffering from the disease, practically the whole of the passengers escaped. Dr. Valintine asked if it had not been noticeable on the Makura as well as the Niagara that the majority of cases were members of the crew and, if so, did not the condition of the quarters contribute to this ? Mr D. McLaren said tthis was hardly a fair question in view of the fact that/ the Union Company had no representatives present to refute the question. Witness pointed out that he had already alluded to. the -condition of the quarters of members of the crew. They had to breathe and re-breathe one another's respiration. Mr William Wilson, superintendent of the Auckland Fire Brigade, said that practically the, whole of the brigado staff contracted' influenza. On October 13th a steward from tho Niagara visited the brigade station, and the first caso of illness occurred on October 18. ' Dr. Hughes," District Health Officer, said he had investigated the case of a member 'of the Niagara's crew, who visited the fire brigade station. Ho interviewed tho man iu, question at Auckland. " On the later, voyage the man had never contracted influenza. In reply to Mr McLaren, Dr. Hughes said he thought during that time there was little chance of a man who was well in . health and had . never suffered from the disease becoming a "carrier." Thomas Anderson, secretary to tho Auckland branch of the Seamen's Union, said that in the early part of last September the executive of the union was in conference. . The outbreak of sickness on board several oversea steamers was discussed, and a letter was sent, to the Minister for Public Health. suggesting that all ships which visited ports whore the disease was known to exist or to hava existed should be quarantined, and that a system of inoculation should be put into operation. A* the result of the representations to the Minister, it was expected that when tho Niagara, or any otfoor steame.. cama lt> New Zealand, responsible precautions would ue adopted. The Superintendent or Marine, Auckland, had been asked by witness to use ■ his eudea.vour» to have the men's quarters on board vessels fumigated after tho outbreak ot sickness. Or do Clive Lowe fiaid ho was convinced from a wide experience that the pneumonia type of influenza was not present here till aftor tho arrival of tho Niagara. Alter the arrival ot tho NiSftara he found, as a result ot examination, a particularly virulont type of bacilli not previously existing. This virulent type, he held, was introduced from outside tho Dominion. Colonel Andrew said influenza existed at the Narrow Neck camp before tho Niagara arrived. They wefo simple cases of influenza.. After tho Niagara arrived,-about. 50 per cent, of tho cases there--were- pneumonia. This virulent type, he believed, was introduced from outsido the Dominion.