THE EPIDEMIC.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXIX, Issue 3996, 20 November 1918, Page 2

THE EPIDEMIC.

COPING WITH THE DISEASE. VOLUNTEER WORKERS DOING SPLENDID WORK. HELPERS STILL NEEDED. MAORI HOSPITAL ESTABLISHED CASES STILL COMING IN. ■It is quite evident that the epidemic is still raging in this district, and although generally of a mild nature there are some very severe cases. THE ORGANISATION. The executive has done splendid work and is to be praised for the manner in which it has <rganis ed tlr various matters. MAORI HOSPITAL. The second hospital, and the one to which all Maori cases are taken, has been equipped in Princes Street. Twelve cases were brought in f rom the adjoining pas on Sunday and Monday, and everything possible is bein# done to eliminate the sufferings and stay the spread amongst the natives of the epidemic. A number of cases are also being attended to in the pas The committee- which is dealing with the natives has .found some distressing conditions at some of the settlements. Some young native women arc nursing the Maoris under instructions from Mrs Geo. Dean, acting matron of the Central Theatre Hospital. The members of the committee who have the natives in hand, Messrs J. Bremen, H. R. Bush, and W. Neil, have had a pretty arduous task and have had a good deal to contend with from them. Matters generally, however,' are running a little smoother. HELPERS' STILL NEEDED. In order to carry on the good work effectively an urgent appeal for more volunteers, both for nursing the sick ! and carrying on the work generally, is made. Some of the volunteers havo j been working strenuously, and w have been asked to make an urgent appeal for more workers. All th n available members of the Women's National Reserve are helping. CASES ON THE INCREASE. A number of fresh cases were reported on Monday, and also again yesterday. The number of cases at the Central Theatre on 'Tuesday was twenty, while- application was mado for several others, but the lack of bedding, especialy blankets, sheets and pillow slips, prevented their being admitted. BLANKETS AND BEDDING. The 'committee - urgently require blankets, sheets, and pillow slips in order to provide further beds. Blankets, not necessarily new, are particularly desired. WORK OF THE COMMITTEE. On Sunday night it wag reported that Mr Murphy was lying under h;s house in a very bad way. He had. come cut of the house and was unable to get back, so crawied underneath the building. One of the executive, on hearing of the matter, went to his assistance and had the sufferer removed to the temporary hospital. DANGER NOT OVER. The danger is far from being over, in fact the number of new cases reported shows that it is on the increase and the greatest vigilence oi the public is urged to help the authorities in checking the epidemic. Citizens must take every pos&ible precaution, otherwise ws may yet be faced with a very staggering situation. STANDARD "FLU." MIXTURE. The Health Department has forwarded a supply of influenza mixtui-i which is being sold at the Borough offices at 6oz for Is. Those requiring any of this medicine should bring their own bottles. DISINFECTANT. The Borough Council has a limited supply of disinfectant on hand and is retailing it at cos,t price. INFECTION. A further note of warning is issued to those who have suffered from the epidemic not to come out until they are well, otherwise they not only stand a chance of- a relapse, bur spread the disease. OFFERS OF ASSISTANCE. The committee would like all those who have offered to loan articles to have them in readiness so that they may be collected without any delay. RAILWAY STAFF. The whole of the railway staff is down, including the stationmaster, Mr Rowe. The work is being carried out as far as possible by two relieving men. ONE CHEERING THING. The one cheering thing about the present epidemic is the discriminating manner'in which the malady seeks its victims. Whilst children are by no means free from attack, the malady only, or at least very generally attacks them in the form of a severe cold on the chest, often accompanied with bleeding at the nose, but seldom do the more serious pneumonic symptoms, prevail when reasonable care is taken, and deaths amon? young 1 people are rare. Bleeding' at the nose is not considered to be a very 'serious symptom, and usually j yields to a treatment of cold .compresses to the forehead and back of the neck. It is usually accompanied, too, by a sensation of relief to the sufferer. Medical men state that death moro frequently ensues in sufferers over--45 years of age, particularly those with an organic or constitutional weakness. I

"FORMALIN DOES MORE HAEM THAN GOOD." Dr. Makgill made to a Wellington Dominion reporter on Monday a statement of great importance to thousands of citizens. It amounts to a condemnation of the use of formal I n by individuals, and would affect any of the inhalation chambers which use it. He says: "The use of irritating antiseptics, such as formalin, is to be deprecated owing to the fact that they cause irritation and rawness oT the mucous membrane, and therefore induce bacterial trouble. Formalin especially has been used, and is causing a great deal of unnecessary suffering. For two or three years now in military camps experiments have been carried out, and the only satisfactory thing found is a 2 per cent, solution of sulphate of zinc used in a steam spraying apparatus. At the same time, other things are, not to be despised, such as washing the throat with a weak solution of table salt, or a weak boracic solution, or other remedies of a like nature. Such applications should soot.he rather than irritate. Otherwise they do more harm than gocd."