THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, September 8, 1853. NATIVES BEWARE! THE SMALL POX IS IN SYDNEY.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume V, Issue 123, 8 September 1853, Page 2

THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, September 8, 1853. NATIVES BEWARE! THE SMALL POX IS IN SYDNEY.

When this Journal was established,—new nearly five years since, his Excellency Governor Sir George Grey, impressed with the purest and most considerate spirit of philanthropy towards the native race, could not permit the appearance even of its first number, without earnestly drawing their attention to a malignant disease which has for ages disfigured and destroyed millions of mankind of every country and clime; and which, if unfortunately introduced into NewZealand, would imperil the very existence of the tribes*, since amongst normal race s its ravages have ever been found to be the most frightful; sometimes sweeping ofT whole tribes; and at others, barely leaving survivors suflicicnl to bury the dead. The appalling malady to whichwc all ude is the Small Pox. And as this cruel disorder has just made its pestiferous appearance in Sydney, a port but eight days sail from this, and one with which New Zealand is in constant communication, it is far from impossible, or even improbable, that it may not creep in amongst us:—we, therefore, once more urgently cntrcatall of our native readers who value their own lives, or the lives of their friends and relations, to lake the most prompt precautious against this disgusting

infeelion; since, they may rest assured, should it once ohtain a fooling among them, the most desolating wars that ever depopulated the tribes, will be as nothing compared with the ravages of this fell and fatal destroyer. To those who have preserved the Maom MF.ssfi.NCEn, as it has from time to lime been issued to lliem,—we say refer to ihe second and third numbers of this Journal, and consider well the history of this calamitous disorder, and the preservatives against) infection, so clearly and forcibly pointed out in Dr. Thomson's letter. To those who have never seen that letter, wc would intimate that (it having been reprinted in a small pamphlet) a few copies arc still in ihc possession of the Native Secretary, from whom, upon application, they may, no doubt, be had. I.ct the natives deeply ponder the contents of that little 'look. Let them spread the knowledge or its saving truth far and wide; and if they would avoid the risk of incurring a loathsome diieasc, and, in all probability, painful death, let lliem hasten to profit by ihc sure, simple, and painless precaution therein made known. It is a singular interposition of a merciful Providence, that a disease or so deadly a character can be rendered innocuous by a process so simple as vaccination. Vet, from the criminal indifference of mankind to avail themselves of this easy preservative, it would almost seem that its very simplicity tended to obstruct its universal adoption. It rorccs upon one's consideration ihc almost similar obstinacy of Naanian the Syrian, who, when the Prophet Elisha instructed him to wash in Jordan seven times and be cleansed of his leprosy went away in a rage, until his servants spake unto him and said " My father, if ihc Prophet had bid then ilo some great thing, wouldcsl thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to Ihcc, Wash, and be clean?" Just so, with the simple process of vacciualion. Men readily and jojfully submit to Ihe amputation or arms and legs to save life ; and yet arc careless of undergoing the momentary prick of a lancet to preserve them from the inroads or a disease which has slain more men than all the wars upon record. Again wc say, let our native readers ponder these facts. Tin; Sham. Pox has been carried into Sydney : and it may, ala moment Ihc least expected, be brought from thence into New Zealand. Will our Native brethren neglect thosiniplc precaution of vacciualion ? Will they wait until they find themselves stricken with a hopeless contagion which Dr. Thomson thus painfully portrays? The sores arc so painf. 1, that a sick person cannot sleep ; and as the sores are over the body, he cannot cither stand or lie clown in any posture without pain. Tlicdischargp from Ihe sores is so disgusting, that it is only the kindest friends that can be brought to attend a person ill with small pox; and to convince you of this, I regret to tell yon, that a wife has been known to run away from her husband, and a mother from her child, dating the sickness from small pox. ir you go near, or touch a person ill with small pox, you are. in great danger, or taking the disease, and by this means it has spread among men. Out of every four persons who are attacks cd with small pox, and have no medical treatment, one dies; and many who recover have the beauty ortliefucedestroyed for ever and in bad cases the sight of one or both eyeis lost, and the car is rendered deaf. The letter of Dr. Thomson abounds with examples or the frightful ravages occasioned by the Small Pox. He acquaints you that when Small Pox first made its appearance

