THE SPREAD OF SMALLPOX.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 83, 10 April 1869, Page 2

THE SPREAD OF SMALLPOX.

(From tke Melbourne Age, March 26 J The following notification in regard to smallpox has been issued by the Central Board of Health :— The Central Board of Health deem it advisahle to correct a misapprehension which appears to exist in some quarters as to the powers possessed by the sanitary authorities with respect to the removal or isolation of persons affected with small-pox. The hoard accordingly desire to state for public information that the law does not confer on the authorities any power to effect the removal of any patient from their homes to any hospital, unless with the consent of the patient themselves; and that the Royal Park smallpox hospital is provided for the reception only of those who, from not being able to obtain proper medical treatment, nursing and isolation at their own homes, may wish to avail themselves of the accommodation which the hospital affords. The object of the sanitary authorities is to assist individuals attacked by the disease, and to prevent its spread in any neighborhood where a case may appear. The Central Board of Health therefore trust that any case of smallpox whicli may occur will be . at once reported to the central or local boardß of health, or to the Chief Medical Officer, in order that prompt measures may be taken for preventing the spread of the disease in tbe locality where it may appear ; and that the public will not be deterred from reporting any case of the disease by the groundless apprehension of forcible removal which has been alluded to. By order of the Board, T. R. Wilson, Secretary. Central Board of Health, Melbourne, March 24, 1869. vaccination. The following circular has been forwarded to all the Government vaccinators : — Medical Department, Melbourne, 19th March, 1869. — In consequence ofthe spread of smallpox about Melbourne, there is a great scarcity of vaccine lymph. I have, therefore, to request that the public vaccinator will not permit any persons to neglect or refuse to bring back their children on the eighth day after vaccination j that they will report to the police for prosecution every instance of such neglect or refusal ; that they will, when the children are brought back, secure and preserve as much vaccine lymph from them as possible and that they will, for the present, transmit all available lymph to this office. — William M'Crea, Chief Medical Officer.