THE PLAGUE IN SYDNEY.

Auckland Star, Issue 66, 19 March 1900, Page 2

THE PLAGUE IN SYDNEY.

The Sydney "Morning Herald" of Saturday last, states that on the previous day eleven persons were removed to the quarantine station, bringing the total to- 48. Two of these were infected with plague, their names being Robert Walker, of Albion-st., Annandale, and J. D. Madden, who was removed from a, house in Sussex-st. which is situated near one of the rat infested wharves. Mr Walker, who is a young

man, was employed at a produce dealers, and as-he is a carter it is supposed that he received the infection from a rat or rats either in Sussexstreet or on one of the wharves. Jlr Walker and five other persons who ■were in the same house were removed to the quarantine station at North Head. Late on Thursday evening a report was received at the Health Department that J. D. Madden, aged about 28 years, a resident of Sussexstreet, was suffering from a malady which resembled the plague. The case was at once inquired into, and next day ihe symptoms become so marked that the removal of Mr Madden to the quarantine station was authorised. He was accordingly conveyed thither, as well as his wife, a baby, and his sister-in-law. The infection in the case, of Mr Madden is accounted for by the fact that the premises in which he resided were contiguous to a certain rat-infested wharf.

The president of the Board of Health stated that that body had been reviewing its method of dealing with cases, and has come to the conclusion that it could safely modify it in some respects. The board was of opinion that infection is not as a rule spread from man to man, but rather from rats to man. It held that some of the precautions hitherto adopted by it -were not, as a general rule, absolutely necessary, consequently, the intention is that in future the house in which the patient has resided shall not- be isolated. So far as persons who have been associated with the patient are concerned, a decision was arrived at that their freedom shall not be curtailed except in cases where symptoms of the malady may. be developed. In doing what it lias done the board has simply followed the precautions invariably adopted for preventing smallpox from spreading, but it is said that, whilst such precautions are necessary to cope with smallpox, they are not essential to the checking of the spread of the bubonic plague. Experience has shown that the spread of smallpox and the spread of the plague depend upon two entirely different sets of circumstances. Therefore, after due deliberation, the board decided that for the future it will remove the patient only, and will not isolate either those who have been associated with him or the building in which he has resided. Only the patient and his immediate surroundings, such as his bed, etc., will, as a general rule, be dealt- with by the Board Of Health.