DISEASE DIMINISHING

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8480, 15 July 1913, Page 8

DISEASE DIMINISHING

ONLY ONE FRESH CASE REPORTED IN AUCKLAND. Press Association. AUCKLAND, July 14. The recent activities of the Public Health Department appear to have given a check to the prevailing malady among the Maoris ot northern New Zealand. Only one fresh case has been reported from the city and suburbs since Saturday, and the number located in the country is diminishing. Tho precautions which have been taken to ensure vaccination of the passengers of outward-bound vessels have been responsible for a noticeable fallingoff in numbers of people travelling to Sydney and the South. At the Union Company's office anyone asking for a ticket must show a certificate of recent and satisfactory vaccination. Largo notices have been posted in the shipping companies' offices and about the wharves, warning Maoris that they must not leave any place infected by the prevailing disease unless armed with a certificate of recent vaccination.

Wlien the Maheno arrived from Sydney yesterday she was at once boarded by Drs Sharman, Murray, and Lawry. A thorough examination was made, but only one passenger was called upon to submit to vaccination.

Dr Houghton, who is in charge of the work amongst the coastal vessels, is busily engaged amongst steamers of the Northern Company’s fleet in port. Already several of the crews have been vaccinated. There was a doctor in attendance on the Navua, prior to her departure for the islands on Monday, to vaccinate passengers who did not possess the necessary certificate. A number of intending passengers by the Tofua, which is to leave for the islands and Sydney to-morrow, were vaccinated aboard the vessel.

This afternoon the head teachers have been strongly recommending the vaccination of children attending the public schools, and large numbers ot parents are responding to the suggestion. Public departments, such as the City Council, are circularising their staffs with the same object, and the response has been of a ready nature. Some of the passengers who left by the main .trunk express on Sunday night became vaccinated as a result of the official announcement that tickets would only bo issued on production of vaccination certificates. It transpired, according to a subsequent Ministerial statement, that this precaution was not compulsory, although it was strongly recommended. Consequently some ot the passengers were vaccinated and some were not.

When discussing the heavy demand for vaccination Dr Frengley stated that the department desired to impress upon the public vaccinators that during the stress preference should be given to, so-called less educated members of the community. The department’s view was that educated persons had had ample, opportunity in years past of making themselves acquainted with the pros and cons of vaccination, and it was, therefore, preferred that others should not be deprived of the facilities being provided by the department.

“CONTACTS” AT KAIKOHE. WHANG AREI, July 14. | Though the outbreak of sickness) among the natives at Kaikohe was: considered sufficiently alarming to justify the postponement of a sitting of, the Native Land Court, the native l , school in the district was kept openj as usual. . I The natives suffering from the dis-l ease in that district have received: practically no attention, and “con-i tacts” have been freely moving about from one settlement to anothei. The-, consequence is that a number of cases have developed, and the need for a well-directed system of isolation and purification is very pressing indeed. SCHOOLMISTRESS AFFECTED. TE KUITI, July 14. The disease is spreading in the district. There is one case at Mangapehi and several cases at Waimiha, including a European schoolmistress. Dr Gunn arrived this morning and proceeded with Dr Mcßae to Waimiha. The Maoris are anxious fc< vaccination, hut the present supply of lymph is inadequate.

SICKNESS AT RAUKATATAHI PA, DANNEVIRKE, July 14.

A suspicious case of sickness is reported at Raukatatahi pa, near Norsewood. The p'alient, live years old, is sullering from a skin disease, which Dr Veitch considers ■ has every symptom of small-pox. The pa is isolated, and other necessary precautions are being taken. The patient and his parents have been visiting Rotorua and Waikato, and returned home a month ago. They stayed at Tahoraito pa, near Dannevirke, and also visited a langi at Takapuna last week. General precautions arc being taken. i PRECAUTIONS IN DUNEDIN. VOLUNTEER NURSING STAFF ORGANISING. DUNEDIN, July 14. A meeting of the local medical authorities, convened by the district, health officer (Dr. Champtaloup). fori the purpose of considering precautions] necessary in view of the outbreak of small-pox in the North Island, was held to-day. Dr. Champtaloup said his idea was that they should plan a campaign as| to what precautions they were going l to take, and what accommodation they| thought it advisable to have available', at once. Ho did not think they needalarm themselves, though they might have a case or two hero. An expression of opinion was invited as to the necessity for passengers from the North Island being vaccinated, andi it was resolved that this was a necessity. Other resolutions passed were, in effect, that the meeting approved of

(Vaccination of all cases of chicken-pox being compulsory, and that investigation and vaccination should be earned out where it was considered necessary that an officer should be appointed to investigate cases of chicken-pox; that regular weekly visits should be made to settlements, and a note should be sent beforehand that people would be vaccinated, and that a medical officei would pay special attention to any illness iu Maori settlements; that suitable temporary accommodation bo immediately provided for suspected cases and “contacts.” It was reported that the hospital at Quarantine Island was ready for use, and that the department also had a staff of officers ready. Six nurses in the hospital had been vaccinated, and notice has been posted calling for volunteers for nursing duty ,in the event of a small-pox outbreak. A motor boat has been arranged for ito establish communication with Quarantine Island, and an ambulance was available. It was mentioned during the conference that word had just been received that the most recent cases of smallpox had appeared in Hawke's Bay. BLUFF DOCTORS VACCINATE PASSENGERS. INVERCARGILL, July 14. Most of the Willochra’s passengers from Sydney who arrived at Bluff to-day produced the necessary certificates as to recent successful vaccination. but five were vaccinated by doctors before being allowed to land. Four passengers outward bound hr the Manuka for Hobart and Melbourne wore also vaccinated, the others having previous!? been treated.