Smallpox in Launceston.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 233, 4 October 1887, Page 2

Smallpox in Launceston.

The outbreak of smallpox at Launccston is now supposed to have originated from bhe clothes of a Chinaman who died some time ago ab Scottsdale from chicken-pox. His clothes were sent to Laur.eeston to be transmitted to China. Watson, the man who died of the disease, handled the box, and ho appears to have communicated the disease to the others. There are .said now to be eio'hb cases of bhe epidemic. News received to-night states thab only bwo of the cases are dangerous. Nearly all those who have been attacked have nob been vaccinated. The four houses where bhe patients live have been isolated. A hospital has been promptly established on bhe Mowbray racecourse, where bhe buildings havo been turned to account. Water has been laid on to the course, and a doctor has been provided. The patients and all suspected persons were removed there to-night. One doctor seems to think thab bhe cases are bad attacks of chicken-pox, but tho other doctors are quite clear that they are smallpox. The arrangements for isolation are excellent.

The Central Board of Health, Melbourne, held a special meeting for the purpose of devising precautionary measures to prevent tho introduction of smallpox from Tasmania. It was resolved to request the Governor in Council to issue a proclamation rendering all vessels from Tasmanian ports liable to detention in quarantine on arrival ab bhe Heads. The Central Board of Health also decided thab instructions should be given to the water police to secure the addresses of all passengers from Tasmanian ports, in order that they may be visited by the health officers of the districts to which they go to reside, with a view of tlie prompt isolation of any of their numbers who may develop symptoms of incipient smallpox. The want of lymph in Tasmania for vaccination purposes having been notified to the Central Board, a supply of 500 points of calf and 100 points of humanised lymph was forwarded.