NOT SMALLPOX.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15325, 11 June 1913, Page 8

NOT SMALLPOX.

RUKUTAI'S COMPLAINT.

SETTLED AT LAST. '*?

SUFFERING FROM CHICKENPOX.

The halfcaste Maori, James Rukutai, is not suffering from smallpox, but from an acute form of cbickynpox. A definite statement to this effect lias been made -by the public health authorities. /

The patient has been under observation since Wednesday last. All along there has been doubt as to tire .real nature of Rukutai's complaint, and Dr. Maguire, medical superintendent of the Auckland Hospital, who has had much experience of smallpox amongst coloured races, expressed himself as being strongly inclined to the opinion, after seeing the patient the day after tho latter was admitted to the isolation hospital, that the case was one of chickenpox. However, as a doubt existed as to tho nature of the case the health authorities decided to take extreme precautions until the nature of the disease was definitely determined.

The following official statement in regard to Rukutai's case was given to a Herald representative yesterday by the district health officer:—" After visiting and examining the patient at the isolation hospital to-day, I am able to" state that the cause of his illness is chickenpox of a virulent tyne. As the man was not seen in the early stages of his complaint— fact, not until the rash was fully outit was impossible to state definitely the exact cause of sickness, but by carefully watching later developments I am enabled to pronounce the case to have been as above stated.

"During the period of doubt," the statement goes on, "of course the only thing to do was to treat the case as if it were one of the more serious complaint. In about 10 days I think the patient will be able to be dismissed from the hospital and allowed to resume his usual avocation-."