THE SMALLPOX OUTBREAK

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3993, 25 July 1913, Page 5

THE SMALLPOX OUTBREAK

LOCAL VACCINATION BOOM. TO BE RESUMED THIS AFTERNOON. ONLY SUFFICIENT LYMPH TO TRE4.T 100 PEOPLE.

Dr Williams, public vaccinator, will resume his big contract of vaccinating the public at 2 o’clock, this, afternoon at the Garrison. Hall. Only sufficient lymph remains to treat about 100 people.

Dr Williams yesterday boarded the harq uentine Lindstol on her arrival in the bay, and inspected and vaccinated her crew of twelve.

TREATING THE TOWNSPEOPLE.

NEXT THURSDAY AFTERNOON TO BE SET ASIDE.

Speaking to a "Times” reporter last night, the "Mayor stated that representations had been made to him that there were many people in town whose employment precluded them for availing themselves of the opportunity of being vaccinated during the prescribed hours. He had placed the position before Dr. Williams, and the latter had agreed to set aside next Thursday afternoon for vaccinating only residents of the town, and only those of them who are unable to present themselves to him on any other day. It would be well if country residents would note this fact, so as to save any possibility of being disappointed. ESSENTIAL TO OBTAIN CERTIFICATES. A TOWN OFFICE ESTABLISHED. Asked if he had anything further to add regarding the prevailing epidemic, the Mayor informed a reporter last night that too much emphasis could not be given to the advice of Dr Williams published in the "Times” yesterday, regarding the necessity for those who had been vaccinated presenting themselves for a certificate of successful vaccination. If an outbreak occurred, very stringent regulations would be framed, by the local bodies in respect to vaccination, and those who could not produce a certificate would bo treated as unvaccinated, even though they had been successfully treated. It was not, the law said, vaccination that was so essential, as the holding of a certificate showing that the vaccination had been successful. So as to cause as little inconvenience as possible, those who had been vaccinated could be inspected at D.i. Williams’ town rooms, rdiich were, in the premises of Mr Garrett, chemist, at any hour during which the pharmacy was open. Those who had been vaccinated by other practitioners were under the same necessity to obtain a certificate from the doctor performing the operation, and he could not too strongly urge them to obtain them. A WARNING NOTE. Asked if there was yet cause for anxiety as far as Gisborne was concerned, the Mayor said there was absolutely none. So far as he knewy the borough was quite clean in respect to the epidemic, and there was no necessity for alarm. At the same time, the reports from the north of Auckland could not. be looked upon as other than disquieting, for Dr. Rangihiroa, M.P., had had no hesitation in declaring that 69 cases which he had seen were clearly small-pox. He thought, therefore, that local residents would be well advised to do as he (the Mayor) had done, and become vaccinated. The Borough was taking every possible step to prevent contacts from outside, hut he knew of people who had come through from Rotorua overland, and. where thev had come from to Rotorua one could not tell. He related these facts not with a view to creating any alarm for this he deprecated, but he did think it was his duty to let the public know these facts. If there was one recognised case in the borough, there would undoubtedly be a rush for vaceination and evidence of hysteria. Prevention was much better than cure, and now, before there was any occasion for alarm, and when. vaccination could he done under fairly reasonable conditions and without undue pressure, was the proper time for people to think about it.

