It is a legend of the Rugby school that in November, 1823, a pupil named William Ellis Webb, "with a fine disregard for the rules of football," took the ball in his arms and ran with it, and the amazing impudence of the lawless Webb so touched the imagination of his contemporaries that they experimented with the innovation, and evolved from a purely kicking game the immediate forerunner of present-day Rugby.
Webb, a revolutionary law-breaker, was immortalised, and a memorial stone is now erected in the school close, bearing an inscription which sets out the date and occasion of Webb’s historical iconoclasm.
Generous types give blood
A few days ago the Dunedin Hospital advertised as follows: "Wanted (urgently) blood for transfusion, save a life."
In response to this several people came forward, and the transfusion was effected with success.
As the result of inquiries made yesterday at the hospital a Daily Times reporter was informed that the authorities are always desirous of being in communication with those who are willing to part with some of their blood.
At the laboratory a serum of all the known types of blood is available, and with the use of this it is possible to "type" the blood.
It is absolutely necessary that this should be done, as if blood of a wrong type were transferred to a person grave results would be experienced.
People may possess one of four types of blood, and of these only one type may be used for anybody.
People whose blood is of this type are known technically as "universal donors."
As a general rule blood of the other three types may be used only for persons whose blood is of a similar type.
Health minister’s flu advice
Sir Maui Pomare said the prevalence of a mild form of influenza had been reported from North Canterbury. It was also prevalent in other parts of the dominion.
Many of the cases reported were nothing more than a severe form of ordinary colds. Nevertheless, the department was alive to the situation, and now notified its branches to keep a strict watch.
In Christchurch there had been eight cases of the pneumonic form, and one death.
He had instructed the department to take drastic measures in regard to the pneumonic type. It was doing so, and such cases wore being sent to the Bottle Lake Hospital. In New Zealand generally the pneumonic type was not alarming.
There had been 21 cases and only three deaths.
Sir Maui Pomare said it was always advisable to call in a local medical man in cases of doubt.
As in other centres just now, there is a prevalence of heavy colds and a mild form of influenza in Dunedin.
Six serious cases in Otago and Southland have been notified to the Health Department since Monday, but so far there has been only one death since the outbreak of the epidemic. — ODT, 5.7.1923
Compiled by Peter Dowden
