1919 Influenza Epidemic

Influenza was a regular winter outbreak both in the internment camps and elsewhere on the Island - the crowded conditions of the huts at Douglas and Knockaloe greatly eased its spread. One aspect of the influenza virus, in common with other viruses, is its ability to mutate and thus present a new strain to which its targets, not having encountered it before, had little or no immunity. A new strain, generally called the Spanish Flu, struck as a pandemic in the winter of 1918/9 - due to the wartime press-censorship, reporting by all the opposing nations was restricted as unlike other strains this had a significant impact on otherwise healthy young soldiers - Spain being neutral, its press reported the serious outbreak in its population and it became known, very unfairly, as the Spanish Flu.

According to the Insular press the Island outbreak was somewhat delayed compared with that in England - Ramsey Courier, 17th January 1919 :-

THE INFLUENZA PLAGUE. SERIOUS OUTBREAK

Influenza has been spreading in the Island in rather an alarming manner within the past few weeks, and last week the mortality was so high that the authorities on Monday decided to take drastic action to combat the disease. When the epidemic was raging in England a short time ago the Island was visited by a rather mild term of the disease, but the present attack is a far more virulent form. It is thought that the present outbreak has been imported into the Island by alien prisoners of war, a number of whom were removed from a camp in England to Knockaloe a short time ago.

The situation is more serious for the Island owing to the great shortage of medical men. and one of he leading doctors of Douglas stated that the outbreak is infinitely worst today than it was in November last, when the schools were closed. The present plague is attacking chiefly old people and young children, and the number of deaths are very considerable. As is well-known, the number of doctors in Douglas, considering its size and population, is very few, and the doctors are really at their wits' end to deal with the present epidemic, and many people are suffering from from the want of medical attention....

We are given to understand that during the past fortnight 28 people have died in the Island from influenza, or from pneumonia, following influenza. We further understand that the Government authorities are watching the mortality returns carefully, and if the disease becomes more dangerous more drastic steps be staken than those already in force

This was reported in the Peel City Guardian of Saturday, January 18, 1919; Page: 3

Influenza Outbreak.

During the past week or two there has been another serious outbreak of influenza in the Isle of Man. This time it is of a more virulent form, and there have been a good many deaths. It is thought that ihe present outbreak was imported into the Island by alien prisoners of war, a number of whom were removed from a Camp in England to Knockaloe a short time ago. The situation became so serious that the Insular authorities decided to take drastic action and on Sunday [12 January 1919] and Monday the scholars on the arrival at the schools were dismissed and sent hone. The regulations, also curtailed the hours of cinemas, and persons under 16 years of age are not allowed admission. Workshops, factories, railway carriages and public conveyances have to be disinfected daily. Dances and socials have also been prohibited, and many events have had to be postponed on this account.

There were some 200 internees in total transferred on the 11th and 12th December from four work camps in the UK that were closing - also it seems that the guards were being replaced by men no longer required at the front who may well have carried the infection from the large supply depot in France.

The regulations to cover this were reported in the Isle of Man Examiner, Saturday, January 18, 1919

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

Owing to the number of deaths occurring as the result of Influenza, His Excelleney the Lieutenant-Governor has issued a Proclamation (a copy of which is appended), under the Local Government Board Consolidation Act, 1916, embodying certain regulations made by the Local Government Board with a view to preventing and guarding against the spread of the disease. Any person who wilfully violates any of the said regulations is liable to a penalty not exceeding twenty pounds. The general public is requested to cooperate with the authorities in preventing the spread of the epidemic. The following instructions should be carefully observed by members of the general public : -
1. Avoid crowded places, especially dances, parties, and similar forms of amusement.
2. Keep doors and windows open, and sleep in well-ventilated bedrooms.
3. Brush teeth frequently, and use antiseptic gargles.
4. If headache, shivering, or joint pains are felt, go to bed immediately, and consult a doctor,
5. Strict isolation should be enforced in every affected case.