among the tribes of American Indians, ihey. having no fi-icnds, like you, lo warn them and point out a remedy, perished by thousand*; many entire tribes having been swept from the face of the earth. In Mexico, the Small Pox killed three millions of people. In the small and remote island, of Iceland, the Small Pox destroyed 18,000 people out of a population of 20,000. "In Ceylon,—say* Dr. Thomson, in his juvaluablc letter to you,"— " In Ceylon, a small island under the protection or England (having a large population in outward appearance resembling you), smallpox once proved very fatal. The Governor endeavoured to vaccinate the inhabitants but the tribes being ignorant, did not like, this to be done. By degrees their eyes were opened to the advanlage of vaccination and thousands of persons were vaccinated. Tho consequence is, that for nearly forty years small pox has been a rare disease among the tribes, in Ceylon. Vaccination is the only remedy to prevent small pox. It is ibis which the Governor is to introduce among you. It is done by pulling a small quantity of matter, below the skin of the arm. It'is not so painfulas mak-' iug n tattoo mark. It is done i<> a minute, and after ii is done, you can eat, drink, sleep, and work without any trouble. The Governor proposes to teach some of yourselves lo vaccinate;. and after they have learned how lo do it, he will send them lo vaccinate all your men, women, and children now living. After you have got yourselves vaccinated, von must be carerul of the matter, and as children arc born, you will vaccinate them. In after years, when you know more than you now know, I have no doubt yon will often say, Uiai ihe Governor who introduced vaccination was a tried friend." The Editor of this Journal, —he who now wiites, and strives to impress upon you the incalculable benefilsof vaccination,—suffered all the horrible inflictions of the Small-Pox. It is quite true that it occurred to him at a i period of life beyond his ability of recollection. Hut he can never forget the terrible description of his temporary blindness and prolonged sufferings given him by the affectionate parent to whose untiring assiduity he owed his recovery. If llicn it wore matter of urgency lo direct your attention lo the saving imporancc of vaccination in the first number of this Journal, it is now of infinitely deeper consequence lo enforce its urgent and immediate necessity in this our 123 rd number. Then, the danger was merely a contingent one; but now that the disease has been carried into Sydney, it is imminent, if nol impending. Let us, therefore, once more revert to the warnings of our third number ; and as you value life and health, we implare you not to trifle, but profit, by the friendly and faithful counsel there given. "Your friend, the Governor, is most anxious, that you should not be exposed lo this peril. He has taken every means to convince you of tho loathsome and mortal character of the disease. And he spared no pains, lo acquaint you of a preventive, and to place that preventive within (lie reach of every one. Let not any indifference of an evil you know not, cause you to reject the the safety placed within your reach. Should the malady be unhappily, brought into the country, and you should become its victims, how bitterly would you not then regret thai you refused to take counsel from Ihe experience of the European, and turned a deaf ear to ihe entreaties of his friendly solicitude. We hope that yuu will he wise, and that you will not only go without delay to be yourselves protected, but that you will Irani the art so that you may, in linn become the protectors of your friends and relations. We are earnest in persuading you to this, because men are generally very slow lo perceive that which is for their good ; whilst they eagerly ! fly to any means of gratifying their appetites I or their passions.

It is liiiidlv 10 ho supposed lhat you who have never seen lhat horrible, disease will bo more eager to secure yourselves against it, tliaii llie people of Europe were; who, althougli carried off by thousands, for a long time obstinately resisted lhatremedy which we now intreal vou to receive. The great and wise man who made Hie blessed discovery, was mocked and despised by the vain and the foolish. Hut he was not to be daunted, and be presevcred, until vaccination was not only universally adopted throughout England but introduced into every civilised nation in the world. In fact it is a question, whether the disorder might not have been extirpated, but for the few ignorant and silly people who chose to run the risk of death or disfigurement, rather than be brought to believe in the certainty of a cure, for which the discoverer, Dr. Edward Jenner, received abundant wcaltli,and honours; beingslyled,lhe " Benefactor of the Human Race," and having had twenty thousand pounds a year granted by the King or England, and an order of nobility offered by the Emperor Alexander of Russia. Do not hesitate, dear friends; you will discover, below where this valuable remedy, more precious than gold, is lobe had. The pain is nothing. It is momentary, and not so sharp as the prick of a pin or needle. Should Small Pox come into New Zealand, it will save you from cruel torments, in all probability from death. Go—He wise—Wo desire your health and happiness—not your misery and destruction!" "SVc need merely further state that there is an ample supply of vaccine matter nl the Colonial Hospital, from whence it has been constantly circulated throughout every part of the country. At the Hospital, applicants will not merely themselves be cheerfully but they will also be instructed in the manner and furnished with the means of vaccinating others. When we drew attention to this subject about five years since, many natives did get vaccinated. However, as no peril then impended vaccination has since fallen into utter neglect. Now, however, the peril is near: —a day may bring contagion into the land. Once the infection takes root who shall slay its ravages? Be wise—be alert,—oh ! Maories. The preventive offered for your acceptance, is of paramount consideration. Since by its adoption, you may well be said to choose between Life or Death.