SMALLPOX ON THE ORIENT.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11347, 9 August 1902, Page 10

SMALLPOX ON THE ORIENT.

THE TROOPSHIP QUARANTINED.

TROOPERS TO BE REMOVED TO SOAMES ISLAND. STRINGENT REGULATIONS TO BE ENFORCED. (SPECIAL TO "THE PRESS.") WELLINGTON, August 8. Quite a sensation was caused in Wellington this morning by a report that a case of smallpox had been discovered on board the troopship Orient. The patient is Sergeant Calloway, who comes from Coromandel. Calloway has served in South Africa with two of the New Zealand Contingents, and distinguished himself during the war. The Orient, with the North Island section of her consignment of troopers on board, came into port from Lyttelton shortly before 8 o'clock, and took up her anchorage near Somes Island. The Chief Health Officer for the colony (Dr. Mason), accompanied by the port health cflicer (Dr. Po_en), and Dr. Purdy, who is in charge of the Britannic, sick at the quarantine station, went off to the vessel shortly after her arrival, and as hour after hour slipped by, and there was no sign of the health officers returning to town, and no movement denoting the disembarkation of any of the troopers, rumours 'became rife concerning the character of a case of sickness on the troopship. By mid-day the rumcur gave place to am emphatic statement that the Orient had a case of smallpox on board, and later this was confirmed. That the matter is regarded as a serious one may be gathered from the fact that the health authorities have declined to allow any of the troopers to leave the ship, and have declared that strict quarantine wLi be enforced at Soames Island and for a distance of half a mile a.n>u:id it. Sir Joseph Ward, interviewed this afternoon, states that, unfortunately, there was ii» doubt that the case which had occurred on the Orient was one of smallpox, and it only remained for the authorities to do their bast to oope with it, and prevent the spread of the disease. The whole of the troopers who arrived in Wellington by the vessel are to be landed at Soames Island and accommodated in tents there. They will also be vaccinated. The smallpox casts will be isolated on the island, and the greatest care taken. In this respect a special nursing staff is being sent out for attendance upon the patient. The Chief Healtih Officer (Dr. ' Mason) will remain upon the island in attendamoe upon the patient for three or four days, alter which Dr. Purdy, who has been looking after the sick troops from the Britannic accommodated at the station, will take up the duties. As regards the troopers from the Orient who were landed at southern ports, and probably have by this time separated for their homes in various 'parts of the Island, they will be carefully watched and examined, instructions having already been given to this effect. It is advisable that they, and those with whom they have come into contact, should 'be vaccinated. The health authorities had no indications of the presence of smallpox on the vessel until she arrived in port this morning, and it is not known where the infection came from. Sir Joseph Ward gives an assurance that every possible precaution will be taken to ensure public safety. The Chief Health Officer has, with .n_» concurrence, authority to act as he considers best in the matter. The Orient will remain An quarantine. The danger that the colony, especially the South Island, is in of the disease being spread, must be apparent, and that the' Government has fully realised this is shown, by the decision arrived at on the subject. There were altogether 1229 men on board the Orient, and of this number 121 landed in Australia, about 575 landed in the South Island. There is not nearly enough accommodation on the Quarantine island for the troops, go the 'Stefenoe Department is sending over tents, in which the men will live. Unfortunately, the weather, which has beeu beautifully fine, broke this afternoon, and heavy rain fell. This will, it is feared, make it somewhat uncomfortable for the troops. Theje are at present on the island a number of sick who came by the Britannic, but they are to be kept separate from ths Orient's men. All the troopers, who number some 450, and the crew (about 160), are being vaccinated. It is unlikely that the troopers will be landed on the island before tomorrow, as in the meantime their camp has to be prepared for their accommodation. The crew cf the vessel will be kept on board, and the vessel herself thoroughly fumigated from stem to stem. Dr. Mason desires that it should be made quite clear that Ite found the hospital arrangements on the Orient excellent. There is, he stated to a " Post" reporter ever the telephone to-day, absdutely no cause for complaint in this respect, everything connected with the hospital being in excellent ordeT. As to the cause of the outbreak, he will not at present give an opinion.

Eleven of the troopers came on frcm Lyttelton by the Mararoa, and are now in Wellington.

So far as I can gather, this is only the second case of smallpox which has been known in the colony. The other occurred at Auckland many years ago. It will be remembered by some that the late Dr T M. Philson heroically isolated himself with the patient, nursing him and tending him singite-handed. so that the dread disease should net be communicated to the citi zens. Sir Joseph Ward has set a good example in the matter of vaccination, as some few weeks ago the members of his household including M:ss Frassr. of Dunedin, who is « guest at the Ministerial residence were all vaccinated. ' Were