SMALL-POX AT WELLINGTON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3565, 21 June 1872, Page 3

SMALL-POX AT WELLINGTON.

(From the Wellington Independent, June 17.) The public were startled on Saturday by the currency of a rumour of the breaking out of smallpox at the To Aro end of the town. Inquiry instituted by the proper authorities went to confirm a very strong suspicion which the police had entertained for two days previously, but which was unsupported by such information as would justify them in taking action till Saturday, when the circumstances were laid before the General Government. The person on whom the disease has made its appearance is Mr Kay, who has travelled as mail agent in the Nebraska for the last two trips, and there is little doubt that it was on board this vessel that he caught the disease, which fortunately has manifested itself in a very mild form. Immediately on the Government being made aware of the facts, Dr • Johnston was communicated with and Mr Kay was visited by him, in company with Dr Kemp, who had had charge of the case since Wednesday last. The symptoms were such as to leave little doubt that they were those of smallpox, and although the patient had taken the turn for recovery it was at once determined that he should be removed to Somes Island, a course in which Mr Kay readily acquiesced, and during the day a boat containing the patient, Dr Johnston, two members of the Armed Constabulary, and all necessary medical comforts and provisions, was despatched to the Island. On Sunday morning Dr Johnston visited the island and found Mr Kay in good spirits, and safely on the way to recovery. It will be satisfactory to the jmblie to know that the difficulties and dangers of such a case have been so easily and so promptly overcome when they learn that there is no legal means by which Mr Kay could have been compelled to remove from his residence. Had the patient objected to removal to the quarantine station the authorities and the city itself would have been placed in a very unpleasant position from the non-existence of a Public Health Act. It is to be hoped, therefore, that the steps ■ necessary for the passing of an act will be immediately taken. (Such a bill passed the Legislative Council in 1869, but the danger of which we have just been made aware had not been brought so close to our doors, and the bill was allowed to lapse in the Lower House.- In the present instance the responsibility of removal was undertaken by Dr Johnston, the Government declining to act in the absence of any legal authority for such a step. While Mr Kay was in charge of Dr Kemp all the usual precautions for disinfecting purposes were used and persons kept from_ visiting the house, so that whatever danger there is in the case is confined to Mr Kay and those who attended him, and with these every preventive against spreading the disease has been taken, tUe Inspector of Police having been instructed to see that the house where the patient resided, and everything in it, are put through a course of fumigation. A daily visit by Dr Johnston to the island is all that is requisite, as the attack j.as presented itself in so mild a form that the constant attendance of a medical man is unnecessary, but Mr Kay will be kept ou the island till all danger of infection is past. In consequence of the occurrence of this case, the Colonial Secretary has telegraphed to the Hoard of Health at Auckland to put into force every precaution against the introduction of the disease by vessels arriving from Sail Francisco or any other part of America, and also to see that the mail bags brought by the Californian steamers are fumigated, as it is believed that Mr Kay caught the disease while sorting the mail. The public may rest assured that the General Government will do all that is necessary to meet the danger of such a case by forwarding to Somes Island whatever may be necessary to effect a cure.