IN WANGANUI

Wanganui Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15678, 2 December 1918, Page 5

IN WANGANUI

DURING THE WEEK-END. A NUMBER OF NEW CASES REPORTED, During the week-end a few more fresh, cases than usual for the past few days were reported and dealt with, and there were 32 admissions to the various hospitals. It should be explained, however, that not all of these are new cases, many being cases under observation which had developed seriously. There were during the weekend 22 discharges from hospital and 26 transfers, of which 17 were sent to convalescent hospital. From the Wanganui North district 18 new cases were reported, 13 on Satday and five yesterday, but none were serious. The ladies of the commissariat department, Mrs Grace and Mrs Hanton, have still a list of 44 names to supply every day. with delicacies and convalescents’ food. Delicacies haye been sent in by Mesdames Moore, Bryant, Young, Rolandson, Edmondson, and Mclntosh, and Miss Purnell. The committee are grateful to Messrs Oalver and Bogle for their cars and service. Two new cases were reported from Wanganui East, and three were sent to hospital. There are 18 patients being visited at their homes. HOSPITAL STATISTICS. The following are the statistics from the various influenza hospitals for Sunday : Technical College.—Under treatment 71, admitted 15, discharged 9, deaths 2, transfer® 14, staff cases 1. Alexander Hospital.—Under treatment 25, admitted 2, dischrged 5. Stewart Home —Under treatment 36, admitted 2. Druids’ Hall Hospital—Under treatment 26, admitted 2, discharged 5. Native Hospital.—Under treatment 40, admitted 1, discharged 1, deaths I 'Gonville Town Hall—Under treatment 14, admitted 1, discharged 2. transfer 1. CONVALESCENT HOSPITAL. The convalescent hospital has now 43 inmates, and to date nine have been discharged. There will be a large addition to-day from the Native Hospital, These will be accommodated in a separate budding, quite apart from the present home. Patients who are ready to be discharged from the lioeprtals make n quick recovery at the home. The food is ample and nourishing, and in this connection the public, the Sisters of Villa Maria, and the Red Cross Society (per Rev. D. Campbell) receive the sincere thanks of the home. Mrs Suisted (British Red Cross Society) has contributed socks and pyjamas, and these have been found very useful. Any clean, old linen is very acceptable, as it can be converted into handkerchiefs, etc. The management would be glad of donations of any old clothing, as some of the patients have had much of theirs destroyed or lost. Meat (uncooked), vegetables, fruit, jellies, jams, cakes, soft drinks (excepting invalid drinks), will all be welcomed. Games like dominoes and draughts would help to keep the patients occupied on wet days, and in the evening. The medical attendants have fonnd it advisable to stop the visiting of patients by their friends. Telephone inquiries (No. 250) will be gladly answered. EPIDEMIC CASUALTIES. A rough calculation of the number of cases reported to the various depots since the organisation of the Boron" )i and suburbs is approximately 1700. This, however, is not anywhere near the actual number of cases, for many have suffered from the “flu” who have not had their cases reported, and were it possible to obtain a complete census of the number of persons who have been sufferers the number would be double the number reported and possibly more. Owing to instructions received from the Registrar-General, the number of deaths registered locally during last monlli (November) are not available to the Press. Registrars in other centres have doubtless received similar instructions. No don' t the instructions were issued from Wellington with the best of intentions, but the wisdom of such a step is very much open to question. Rumours, some of them very much exaggerated. ae to the actual number of deaths in Wanganui through the epidemic have been circulating widely through the town, and the official statement made through the ordinary channel of the monthly return in the vital statistics would have refuted those rumours. The Department’s action, however, might be interpreted to mean that there is some truth in the rumours. Information has been obtained, however, that the number of burial warrants issued during November totalled 112. The normal death-rate of the town might be put down as 20. By comparing these figures, an approximation of the number of deaths can. easily be gained. Salvation Army officers throughout the Dominion have been assisting eplendily to cope with the epidemic. At Raetihi for instance. Captain Griffin turned the Army Hall into a temporary hospital ana himself became doctor, nurse and assistant. At the Technical College Hospital there are about 20 children patients, most of whom have reached the convalescent stage when picture books and toys are needed. Any townspople who can supply books or toys will perform a distinct service by doing so, sending them to this hospital. We have been asked to state that donations of clean rags are urgently required at the Technical College Hospital. ENTERIC. A REASSURING REPORT, It being freely rumoured in town that there were serious outbreaks of enteric at Auckland and Palmerston North, the Mayor wired the Minister of Public Health ou the matter, and received the following reply; “In reply to your telegram: For the week ending Monday, November 18, the last date for which returns were in baud, ihere were three cases of enteric fever notified in the Dominion—one in Auckland Hospital District and two in the Bay of Plenty Hospital District.— G. W. Russell, Minister of Public Health.”