THE SMALLPOX OUTBREAK

Evening Star, Issue 12094, 15 January 1904, Page 4

THE SMALLPOX OUTBREAK

MORE SUSPECTS.

PUBLIC VACCINATORS KEPT BUSY.

[Special to thb Stab.]

CHRISTOHCmCH, January 15. The smallpox patients at Bottle Lake are doing well. A man from a boarding-house in Colombo street, Central Ward, and a boy from Byron street, Sydneham, were removed, to the Infectious Diseases Hospital to-day. The Chief Health Officer is not prepared to say that they are suffering from smallpox, but in both cases a rash is present, the nature of which requires their isolation. Public vaccinators are being kept busy, anu some instances are recorded \ihere whole families are being vaccinated. All contacts are' being vaccinated. It has been suggested that the outbreak is due to kapok from the Gracchus, but the Chief Health Officer states that the has been unable to trace the source of the disease. Airs Smith, who is supposed to be the original case, ia taid to have stated that some apples, probably from Tasmania, were the cause of her contracting the disease. A young man who came to Qiristca-jxch five or six days ago was discovered in the Central Dining Rooms at the comer of Colombo and Lichfield streets this nicming, showing symptoms of suspected smallpox. This discovery was made in connection with the house-to-house inspection that is being made by the health authorities. Dr Mason and Dr Finch (the local health officer) examined the patient, who vas at once sent to Bottle Lake Hospital. He is not seriously iIL Inspector Shaw, of the Health Department, who arrived in Christchurch this morning, had the dining rroms locked up immediately, and a constable stationed to prevent anybody entering or leaving the place pending a thorough disinfection. The discovery of the man's c.xc-ition was made just before noon, and a little later the proprietor of the rooms (Mr il. C. David) stated that about 200 people would have sat down to lunch. The r-ian first complained .of feeling ill last Monday, but no doctor was called in until his symptoms were examined by the health officers. He re stated to have lived very quietly in Christchurch, leaving the dining rooms immediately after breakfast, and »ssooiating with few people who frequented them. Only direct contacts with this patient will be sent to Bottle Lake, and the iittemlints, servants, and others at the dining loom v.ill merely have to submit to vaccination and a bath, and will then be allowed their liberty.

WELLINGTON, January 15. In connection •with the smallpox outbreak at Christchurch there will be no quarantining of vessels from Lyttelton, but there will be rigid inspection.