INFLUENZA.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 16801, 3 April 1919, Page 7

INFLUENZA.

PRECAUTIONS MN. -, SYDNEY. ■• Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn. 'Received 855 p.m., April 2nd. ~ SYDNEY, April 2/ The' Government has adopted all the Medical Council's recommendations. Theatres and indoor close to-night. The prospects of ho!ding the Randwick Autumn Meeting depend on the course of the epidemic in the next forty-eight hours. DRASTIC MEASURES IN N.S. WALES. The* Consultative Medical Council has recommended tho Government to close all theatres and prohibit race meetings, both in city arid country. The Cabinet is adopting the recommendations. (SICKNESS ON STEAMER. (Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, April 2. On the Niagara's voyage from Sydney there were several cases of sickness, including one or two serious cases. This afternoon she proceeded to quarantine, where the invalids will be landed. She has a large number of passengers for Auckland, and heavy booking for the outward voyage.

EPIDEMIC COMMISSION. EVIDENCE IN DUNEDIN. DUNEDIN, April 2. ■ Before the Epidemic Commission, Dr Bowie, who was acting superintendent at the Dunedin Hospital throughout the epidemic period, said that from November 11, 701 patients Were admitted, 172 succumbing of influenza. Of these, 60 deaths occurred of ages from 21 to 30, and 61 from 31 to 40. Of 116 nurses in the hospital, 82 contracted influenza and four died. The pan-, demic came here with explosive suddenness. The first case was admitted on November 8. On November 11 the hospital was overcrowded. The explosive nature of the outbreak convinced him that the pandemic was brought 'in from elsewhere. He thought that there was no doubt that the disease came to Dunedin after the Christchurch races. Masks were exceedingly good if used intelligently, but dangerous if used without intelligence. There was no reason for a man in the open, air to use a mask, as long as he was not in contact with numbers of people. Masks with strong antiseptics _ were a mistake. He did not believe in masks as a general phophylactic to be used in the streets. The first matter in preventing disease was to keep it out of the country. This was a public health matter. Ships should be quarantined and patients carefully examined, and should sporadic cases appear they should be isolated. He thought the Public Health Office (here should have almost unlimited power in case of an epidemic. The Rev. Vincent King, continuing from yesterday, emphasised the importance of fixing prices during the epidemic, especially of citrUß fruits. He suggested that a right measure was to commandeer at fair prices. Prices and routes of funerals should also be controlled. A large number of funerals using the main streets had a depressing effect. Ho pointed out that in the case of arphans.losingfather and mother in the epidemic, nothing could be granted for their support unless formally committed to an industrial school. This was scandalous, their names being for ever on the books and a stigma attaching throughout their lives. He suggested Jin such cases that the guardianship should bo transferred. A vast mass of people were very ignorant in the matter of attending to sick. The Commission visited the Quarantine Island this afternoon.