IN ISOLATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 183, 2 August 1913, Page 5

IN ISOLATION.

SIXTY-THREE PATIENTS. TWO MAORIS FROM WAIHEKE. A EUROPEAN FROM ARCH HILL. Three more cases of the prevailing disease have been admitted t. the isolation hospital at Point Chevalier, two female Maoris having been brought up from Waiheke by the local constable ' this morning, and a European having been removed from Arch Hill last evening. This brings the total number of patients in isolation up to 63, of whom 15 are Europeans. Tbe man taken from Arch Hill is a carpenter, who returned . from working in the Whangarei district . on Tuesday last. ; A suspicious case was notified to the . Health Department from Remuera this . morning, the patient - being a male European, aged about 20. This case is , now under observation. , In discussing the position this morn- ( ing, the District Health Officer said that, as during the past week there had been three further causes in the city and suburbs, it was to be hoped that the ! number of vaccinations would again ■ increase, it was quite certain, he added, that nothing like a fifth part of the ; total population in Auckland were yet - protected by vaccination. Three thousand doses of lymph arrived this morning from Wellington, and 5,000 , more doses are expected to-morrow morning. The demand for vaccination is so moderate, however, that a substantial supply of vaccine is accumulating at tbe Health Office. Wires from the country to-day indicate that three fresh cases have occurred at Mangapehi, King Country, and two at Tairoa, in the same district. The inspector states in his report that the case at Mangapehi was a contact with a patient reported about a fortnight ago. Not being content with seeing only the case notified, the inspector insi-ted on seeing all other members of the -lotisahojd, with ithe result that two others were found to have slight rashes. At Tairoa the inspector found tivo natives with suspicious symptoms, and tbey were found to have been contacts with the same patient referred to above. All these contacts had been vaccinated when the first ease was located, and their rashes arc so mild as to create some doubt as to whether their trouble is smallpox. The case of a European has been reported "from Temapara, near Te KuitL but otherwise the epidemic is said to be coming under effective control. The Chief Health Officer (Dr. Valintine) has advised that he will reach Auckland on Monday morning to confer with the District Health Officer and representatives of the Auckland Hospital in connection with the epidemic. Dr. Valintine is understood to have travelled as far as Te Awamutu by the Main Trunk express, which arrived from Wellington this morning for the purpose of making investigations in the Waikato district before coming on to Auckland. OUTLOOK IN THE "WAIKATO. MAORI MINISTER'S DEATH. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) HAMILTON, this day. Two more cases of the epidemic were discovered at Whatawhata yesterday. Both were Maoris. Also, there are several mild cases there as well. At Te Kauwheta there ar. ten definite eases. and in a. bad form. Maoris are prevented from entering Hamilton and Frnnkton. The conditions are now improving in so much that ea.-.es and contacts are being isolated, and' the chances of clearing out the epidemic are good. The Chief Health Officer t Dr. Valintine) is expected here to-day. A Maori minister at Taupi'ri died last evening from tbe disease. QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT. AFTER. RESULTS OF VACCINATION. FUMIGATION OF IMPORTED FOOD. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON. Friday. Reports published in the '-Auckland Star," showing that serious indisposition has followed vaccination in many cases were read in the House of Representatives this afternoon by Mr Tsitt. It was suggested by him that the Minister of Public Health should inquire into the grave allegations regarding the virulent nature of the lymph supplied by the Health Department. The Hon, Mr Rhodes replied that he had no information to that effect, but would get it if Mr Isitt would put his question upon the order paper. Mr G. W. Russell raised the question of alleged failure of vaccination in the Rotorua district, and was informed by Mr Rhodes that the report was incorrect. Where persons had been previously vaccinated the operation sometimes did not take, but this was to be anticipated. Mr Buxton drew the Minister's attention to the fact that flour, bran, pollard, and other merchandise was being brought into New Zealand from Sydney without any kind of precaution. He understood that when there was danger of introducing plague into the country from Sydney, precautions were taken regarding foodstuffs. The member expressed the opinion that Sydney in a similar position would take all sorts of cure that nothing entered from New Zealand likely to endanger the public health. The Hon. Mr Rhodes replied that it would be a very difficult matter indeed to disinfect such articles. He was not at all sure it would be possible, ln any ease, he did not think it could be done without destroying such an article as flour. "I am inforced," aded tbe Minister, "'that it is not deemed necessary to disinfect these articles."