THE SMALLPOX SCARE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1813, 28 July 1913, Page 4

THE SMALLPOX SCARE.

Sir,—With regard to tlic outbreak of an eruptive disease among tho Maoris in tho Auckland province, 1 think any person who has had much experience of diseases affecting the Natives will readily come to tho conclusion that it is a severe form of Maori-pox tlrat is ■ prevalent, no doubt aggravated by the winter season. There was something very similar among tho Maoris in the Otaki district. about seven months ago. It was diagnosed as Maori-pox and treated accordingly, some of the patients having it rather severely. Six hundred cases, I believe, are reported in Auckland. If it was smallpox a third Df them would be dead by this time, instead of only out death being reported. I have often seen bad cases of Maori-pox, finite loathsome enough to be taken for smallpox; so I do not tliink tho scare is instilled as far as the Auckland cases are concerned, and Hie public would be wise to wait n little longer before rushing to be vaccinated.—l am, etc., PAKE HA. [Sinco this letter was written thero have been several deaths reported, and tlio disease has been definitely declared to be a mild form of smallpox.]