DR, CLARIDGE BUSY AT TE IvARAKA. In response to representations from Mr A. M. I >ewis, on behalf of Te Karaka residents, through the member of the district (Mr W. D. S. MacDonald), the Health Department has Appointed Dr. Claridge public vaccinator for Waikohu County. Dr. Claridge was busy yesterday vaccinating numerous applicants. HEALTH OFFICER’S BULLETIN, AMPLE SUPPLY OF. LYMPH. [PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM] WELLINGTON, July 24. The following official bulletin dealing with the small-pox outbreak was issued by the Health Department at 9.30 this evening: “There are 52 cases isolated at the infectious diseases hospital at Auckland, 10 being Europeans. “Dr. Te Rangihiroa, M.P., reports some 72 cases in the Bay of Islands district, four being acute and 18 convalescent. “Dr. Calkwell reports from Tautere that the disease is more evident among young people “A case is reported at Whangaiua. “Dr Ross reports that he has vaccinated 400 persons in the Raglan district. „ , . -n- ---“ Dr. Couzens is at Te Kolii.' He has seen no suspicious cases. “There is an ample supply ot lymph available.” THE GOVERNMENT’S PRECAUTIONS, / discussion in the house. [PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM] WELLINGTON, July 24. In the House to-day Mr Russell asked the Minister for Public Health whether he was quite satisfied tiiau everything possible was being done in connection with the outbreak of smallpox. He hoped that expense would not be stinted in the matter. He favored unlimited expense for stamping out the disease. , Mr Pearce said tne lymph used among, the Maoris of Wanganui was ineffective. » Dr. Pomare said the Natives in infected areas were not allowed to travel beyond restricted areas before

they could show they had been successfully vaccinated. ~ It was not fair to prevent Natives not in infected areas travelling. Hon. Mr Rhodes (Minister for Public Health} said the Health Department was doing everything possible to prevent the spread of the disease. He could not say that people were not getting away from the infected ™s. .It was not necessary to insist that the Natives should receive certificates of vaccination if -they did not come from, infected areas. He had received a telegram from Dr. Te Rangihiroa, who was doing excellent work among the Maoris in the North. He stated that he had seen 91 cases of pronounced smallpox among the Maoris. He (the Minister) was quite certain that they must treat the disease as smallpox. To date ten deaths had been reported, all being Natives. Mr Nosworthy asked if the Government would insist on all passengers for the south being vaccinated in the proper interests of the southern people. Dr. Newman said sanitation would do no good. There was only one remedy, and that was vaccination. Hon. Mr Rhodes, replying, said Cabinet considered daily the matter of insisting on vaccination before passengers could be taken between the two Islands. All the Maori Councils were actively clearing up the kaiangas and if found necessary he would recommend' to Cabinet the isolation of the North Island. That depended mainly on whether any more cases occurred in Wellington.

POSITION AT AUCKLAND.

ONE ADDITIONAL CASE ISOLATED.

[PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM] AUCKLAND, July 24. Only one additional case of the prevailing epidemic was sent to the isolation hospital at Point Chevalier. The patient is a European, and a driver by occupation. He was removed from Morningside and is known to have been in contact with Maoris. Like the other European patients, he is suffering from a very mild form of the disease. All the sufferers in isolation are reported to be making favorable progress. The total number now under Dr. Speddings - ' care at Point Chavalier is 52. Sufficient lymph has reached the District Health Office from the vaccine depot at Wellington to enable 700 doses to be distributed throughout the Auckland health district. A vaccination depot is to be opened at the premises of the St. John Ambulance Association.