By Order, B. E. SARGEAUNT. Government Secretary. Government Office. Isle of Man, 11th January. 1919.

A week later the Isle of Man Times, 25th January 1919, was reporting new restrictions, together with a suggestion that the either the old Nobles Hospital, today's Manx Musem, or the Douglas Corporation White Hoe Isolation Hospital be used to isolate flu patients :-

THE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC New Government Restrictions.

There has during the past week been no abatement of the influenza epidemic which appears, to be raging in all parts of the Island. The seriousness of the situation is increased owing to the small number of medical men left on the Island, owing to so many serving with the forces, and also to the great shortage of trained nurses from the same cause. Some pitiful tales reach us of whole families being affected and where these included the breadwinners, the lack of facilities to combat the disease, and also the lack of food and fire in the house, has serious consequentcies. It is hoped that the suggestion of Mr Alf. Teare, made in our columns, as to the provision of a hospital for "flu" cases will be carried out, as there is urgent need for such an institution. In one case reported to us, two sisters were ill and died within a short time of each other. As they were the sole bread.earners in the home, and as both had been ill for some time, there was neither food nor coal in the house. Possibly their lives may not have been saved if they could have obtained coal and food, but it is damnable. that such a state of things could happen in a town like Douglas. In another case, where the man of the house was ill, there was no food, and an appeal had to be made to his fellow-workers. Assistance was rendered, but the man died. These two-cases illustratrate how urgently a National Insurance scheme is necessary for the Island, because had such an Act been in force these unfortunate people would have obtained medical attention and out of work benefit. The members of the Manx Legislature, who have so long dallied with the question of Insurance, have a big responsibility to face.

New Order as to Entertainments.

As the result of a conference on Wednesday between the Local Government Board and the Lieut.-Governor. a new order has been issued amending the order as to Cinema exhibitions, theatres, and dances, and also dealing with night schools, which despite the order made last week, have, through some misunderstanding, remained open. The new order makes it quite clear that all night schools must close in the same manner as day schools. The hours for cinema, exhibitions have been altered from those at present in force to from 7-30 to 9-45 p.m.

All dances, theatres, or other entertainments in any public hall, boarding-house , or any other place where a charge is made for admission, or a subscription is paid, must be confined to the same hours as the cinemas.

With regard to the keeping open of King William's College, it is pointed out that the College is not open for day boys, and that all the students in residence are quite isolated from the general public, so that they are not by any means in the same position as the day schools.

Mortality Record.

The mortality returns for last week was heavy, reaching at one period seven deaths in thirty-six hours. On Sunday there were no less than six interments in the Borough Cemetery, among them being two sisters, aged 22 and 17 years, who had fallen victims to the plague. Miss Christian K. Gelling, who lives at 16, Allen st., died on Wednesday, and her sister, Miss Ruby Gelling, a few hours later, while other inmates of the house are also ill.
Among the victims on Sunday was Mrs Gell, widow of the late Robt. Gell, builder, of Douglas, and sister of Councillor Quirk. She died on Sunday morning, just before the funeral of her son-in-law, Mr Charles Parkinson.
On Saturday, the four-year-old child of Mr Jas. Kinley, Hatfield Grove, Douglas, a Naval Reserve man, who was home on leave, died from influenza. On the following day his wife died, while Kinley himself, while being removed to the hospital in the ambulance on Tuesday, died before he reached. that institution. Three young children are as a consequence left orphans. Mr Kinley's eldest son is serving in the army in France.

There were four deaths in Douglas on Monday due to influenza, and since the epidemic commenced over thirty deaths were recorded up to last Saturday. This is a very large percentage in an Island where the average death rate is about 14 per 1,000 of the population. The returns for the current week are not yet made up, but we are given to understand that no improvement is expected.

