INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 16301, 29 November 1918, Page 3

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

NEW PLYMOUTH FIGURES. The position is still good in New Plymouth. Only 25 new cases were reported on Thursday, all except on© of a mild type. None required domestic help or nursing assistance. Recoveries numbered 61. The total now stands at 2171 cases, whilst to date 1089 have completely recovered. It is felt that all the recoveries are not being recorded. Many slightly suspicions oases have been reported on the cards that no doubt turned out to be only bad colds, and it is more than probable that these patients would not think of reporting themselves as “recovered” although they were recorded as influenza cases. It is obvious if these particular oases were noted as recovered, the total number of recoveries on the books would bo very much larger. Only 19 new cases had been reported to-day up to 2.30 p.m. HOSPITAL REPORT. There were 19 admissions to the hospital on Thursday—s from New Plymouth, 4 Umti, 1 Rahotn, 1 Tataraimaka, 1 Pungarehu, 4 Inglewood, 1 Lepperton, 1 Waitara, and 1 Upper Mangorei. Six patients were discharged and sent to convalescent homes, and 155 remained. There were three deaths, namely, John M'Leod (31), Okato; A. H. Goodin (37), Pungarehu; and H. Hindi (30), Pungarehu. At the East End Pavilion there were 20 inmates, and at Kawaroa 19. At the Native hostelry there were no admissions on Thursday and no deaths. Four patients were discharged and sent to the Bell Block convalescent home, leaving 9 remaining at the hostel. COUNTRY ORGANISATION. Three medical assistants were sent out to North Taranaki on Thursday with fall supplies of medicine, etc., and will be able to deal with the epidemic there should it become worse. One will be stationed at Mokau, one at Awakino, and one at Tongaponitu. The medical assistant at Tongaporutu has already called a meeting and - given instructions and advice op to how to treat cases. Major Keenan lias fitted up the racecourse buildings at Pihama as a hospital for Maori cases. These buildings are extensive, with a hot and cold water service and lavatory conveniences, and could if necessity arises serve excellently as a hospital for the whole county. A returned soldier is in charge with four trained V.A.D.’s.

BLOCK CAPTAINS’ REPORTS. ON COUNTRY DISTRICTS. Following are the reports from block captains:— Major Keenan is opening a Maori convalescent hospital at Parihaka, and expects to require 60 beds, mattresses, pillows and blankets.—Suggest that 25 be got ready to meet his order when it comes. Telephones.—Major Keenan wants a telephone fixed at Rahotu and Oaonui hospitals. This is urgent and if New Plymouth postmaster is unable to spare a. man for the work ask him to fry Hawera staff. OKATO HOSPITAL. Miss Hasell wants a V.A.D., owing to some of her staff being down with “flu.” Believe Miss Cassie, of Newell Road, has been in New Plymouth for the V.A.D. training, and recommend that she be appointed. PUNIHO. With regard to transferring convalescents to Bell Block, Mr. AY. Grey and the Maoris do not agree to this procedure and prefer to establish their own convalescent home. Paiu Rua Kere’s house close by could be utilised. One of the Miss Hills 'could be 'placed in charge. If the committee so wishes Mr. Bain and 1 could' start the home on Saturday. WAREA DISTRICT.

There are two new cases, one very slight. There are two old cases, one having been removed to Warea hospital. One patient is now convalescent. Conditions generally are very good and the residents are taking all care, and the organisation is working satisfactorily. UPPER MANGOREI.

Dr. Fookes reports that Mr. Jackson and Mr. Herbert (creamery manager) will start a hospital in Mr. Garrick’s house, which is empty. They will arrange all beds, etc. Mrs. Goodrich (some nursing experience) will take charge. Upper Mangorei was inspected STiursday and Lower Mangorei null be inspected' to-day (Friday). Two members of the Health Committee were sent out to-day to arrange a temporary hospital. TITO’S HOSPITAL. Supplies of boys’ and men’s clothing are required and will be glad to receive parcels of same.

ALONG THE. COAST.

