EPIDEMIC PASSING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1504, 7 December 1918, Page 7

EPIDEMIC PASSING.

POSITION SATISFACTORY. Although some serious cases of influenza are still being admitted to hospitals in Christchurch, Waimate, and West Coast centres, the general position in regard to the influenza epidemic is satisfactory. The epidemic seems to be passing, slowly, perhaps, but surely. The stamping-out of it, however, is still dependent on a continuation of personal precautions. In Christchurch the position has improved to the extent that the Royal Hotel Auxiliary Hospital has now been closed. the few patients who remained in it yesterday morning having been transferred to the General Hospital and the Trotting Grounds Convalescent Hospital. Ten influenza patients were admitted to the Christchurch Hospital in the 24 hours to midnight last night, and one death occurred, leaving 115 patients. There were 81 patients at the Trotting Grounds at the end of the period mentioned. Fp to 1 p.m. to-day reports from several of the hospitals in the North Can terbury Hospital Board's district had not reached the District Health Officer. The reports which were received showed that there were 19 patients in the Akaroa Hospital, 14 at Lyttelton, and 12 at Amherley. There were no admissions to, or deaths in, these three hospitals yesterday. In the South Canterbury Hospital Board's district the only admissions or deaths occurred at Wainiate, which had three admissions and one death, with 40 patients remaining. The numbers of patients remaining in hospitals in that district were:—Timarn 2.1, Fairlie 4, Temuka Maori 3, Temuka European 5, Morven Ft, and Pleasant Point .'). One patient was admitted to the Ashburton County Hospital, which had 13 patients. Fight patients were, left in the Aslibiirton Technical College Hospital, and 31 (three of them serious) in the Methven Hospital. There were no admissions yesterday to these two hospitals, and no deaths in any of the three hospitals in Ashburton Count}-. The only West Coast reports which reached Dr Chesson this morning were froiii Inangahua County. To the three hospitals there four patients were admitted yesterday, but there were no deaths; the total number of patients in the three hospitals was 44. Two cases of measles in Amberley, and one case in Christchurch, were reported to the District Health Officer this moni- ' '"g.

THE EPIDEMIC'S TOLL. CITY'S EUEIAI STATISTICS. Calculating on the basis of t.lie burial statistics in Christchureh, it is estimated that about 460 people have died from the influenza epidemic in Christchurch and its environs since November 1. The ascertained number of interments in and near the city in that time is 500. For the corresponding period of last year the number was 94. The available information is not sufficient to permit of the actual number of deaths, in which influenza had not some share, being ascertained, but what is available indicates that the difference between tho number of deaths in the period of this year already mentioned and the corresponding part of last year is a close approximation to the number j of deaths occasioned by the epidemic. The following is a table showing the interments in the Christchurcli municipal cemeteries from (ami including) November 1: —

'lncludes one in Bromley. For the corresponding period of year the figures wore; —Linwood 58, Sydneham 22, total 80. Consequently the increase for the two municipal cemeteries is 408. The available statistics for cemeteries not under municipal control are:—

MEASURES OF RELIEF. PROVISION FOR ORPHANS. Press Association. WELLINGTON, December 7. In tho House of Representatives this morning the Minister of Public Health (Hon G. W. Russell) said that whether orphans who had lost their parents through the influenza epidemic should bo treated differently to orphans from other causes was a matter requiring careful consideration, lie would consult with the Minister of Education, under whose charge such children came. Sir James Allen, replying to Mr W. T. Jennings (Taumaruntii) said that where it could be shown that soldiers had died from influenza, a pension would be paid.

Limvood. Sydenham. Total. November 12 — 2 2 3 1 4 3 1 — l .,4 7 1 8 ."> 1 2 3 ..05 1 6 7 3 1 4 8 1 — 1 .,0 8 1 9 ,, 10 1 — 1 ii 1 y 1 „ 12 in -- 111 13 5 2 7 14 11 2 13 l. r > 7 7 14 Hi 11 9 20 17 ii :t it 18 10 HI 20 19 21 10 31 20 28 7 35 21 18 15 33 22 37 11 4S '.. 23 21 23 14 24 10 7 17 25 21 2 23 20 13 12 25 27 1(1 3 13 28 8 Ii 14 20 4 X 4 30 7 2 0 December II 2 3 2 !)• 4 1.1 „ 3 o n o 4 3 2 „ 5 0 5 5 .,0 1 2 3 ..7 4 2 0 320 102 488

Nov. Nov. 1917. 1918. [ncrciisc Aldington .. .. 0 in 1" Avonside .... 2 12 1(1 Feudal ton .... 1 5 ! Harewood Road .. il I I Pnpanui .. .. :i is 1."> niccnrton .... 2 17 is M 72 58