THE SHIP FORFARSHIRE IN QUARANTINE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1456, 11 October 1879, Page 13

THE SHIP FORFARSHIRE IN QUARANTINE.

The ship Forfarshire, 106 days from London, which arrived at the Heads on October Ist, and archored outside for the night, was towed into Port Chalmers on the afternoon of the 2nd at 4 o'clock and amh <red in f o Quarantine-ground. Shortly aftor, the Customs htetm launch, having on board Captains Thowoa mid M'Callum, the health officers ; Mr C. Allau, immigration officer; and Mr J. R. Monson, Customs surveyor, went alonslde, and were met by Captain Brown, who informed them that seven deaths had occurred during turoyage- five from the effects of diarrhea i, convulses, and inflammation of the bowels, and the last two from diphtheria, one of whom, an infant, v-a-i burie 1 outside the Heaison Wednesday; while there werefour cases of sickness still on board, but not any of them of an infectious nature. On hearing this the Health Officer decided to return to Port Chalmers and request Dr Drysdale to visit the ship before deciding upon what courie should be adopted. When the Ferfarshire left London she had 337 persons on board, including the ship's company ; moßt of them appe >red in good health, but from the nature of the disease from which the last two sufferers died, Captain Thomson acted very judiciously in refusing to admit the ship to pratique until he had taken medical advice. The launch left Port Chalmers agan at 5.15 p.m , taking Dr Drysdale down to the vessel. On getting: alongside, Captain Brown and Dr Beid again communicated wuh the authorities, and after a brief consultation it was decided to place the ship in quarantine, Dr Drysdale recommending that the second-ciass and steerage passengers should be removed as early as possible to-day to the Quarantine Island, while the saloon passengers should perform quarantine on board ; the ship to be thoroughly e'eansed and fumigated. This was acceded to by the Health Officer, and the yellow flag was run up at the main. Captain Thomson on reaching the port at once communicated to the Central Board of Health at Wellington on the matter.