The medical assistant who visited Warea reported that there were now four cases in the Warea Hospital, one being convalescent. Mr. Jack Knigbt, of Puniho. had been round the districtmilking vhere necessary, and doing useful work at Warea and Pungarehu hospitals. Conditions generally were very good, and the residents wore taking all care. The organisation was working satisfactorily. Miss Hill and Miss Surman are being sent from New Plymouth this morning for jluty at Pungarehu Hospital, relieving Mrs. Joseph and Mrs. Knight, who will report to Warea Hospital for duty. The medical assistant in charge reports two or three new esses yesterday. One patient was sent from Pungarehu temporary hospital to New Plymouth Hospital. As far as can be gathered the patients at Okalo and Warea hospitals are all doing well. Major Keenan, in charge of tho Opunako district, visited New Plymouth on Thursday afternoon and had a conference with Dr. Walker, afterwards returning to Opunake. Major Keenan is opening a Maori convalescent hospital at Panbaka, and expects to require, SO beds. Twentyfive will he got ready to meet his order when ?t comes. He also asks that telephones be fixed at Raliotu and Oaonui hospitals. This is urgently required. The ambulance left at 1C p.m. for Opunake to bring a young lad in to the New Plymouth Hospital. A V.A.D. was required for the Okato hospital, and Miss Cassie. of Newall Road, was appointed, and.. Os-.

tome, from Now Plymouth, took night duty last night. A report from Puniho stated that Mr. W. Grey and tho Maoris were not agreeable to transfer their convalescents to 'Bell Block, preferring to establish, their own convalescent home in the district. A house was available, and they also had a young lady who could be placed in charge. At the Puniho Native Hospital the Natives are rendering great assistance. The younger women are doing great work picketing.

CAPE EGMONT DAIRY FACTORY

Acting on the report telegraphed from Wellington that tho Capo Egmont Dairy Factory was closed and losing £250 a day, w© made inquiries into the matter, with a view of finding assistance. We were told by Mr. Day, the sanitary inspector, that oven if they required assistance it would bo criminal to send well men to work and live there under the present existing conditions. He gave ns the report ho had made after visiting the factory and ir en’s quarters. The latter he condemned. An open, foul-smelling drain, and well and convalescent men living together in the same bach. With his report, and authorised by tho Health Committee, we went out to Pungarehu and found conditions as stated by Mr. Day. We went to Mr. Mick Fleming’s house, and as chairman of directors asked him to meet ns at the factory, and were glad that he met us in the spirit we hoped he would. The condemned drain has now been carried 25 feet away from the bach, and the well men have been isolated from the convalescents and found good quarterns in a good roomy hut near the factory. Arrangements were also made for all quarters to be sprayed with disinfectants.

The visitors called at the Okato Factory, and found that the help they .shpplied was entirely satisfactory, the manager saying that the two boys sent were worth their weight in gold. The milkers supplied had also made good.

OAKURA. Mi'. G. A. Adlam, chairman of the local committee, reports that so far there are not many cases in his district. None of those, reported arc serious, and all are getting on well. Two fresh cases were recorded on Thursday. One being the postmistress, Mrs. Smart. The post-office has therefore been closed for a few days, but will be open for receiving ( and delivering -mails from 9 to 10 a.m., and from 4 to 5 p.m. The licensee of the Oafcura Hotel, Mr. Meredith, has very generously offered the use of the left wing of the hotel with nine beds as a temporary hospital. The committee hr- accepted his kind offer and will avail themselves of it if necessary. This will be a big improvement on the hall which had been got read. Mm. R. J. West has also kindly offered the use of two beds in her house if required.

WORK AT RAHOTiU, (Contributed.)

