The Garden Island. [volume] (Lihue, Kauai, H.T.) 1902-current, 1919-04-15
L|HUE AND THE
FLU EPIDEMIC

The lingering remains of the flu are
still with us. but before we forget all
about it, it is fitting that we should
express our grateful appreciation to
a Kindly Providence ana His minister
ing human agents for The fortunate
way in which we came through it in
Lihue.
We had something over 900 cases
out of population of between 5000
and COCO, which is a pretty high per-
centage of cases; but we had only
deaths, which is a wonderfully low
mortality, about one half of one per
cent
The idea is pretty well prevalent
that we had a very light form of the
disease, but this seems to be a mis-
take, as there were 20 or rs pneumonia
cases. which in the ordinary course
of things would have meant 80 or 80
deaths instead of five
We have been highly favored in
many ways and owe large measure
of gratitude and recognition in may
directions. We had an uncommonly
good hospital equipment which, per-
haps we did not appreciate at its full
value. 1t was specially fortunate, with
a measure of provision, that the new
Parke childrens ward was finished in
time for the epidemic, they could hard
y have done without it. The Armory
was an invaluable asset, also the
rOomy, comfortable quarters for the
conyalescent home. If we had been
lnder the necessity of creating emer-
gency institutions like these the de.
lay would have been disastrous.
We were fortunate again in being
able to call in the resources and the
organization of the plantation. Thanks
to these resources and the efficient
use OF them, the Armory was fitted up
as a hospital, screened and equipped
with beds, so that the patients could
move in, in a single day.
We were fortunate farther in hav.
ing most efficient Red Cross organi-
zatiOn in active service, ready to sup
ply, or manufacture everything need
ed in the way of bedding, bed shirts.
masks, etc. Milk and eggs. the indis-
pensable ingredients of suitable
diet, We're available in sufficient guam
| titles, largely due to the generosity
of private parties. In many places
these things have been lacking.
! We were very much favored, again,
| in having trained nurses available,
right on the ground, for immediate
| service and were thus spared the dis
| astrous delay of getting them from
! town, where they were hard to get.
! The generous self-sacrifice of the re-
sident nurses who responded to the
| emergency call, in some cases leaving
| their homes and who paid the price
in almost every case by succumbing
to the disease, this deserves the
highest praise And not only the pro-
fessionals, but the rest, semiprofes-
sionals and others, in many cases peo-
pie of means and culture and the high
est standing, who left their homes
and volunteered for service, and did
strenuous and exhausting work, even
of menial kind until they too in most
cases collapsed. And the doctor
whose wise provision. foresaw what
was coming, and made timely provi-
sion in advance, and who besides was
untiring, eXecutively as we'll as pro-
fCssionally,-these are some of the
agencies to whom we owe the largest
gratitude and appreciation.
The whole experience has been a
most reassuring demonstration of the
essential unity, efficiency and altruism
of the community; a fresh evidence
Of how we can pull together, and, rise
to an emergency when it comes upon
Us. This is partly discovery and
partly development perhaps, but eth
er way it is happy outcome. and for
which we may well be grateful.
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