THE EPIDEMIC.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 184, 4 August 1913, Page 7

THE EPIDEMIC.

08. VAUKTiN£ IN AUCKXiAND. ERADICATING THE DISEASE. EFFICACY OF VACCINATION. (Continued from Page 5.) The Chief -Health ■-Officer (Dr. Valintine) reached Auekl&il by the 2.30 tr-.iin from the Waikato today. When inteT--viewed by a "Star , reporter, he said that sJnefr reaching Te Awamntn from Wellington esriy on Saturday raorning he hart visited several affected districts. and inspected iifty-6vo cases. "Kroui what I saw." said Dr. Valintine, "I am more than ever convinced that we have smallpox iv the country." He added that tbe worst eases he saw were at Piu-ewa. There were eighteen of them, and six were of the malignant eonfluest form. Dr. ValintLne added thut be a special trip to Taupiri to *co the body of a Maori minjeter who died at the end of last week. This was one of the worst cases ho had seen, and he fett sure that, the appearance of the deceased would convince anyone who might he inclined to doubt the existence of smallpox. Questioned as to his opinion concerning the outlook at preient. Dr. VaJintine said that all the doctors with whom he liad enmp in contact in the affected districts wpre emph-afeic in the opinion that vaccination was effective in counteract big The diapa-se. As most <if the >Taovr« had now been vaccinated, he. was therefore hopoful r.hat tbe epidemic would be restricted. He ndde,d that the Department was straining; e.verv possible rlTorfc to keep the disease in hand, hut wihile he thoupht prospects were brighteninc. he fek it would be a mistake to bo at the present stapp. TJr ttrs-e-d Hiat varc"nation was Hie most effective way of eUmin&Ung the disease.

Pγ. V-alin. mc corfp.rred with Ihc chairman of the llrwpi-tjii Bo.ird ('Mr. J. M. Mennie) and the district -bealth office(Dr. Monk) i.hi« and also visited the insolation hospit-'i! at. Point C'hcvalwT. He returns to Wellington thie eveninsj, and will proKibly I>c in Auckland in a fp-tv davo.