Rahotu looks upon New Plymouth as its base, and acting upon, this sentiment followed the town’s example and organised itself to meet the epidemic ore the trouble had fairly come upon it. A look through the temporary hospital in the large public hall is proof positive of the wisdom and enterprise of the inhabitants. First to organise on the coast the hospital was ready for patients at the outset, and: the results well repay the trouble involved. To-day there are 21 cases in the hospital and one or two more expected. All are doing well. Some are convalescent, and one or two have already been discharged, while a few serious cases have been sent into New Plymouth. This excellent record is chiefly due to the tireless work and energy of Mrs. J. B. Groom (the matron in charge) and her staff of voluntary nurses, backed up by the willing help of every man at liberty to give part of his time for the fight. Shirk's are few and far between, jt is pleasing to say. The whole district is mapped 1 out and looked after by good workers. The factory manager wenc down early, hut is now on duty again. During his absence the first assistant and hands kept the game going, assisted by the suppliers when necessary. Last week when Pungarehu collapsed Rahotu came to the rescue, taking in milk to the limit of its resources and continues to do so, the needful extra, help being provided by suppliers and their sons. Bo it noted these arc Rahotu suppliers and their sons. The Rahui Road Factory staff are now all down, and news has come in to-day of the collapse of some of the voluntary staff. It is feared the factory will have to close. Settlers are helping with the milking, etc., where the scourge has laid anyone low. and almost without exception the whole community is pulling together in the bonds of true neighbourly help. Rail otu need not be ashamed of its record. The scheme is now under the control of Major Keenan, but was in the first instance got under weigh by the settlers themselves, assisted by the advice and help of Dr. Wade. Major Keenan wishes to send some of the bad cases from Oaonui to Bali otu.

The following is the staff of the Rahotu hospital: Matron, Mrs. J. B. Groom (trained nurse); assistants, Mesdames Dawson, Gibson, Harrison and Maxwell; Misses Hughson, Hopkins, Chapman, Williamson and Tylee.

WHANGAMOMONA

November 28.—The epidemic hospital hero apparently reached its maximum number of cases, when it had'"32 patients, a few days ago. Since then the number has been, reduced by discharges as recoveries. Dr. Paget again paid a visit here and owing to the long distance from Stratford ordered the removal of the serious cases, viz., Messrs. Rothery, Riddell and Jennings, to Stratford, which was done by special train. we have now three trained nurses from Stratford, which has greatly relieved the work of the local honorary helpers, most of whom were overworked and were attacked by the influenza. The need of a permanent hospital, with a resident doctor, is apparent, and we trust the Government will take this into consideration in the future. WAITARA DISTRICT. The inspector of organisation reported that he visited Waitara and attended a meeting of citizens held to set up a committee to confirm those already or replace those who now could not act. They took up the question of further co-ordination between the Waitara and New Plymouth ambulance services, pointing out the difficulty and waste of time in our men trying to locate cases on unknown roads in the dark. It was suggested that they evacuate all urgent cases in daylight to Waitara. so that the New Plymouth ambulance could fill up each trip at Waitara, and, if necessary, could travel safely 7 on this road at night. This they promis-

ed to do, and as their ambulance will carry three, they could clear up many cases by short runs over connected rounds and discharge at Waitara. Hospital, where reserve accommodation could be provided temporarily-. The committee are now fairly well co-ordinating, and readily agreed to tfye suggestion to increase the hospital accommodation by establishing a new convalescent home at one of the schools as authorised by the New Plymouth medical superin •.■eiident. Tho-nece.-.-sary steps for this were already under Way. and provided blankets can be sent early to-day they should he ill working order by mid-day. This will give some additional 18 beds for sick eases. From what we can see there will be full, need for these extra beds. The additional V.A.D.’s and the new trained nurse now in charge should relieve the situation considerably. If present arrangements are carried into effect- promptly the position at Waitara should bo sufficiently sound to meet any further development amongst the Maoris. Seventeen new eases of >n"t:en;ca were found at Kairau Pa, Four of these were sent to Waitara hospital yesterday, and tho other 13 cases will he brought to Waitara hospital this morning. Four serious' cases from Waitara will be brought to. Now Plymouth hostelry. Six new cases from Lepperton’were brought to Tito’s hospital last night.

LEPPERTON. The medical assistant who visited Lepperton on Thursday reported that Mr. Brown (tho schoolmaster), who has done excellent work in organising, 'fi slightly indisposed. He- made arrangements to transfei six inmates of a Native home to Tito’s. >.

