THE PERSISTENT DISEASE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 185, 5 August 1913, Page 5

THE PERSISTENT DISEASE.

SIXTY-FIVE IN ISOLATION.

TWO MORE COMING IN FROM WAXHEHE.

SUSPICIOUS CHICKEN-POX. CASES.

The disease which remained latent in tbe city and suburbs for several days is again reasserting itself in various quarters. A second European case was located yesterday afternoon in a boarding-house in the Wellesley Street quarter of the city, from which an elderly dock hand was removed to isolation earlier in the day. The last patient is a younger man than his smitten house-mate, and he has been working as a labourer. This brought the total number of patients in the isolation hospital to sixty-five. Two more natives are expected in today from Waiheke Island, where several cases have recently occurred. The District Health Officer believes that there will be no more from the same quarter, as all the Maoris there have been effectively vaccinated, and contacts have been kept apart.

Two cases, said to be chicken-pox, but deemed to be suspicious of something worse, were removed to the Auckland Hospital this morning, both being European adult females. One came from the city, and the other from Takapuna. Word was received by telephone from Mercer this morning that eight member* of a native family residing about a mile from the township have been discovered to exhibit signs of the disease more or less severe. None of them has previously been vaccinated. Steps have been taken to keep the patients in close isolation, and to render them medical and nursing attention.

The only other country case reported to the Health Office to-day is that of a male European at Mapara, near Te Kuiti.

DR. VAUNTINE CONVINCED.

' The Chief Health Officer (Dr. Valintine) left Auckland for Wellington by laet night's train. Prior to his departure he visited -the Isolation Hospital, and later he stated to a "Star" reporter that he was perfectly convinced that some of the cases were undoubted smallpox.

Dr. Frazer Hurst, of Whangarei, who also visited the Isolation Hospital, told Dr. YnJintine that there were certain characteristics of cases at Point Chevalier which caused him to think that they differed from those at Whangarei. In fact, he would hesitate to say at least one or two of the Point Chevalier patients were not suffering from smallpox. It is interesting to note that Dr. Frazer Hurst has expressed the definite opinion that smallpox does not exist at Whangarei.

The Chief Health Officer has been somewhat struck with the apparent greater severity of the disease in the more southern part of its operation. There seemed to be wonse cases in Auckland than in Whangarei, -and again, some of the worst he had seen were down the Main Trunk line at Parawera. Dr. Valintine is determined that the efforts of his staff shall not be relaxed until the country has been declared free from a disease -which .he regards in the most serious light. He will probably re turn to Auckland again in the course of a few days.

OUTBREAK AT OTOROHANGA.

•FIVE PERSONS ISOLATED. (Ey Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) OTOROHANGA, this day. It was reported yesterday afternoon that one family of Maoris on the out skirts of it-he town tvaa ill with the prevailing epidemic. The local doctor immediately visited the affected people, and found that they were suffering from the disease, and reported the case to the Health authorities. Dr. Gunn arrived here this morning, and pronounced the cases to be genuine ■smallpox. There are five patients, two men, two women, and one child. That portion of the town is isolated, and all Maoris are forbidden to congregate in the billiard saloons or other public ■ places. A tangi was in progress at Otewa, and Dr. Leeper, with the constable, went and ordered the Na-tives to disperse, which they did.

REPOBT FROM CANTERBURY.

CONFIRMATION XOT TO HAND. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON". Monday. The Health Department has received a report from Canterbury, stating that a case of the' prevailing malady has been discovered in the Akaroa district. Ip to the present the report has not been confirmed, but the Department is causing careful investigations to -do made. THE HUMOUR DENIED. (Ey Telegraph.—rress Association.) CHE.ISTCHUSCH, this day. Dr. Frenglcy officially states that there is no foundation whatever for the report that a smallpox case has been discovered at Akaroa. The South Island is still free. The statement in the official bulletin was made through the misunderstanding of a -iaori word used in a telegram.

WHANGAEEI BACK TO KORMAI.

NO NEW CASES REPORTED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, this day. There is nothing fresh to report concerning the disease in Whangarei, except that the demand for vaccination has fallen to a minimum. Dr. Buck is visiting Kaikou and Mangakahia to assist in vaccinating the natives. .EUROPEAN AND MAORI CASE. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, this day. A European youth at Purua has developed the prevailing disease, and a fresh case (a Maori)_ is reported from Ngararatinui. i