Mr Faragher, the Inspector of the Local Government Board, has written to a number of local authorities in England where the influenza was most fatal for information as to what was done in their districts when the plague was on. In every instance the Medical Officers of Health regret that the local authorities had not more control over gatherings of people, as these are considered to be the most fruitful cause of the spread of infection. Fortunately, in the Isle of Man, the Local Government Board are entrusted with much wider powers than the English Local Government Board, as in the Island there is authority to do almost anything that may be considered necessary. In Birmingham, where there were 3,000 deaths from influenza, the Medical Officer consider, the disease is so dangerous that one should be inclined to do anything to reduce the mortality. He advocates the closing of all day and Sunday-schools and public entertainments, and adds that they found that gatherings of people tended greatly to the spread of the disease.
The medical officers of Leeds, Salford, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Sunderland, and Bootle. where the disease also raged, all advise very strongly that all public gatherings of people should be prohibited, and urge that all private parties and private dances, etc. should be stopped. They have also forwarded for the guidance of the Manx authorities particulars of the steps they took in their districts to prevent the spread of the disease.

A Suggested Hospital for " Flu."

To the Editor
In view of the prevailing epidemic of influenza, and the steps which are being taken to combat it, may I be permitted to offer a suggestion: The high mortality is doubtless traceable to shortage of medical men and to lack of facilities to combat the plague. My suggestion is that the Insular Government should acquire the Old Hospital at the top of Crellin's Hill, for the purposes of an influenza isolation ward. This would reduce to a degree the spread of infection through the lack of convenience for isolation which exists in so many working class homes. In charge of a qualified matron, and visited daily by medical men, patients would get that treatment so essential to the curing of the disease, viz.. proper ventilation, correct temperature of room, and in convalescence that nourishment necessary that the patient might regain strength, but which is impossible when the breadwinner is laid aside and the source of supplies cut off. Surely, if we could spend eight millions a day in the destruction of life. we can afford a few pounds for the saving of life!
Douglas. Jan. 23. ALF. TEARE.

Hospital to be Provided.

At the request of the Lieut.-Governor, a special meeting of the Noble's Hospital Committee was held yesterday afternoon to consider the question of the provision of a hospital for influenza patients. Deemster Callow chairman of the Hospital Committee presided, and nearly all the members attended. Various suggestions were made for providing relief and medical attention. One proposal was that the Old Hospital should be used for influenza cases, but it was pointed out that the building was unfurnished, and that there would be considerable difficulty in providing the necessary staff. Dr. Pantin suggested that arrangements might be made to utilise the Douglas Corporation's Isolation Hospital. Fortunately the Finance Committee of the Corporation were then sitting, and the Lieut.Governor got into telephonic communication with them as to the practicability of the suggestion. He obtained a reply from the Town Council that they were willing to place the Isolation Hospital at the disposal of the Committee, and a sub-Committee was appointed to meet the Town Council this morning at 11 o'clock to consider the arrangements. In reply to a question, Dr. Pantin reported that the epidemic was slightly on the decrease, but that there are yet a good many very distressing cases.

It is to be hoped that the public will take full advantage ot the new influenza Hospital, as patients will be assured of the best medical, and what is perhaps more important in this disease, nursing skill procurable, and at the same time not be a source of danger to the other inmates of their home, as they are sure to be if they are attended to in their own houses owing to the difficulty of procuring medical attendance and nursing.

By early February the peak had been passed and the death toll published - Isle of Man Examiner, Saturday, February 8th, 1919

Deaths from Influenza

We are informed by the Government Office that the number of deaths as the result of influenza during the recent epidemic, now total 50, but it is hoped that the epidemic is now declining . Deaths have occurred as follows: -
Before 28th December. 7 ;
1st week, 8;
2nd week, 5;
3rd week. 5;
4th week . 9;
5th week, 11;
6th week, 5.
Of these deaths. 20 have been registered in Douglas. 6 in Peel, 2 in Foxdale, 2 in Ramsey, and 1 in Castletown. The remainder have occurred in various other parts of the Island.

Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The Editor Text + Transcription © F.Coakley , 2020