TITO’S AND BELL BLOCK

Tho doctor who visited Bell Block on Thursday reported that four Maoris had been transferred from Urcnui to Tito’s hospital, and that four others had been brought in from Lepperton. There was no bedding or blnnkcis at Tito’s for their accommodation, so it was arranged for Bell Block, which can take 12 more natienis, to accommodate the four Lepperton patients that night. The Urenui cases could stay at Tito’s. He proposed to send any bad cases from Kairau Pa into the Native hostelry at New Plymouth. The ordinary cases will he sent to Tito’s. and as they progress towards convalescence he would arrange to have them transferred to the Bell Block house.

KENT ROAD AND MANGOREI. One of the Upper Mangorei Committee reported that everything was going on well, the worst case being at the top of the road. Arrangements had been made for someone to stay with the patient. The committee would like a doctor to call at the Upper Mangorei creamery whenever he was passing. Mr. Rowlands reported that, with one exception, the four cases in the Kent Road district wore doing well. He had arranged with Messrs. Olsen, Chatterton Houlahan, and Ansford to look after upper Kent and' 1 Kotito Roads, and forward their reports to him. PRECAUTIONS STILL NEEDED. TO PREVENT RECRUDESCENCE. GOVERNMENT TO PAY COSTS. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Nov. 29. The Hon. G. W. Russell says medical men state that we must he prepared for a second wave of the epidemic, consequently the precautions cannot bo relaxed and the churches at night, marble bars and stock sales cannot he reopened. There are most urgent calls for re-opening and he regrets that he cannot accede to them. The Minister states that, though the Government will pay the cost of fighting the disease, they positively refuse to bo responsible for loss of employment or business. No Parliament has ever allowed 1 such claims. It is stated there is a tendency of the disease to spread among children, hut it is not yet acute. Health Department ‘is grappling with it. There are now nearly 100 beds vacant at the hospitals and over 60 at the convalescent stations. One hospital has been closed and it is hoped to close others next week. The camps still have 370 cases, 36 of which arc serious. Six soldiers’ deaths are reported.

THE POSITION DIPROVING. WELLINGTON, Nov. 28. This evening reports from the Wellington district committees all record a great improvement and cheering decrease in the number of reported cases. Lower Hutt and Petone also report that the epidemic is rapidly abating, though a few new cases are being reported, hut none of a serious character. Luring the night the conditions in connection with the epidemic improved all round. There were no calls for the ambulance. The Prime Minister to-day sent a cable to the Premier of New South AVales regarding the vessels for New Zealand held up at Sydney, presumably on account of the epidemic hero, and assuring him there is no good reason to justify this as the epidemic is rapidly decreasing. The vessels include the Arawa. GREYMOUTH, Nov. 28. There were no fresh cases and no deaths. There. are a few dangerous cases in the hospital. The want of oranges and lemons’ is badly felt. BLENHEIM,, Nov. 28. The influenza position to-day is no worse. General indications are that the admirable organisation is keeping the epidemic within bounds. Three more deaths bring the Marlborough death-roll to IC, 13 for Blenheim and three for Pioton. Thirteen, hospital nurses are infected. There are 53 patients at the auxiliary hospital. AUCKLAND; Nov. 28/

A good indication of the abatement of the influenza is the fact that the chemists are reverting to their usual hours next Monday. The restrictions on stock sales have been removed. Two additional suburban trains will run tomorrow.

Regarding the Talune complaint the health authorities ..trite that they were informed when tho vessel entered port that the patient had recovered from inuenza, and that she was proceeding to Auckland to enter a hospital for treatment of a totally different ailment. WANGANUI, Nov. 28. Good reports regarding the epidemic continue, and there is every reason to believe that the disease is well under in town. The health officer returned from tho Kaurangaroa Pa this afternoon, and reported that 11 Maoris had died there during the past week. Two serious cases hid in the bush when the health party visit was learned. A Maori woman gave birth to twins in tho temporary hospital this morning. Her conditiai is serious.