SMALL-POX.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIX, Issue 13137, 27 May 1903, Page 7

SMALL-POX.

THE SUSPICIOUS CASE AT LYTTELTON. THE STEAMER GRACCHUS* A LASCAR ILL. THE DUNEDIN CASE. Thera were no further developments ye®* terday morning in connection with, tho suspected case at Tiochurst Road, Lyttelton, The condition of the patient, Mr Cousens, was practically unchanged. His symptoms were not more indicative of emall-pox than on the previous day, and he appeared to be no worse. Nothing was done during the morning towards removing him from Lyttelton. Dr Finch saw Mr Cousens yesterday; afternoon. He say# that there is absolutely no change in the patient’s condition, a&dl expresses no opinion as to what he is suffering from. No arrangements have been made for tho patient’s removal to the hospital. Yesterday evening there was no change in Mr Oousen's condition, and hopes are entertained In Lyttelton that his case tea# prove not to be small-pox, THE GRACCHUS, A CASE OF ILLNESS ON BOARD. Yesterday morning, a Lascar seamaffl bM thp GrSeohus, one of those left on hoard tv take care of tho vessel, was 111, but hi® symptoms were not sufficiently pronounced to enable a decision as to the hEturt of th® case to be arrived at. Yesterday evening it waa reported that the sick Lascar on the Gracchus had not) developed any distinctive symptom* of small-pox. Should it be necessary to isolate him ha will bo landed on Quail Island,, placed in a tent and kept under observation. A couple’of tents have bem prorared in readiness for this course. QUAIL ISLAND.

SATISFACTORY PROGRESS. Matters at the Quarantine Station on Quail Island continue satisfactory., Mr Belli is still improving, and the health of the other persons on the island is good. Telephonic communication was established yesterday morning with the Quarantine Station, which is now In connection with the Telephone Exchange. Rumours of fresh cases of small-pox prevailed in Lyttelton yesterday morning, but, when investigated, proved to be absolutely groundless. In order to facilitate the loading of the Gracchus she was yesterday afternoon taken in tow by the tug Lyttelton and drifted about a mile further up the harbour, and anchored off Fort Jenrols. - The “Otago Doily Times?’ soya:—Dn Valintine has made very extensive inquiries regarding the cargo of the Gracchus. The great difficulty is the disinfecting of bales) the contents of which have been hydraulically pressed, the only course being to oppn) them up. The medical authorities here are awaiting developments on the other side* and should there bo any evidence of the start of ah epidemic in Melbourne tho moat) stringent measures will be taken with snc« portions of the cargo of the Gracchus as was landed in this colony. All the cargo), landed in Now Zealand os now* under "ta» closest supervision. PRECAUTIONS At TIMAEU. At the meeting of the'Timara Borough Council on Monday evening, the Mayor stated that ho and oom© of 'the Councillors! had been looking round for & building tot be used as a temporary hospital should any. case of amall-pox appear, and the only, available place was the old oatmeal xnill.* He had seen the owner, who now uses It aa ( a grain store, and he was willing to fell them have'it. It would require perhaps £2OO in putting up partitions and lining.i He had also had a conversation with tM chairman of the Levels County Cfeun® about the two Councils combining, to" errisli a permanent infectious diseases and it would bo well to appoint a deputed tion to wait upon the County Council aif. its next meeting. If they could erect a permanent hospital before any dangerous infectious case occurred the £2OO they would have to spend in preparing the old mill as a temporary place would go some way towards erecting the permanent hospital. Dr, R. S. Reid, Port Health Officer, waited on, the Council, and stated that ho had an offer of military tents front Christchurch for temporary use if required. These should be obtained, and, having them, the Council need not go to any expense in preparing the old mill, unloss a case of smaLL-pox actually oc-, curred. It was too soon to say that the; danger was over, as the cargo landed from) the Gracchus had to bo opened out and] treated with formalin. A circular from tie, Health Department required certain arrangements to be made for housing, transport, medical and nursing attendance, and maintenance. Each of these should be,assured beforehand. The Mayor said that the Hospital-Board hod, promised to provide a doctor and nurses at the time of the plague scare, and he understood that would apt 1 ply to any future easel The Board has also some more suitable tents than the military, kind. It was agreed that the Mayor should] ascertain whether these tents can be had and whether the Board will undertake to) provide a doctor and nurses, and also to pav the cost of maintenance. Yesterday Dr Reid spent some time in spraying with a formalin solution bales of comsacks from the Gracchus in the railway goods shed., ' i THE DUNEDIN, CASE. [Per Pubss Association.] DUNEDIN, May 26. The case of the female passenger by the Gracchus proves to be one of small-pox, bat of a mild character. The patient has been isolated. The owner anid occupier of the house quarantined), owing to a lady passenger by the Gracchus suffering from alleged smallpox, vigorously protests that the case is not one of small-pox. He says that)', the lady, on landing, developed symptoms of malarial fever, from which she had 1 previously suffered in India. Two doctors attended her, andt Dr Ogstoni also saw her,, and there was no suspicion of small-poac. Tlie rash was no more than the ordinary spots developed in malarial fever. This lady had been treated also for premature birth. When ’Dr Valintine saw her, she was almost In perfect health, considering the illness she had undergone. The high temperature had disappeared, and her appetite was good. All this happened in a few days. Dr Valintine, in reply, say* that he has aao doubt whatever that th» case was one of small-pox in a modified form, and where the possibilities are na serious, the Department could not take the risk of acting in any other way than i# has done. •DUNEDIN, May 26. An inspection of contacts with the Gracchus who were vaccinated was carefully , T made, as the period! of incubation of the disease is about expiring, and so far none show rigna of sickness. The lady passenger by the Gracchus is gaining health rapid)IjV but it will be ten days yet before the quarantine on the house is removed. Steps are being taken," to prepare the quarantine " v island) fen the reception of any case, if one occurs. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, May 26. In view of the case of small-pox discovered at Dunedin the Public Health Department has issued a circular letter to the Mayors of the various towns of the colony directing that everything! should be in readiness to meet possible danger, in case th« disease spreads further.