When questioned as to the Health Department taking a strict record of the movements of Maoris in the infected areas, Dr. Frengley stated that the proclamations prohibiting Natives from travelling from such districts were proving effectual. As illustrating this, he said complaints were reaching the Health Office that in some infected districts Maoris were being so efficiently restricted to their own settlements that they were having some difficulty in obtaining food supplies. In such cases the Department had taken immediate steps to see that the needs of the Maoris in question were provided "for.,. In reply to a question as to when the Department anticipated completing vaccination of the Maori population of the Auckland district, Dr. Frengley said that with the copious supplies of lymph now coming to hand it was hoped to have the whole of the Natives in the district vaccinated by the end of next week. The Maoris were, he added, most anxious lor vaccination, which, they had noticed, had had the effect of protecting their friends. Dr. Eleanor Baker, at Kaihou, has advised the Health Office that convalescent Maoris in that district do not “take” after vaccination. She says she has only found the epidemic in one patient who had been vaccinated previously. This was an old Maori, who must have been vaccinated 40 years ago and whose wife had been very ill with the disease. Dr. Baker has noticed that many of the old marks left on her patients are whitening, shrivelling, and pitting. The Chief Health Officer has written to rhe Hospital Board asking them to bring under the notice or all public vaccinators the necessity tor scrupulous cleanliness in performing operations and also for careful sterilisation of all instruments after vaccinating each patient. This action is in consequence of a complaint that sumcient care was no* being exercised by some vaccinators. . „ ■, Dr. Valintine has also telegraphed pointing out that the Board has full power to act in restricting the movements of Natives from areas where the disease is known to be prevalent and calling upon that body to exercise its powers. The Board will hold a special meeting to consider the mature precautions taken to prevent the spread of the disease among tho Natives at Parawera were criticised to-dav by Dr. J. S. Reekie, of Te Awamutu. About 100 Natives comprise the settlement, which is situated about 10 miles from Te Awa mutu. During last week the people were all assembled, in the Natrve schoolhouse for vaccination and given instructions to remain in Lheir homes and clean up but Dr. Reekie states that no further attention was given to them, nor were stens taken to enforce the directions given to them until the beginning of this week.

TWO CASES NEAR HAMILTON. FUMIGATION OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES REQUESTED.

[PEESB ASSOCIATION TELEGEAMI HAMILTON, July 24. Two cases of smallpox were reported] to-day from Te Rapa, a few miles from Hamilton. , , The Waikato Hospital Board has decided to write to the Minister for Railways and request the daily iumication of all carriages and more drastic steps to stamp out the disease. One member declared that the indifference of the Government was outrageous and callous. 9 The local Health Inspector waited on the Board and asked for the appointment of several suh-i n spec tors. as it was impossible for him to cope with the rapid! spread of the, disease alone. He said that unless additional precautions were immediately taken the disease would spread all over the country. -It must exist in numerous districts not yet visited. Complaints were also made to the Board of Natives being allowed to wander at large in the Waikato, especially in the infected district or Wbatawhata, where they blocked the post office all day, using the telephone. Hamilton vaccinators report a shortage of lymph. THE SYDNEY OUTBREAK. A VACCINATION SCARE. , [UNITED PEESS ASSOCIATION—COPftttfiHT i (Received July 24. G.lO p.m.) SYDNEY, July 24. Two deaths after vaccination have caused public uneasiness in view of the severe effects in many cases following injection. The first death, a doctor stated,, was not due to vaccination, and in the second the coroner refused to accept a certificate until,a post mortem was held and a doctor reported death was due to heart and

kidney, diseases, and in no way associated' with vaccination. Dr; Paton now claims that the smallpox came from Cuba, whence it has spread right across the United States and reached Australia and New Zealand by one of the Vancouver mail feats. h£ adds; “At any rate New, Zealand did not get it from us. Dr. Harris, of Newcastle, states that when he found that the first 50 tubes of lymph from Auckland were ineffective, he cabled inquiring and got a reply, stating that they were supplied by the Health. Department. Dr. Harris says the fii'st 50 tubes were' weak. Another 50 had arrived, and are slightly different. Five cases of small-pox. were reported to-day, all young men, one being from the Domain. He has no permanent abode. The case at Grenfell has been diagnosed at small-pox.

SCARE SUBSIDING AT MELBOURNE.

MAY BE DECLARED A CLEAN CITY. (Received July 24, 9.30 p.m.) MELBOURNE, July 24. The scare has subsided, and the vaccination bureaus are empty. Dr. Cumpston is of opinion that Melbourne can be declared a clean city, as if the passenger by the, Karoola who developed emall-pox here had infected anybody, the disease would now he noticeable.

Nearly all the Karoola’s passengers have been released from quarantine.

CASE IN ADELAIDE SUBURB.

WOMAN WHO RECENTLY VISITED SYDNEY.

(Received July 24, 9.30 p.m.) ADELAIDE, July 24. A woman at Hawthorne, a suburb of Adelaide, has developed small-pox. She visited Sydney recently.