The Evening Star TUESDAY, MAY 19, 1903.

Evening Star, Issue 11890, 19 May 1903, Page 4

The Evening Star TUESDAY, MAY 19, 1903.

The outbreak of smallpox on board the Gracchus at Lyttelton is Th» Qrseelms much to be regretted, partiCase. cularly as it appears to be of a virulent type; but we do 'iot think there is any reasonable cause for i scare or for alarm, since the Health Department, in its various branches in the localities which have presumably beta open

to contact with the passengers, crew, and cargo of the vessel, has been and is taking all practicable precautions against the spread of the disease—overdoing precautionary measures, some people think. But the error (if any) is on the right side, since a smallpox epidemic in any centre of populatibn would be u very seriots calamity. It is specially unfortunate that on arrival here and at Timaru suspicions were not aroused as to the character of the disease from which certain members of the ship's company were suffering, so that the officers of the Health Department might have been advised and have taken action at once cn the ordinary approved and accepted lines. It does not appear, however, on the facts which have transpired, that there was any culpable negligence at either port on the part of those directly responsible for giving the Gracchus a clean bill of health, since up to her arrival at Timaru the complaint from which the men were suffering was believed to be German measles, arid Dr Reid, on inspecting the ship and visiting the patients, saw nothing to their appearance to suggest anything worse. He states that there were no distinctive signs of smallpox when he examined them, and he is exceptionally well qualified to form an opinion, having had charge of a large smallpox hospital. The condition of the patients, according to their own impressions, showed, moreover, at the time a marked improvement. They told him they were much better than they had been. Acting, therefore, on the supposition of German measles, he did not sea them again before the ship left Timaru for Lyttelton, on arrival at which port the disease unmistakeably developed as smallpox. There is, naturally enough, considerable feeling at Lyttelton and Christchurch at the G ranch ns having been allowed to pass the southern ports, hut this dissatisfaction is entirely based on the assumption—for it is a mere assumption—that when she was at Port Chalmers the disease was perhaps not sufficiently developed to be unmistakeable, although clearly suspicious, whilst when she arrived at Timaru the symptoms should have been such as to have left no doubt. In justice to the Health Officers at Port Chalmers and Timaru, who are. thus seriously implicated, Dr Ogston points out that when the two sick men were examined by those officers there were no indications whatever that they were suffering from smallpox. Dr Ogston, it is to be noted, had a large experience of this fell disease, having as a Student and professional man contended with no less than four smallpox epidemics in the Old Countiy. He himself personally examined the sick men very carefully in Dunedin, and is confident that there was nothing which would cause any medical man to pronounce them suffering from smallpox; but as the vessel came from Calcutta, notably an infected port, it was deemed advisable to notify the Health Officers at Timaru and Lyttelton of the fact that there was sickness on board. The residents in the City and district may advisedly feel satisfied that every possible precaution is being taken it the instance of Dr Ogston, who is the district Health Officer, to guard against an outbreak of the disease. Upwards cf ninety persons, who are considered to be contacts, have been or are about to be vaccinated, and will be subjected to medical inspection twice a day, being also visited in their homes by a doctor specially cmployed for that purpose. The cargo will he followed up, and steps taken to fumigate it, and the portion already stored here will ha thoroughly fumigated as a first step. It is decidedly fortunate in the present emergency that the Ministerial head of the Health Department is a level-headed, energetic man. Sir Joseph Ward is closely interesting himself in the efforts being made to avert any possibility of the dreaded disease spreading, and has intervened to help the workers on the wharves and elsewhere who have to submit to vaccination to tide over the period of compulsory idleness consequent thereupon. These men arc all to receive three days’ full pay as compensation for tho loss of their ordinary wages. This amount Dr Valentine (the Acting Chief Health Officer) gives assurance will cover tho time during which they are at all likelv to be incapacitated.