OUTLOOK IMPROVING

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8482, 17 July 1913, Page 7

OUTLOOK IMPROVING

NO FRESH MAORI CASES IN AUCKLAND. Press Association. * AUCKLAND, July 16. The outlook in connection with the outbreak of tho disease amongst tho , Maoris is improving. According to a Statement made by the district health officer no freeh Maori cases had been

reported, in the- city, but ono case, that of a male native, had been discovered in the suburbs. The patient had been in contact Vith other cases, and fwas removed to the isolation hospital. The number of patients now isolated is twenty-seven. A few oases of pustular disease out-

side the oity and suburbs were reported to the district health office, hut turned out to he certainly chickenpox. In regard to the statement of Di Good, of Wfaangarei, that fully 300 natives were affected by the disease

in the north, and that a certain per- . centage of the cases wore certainly ’ small-pox, the district health officer stated that it did not appear that Dr Good had hod the opportunity of going through the districts said to bo infected. Therefore, the report of the doctor who was specially sent by the Health Department to these districts must he taken as final. The doctor in question reported that the statements in regard to the infection in the north had been very much exaggerated. It was reported by telegraph yesterday that four deaths had taken place among natives in settlements round about Kawa Kawa, where there has been an outbreak of the disease. It has not yet been made clear whether these natives died from the prevailing pustular disease or some other complaint. The District Health Office has not rot received word as to the disease from which the natives died, but Dr Lunn, of Kataia, at the instance of the Health Department, is visiting the nottlomonte, which are widely scattered, and his report will probably soon bo forthcoming. There is still an unsatisfied demand fbr vaccine from the local doctors. Lymph sufficient to inoculate 3000 people arrived by the Main Trunk express to-day, and was distributed to applicants’. A further supply of lymph, anfSciansfc to inoculate 9000 persons, will arrive by the express to-morrow tnornxnc. WHANQAREI AFFECTED. EIGHT PATIENTS IN HOSPITAL. WHANQAREI, July 16. There are eight cases of small-pox in Whangarei Hospital. A well-known resident carrying on business in Cameron street has contracted the disease, and is now an inmate of the hospital. A rumour Went round to-day that the case was definitely one of smallpox, but Dr Frazer Hurst says the ease is the same as all the others, and in his opinion is not small-pox. He fully believed that the cases were •similar to those in Sydney,' but ho could not, call one of those ho had Soon small-pox. There was absolutely no need for alarm. The position whs no more serious here than it was six weeks ago. At the same time he considered that all those who had not been vaccinated should submit to the operation now. It would prevent persons from getting small-pas, if there were any nbqut, violently. A Matri was brought into the hospital yesterday from Limestone suffering from the malady. Two other natives, of Limestone, a man on! a woman, who contracted the disease were isolated, and are now convalescent. Quito a largo number of Maoris have assemllfjd at the island from the surrounding district. They wore addressed hj Mr Fitzgibbons, of the Cement Company, and have all been persuaded to nadorgo vaccination. A supply of lymfh is being sent direct to Mr Fitzgiblon, and as soon as this arrives a medcal man will go down to vaccinate them. HAWKE’S BAY CASES. HASTINGS, Jnly 16. Dr. Bar croft visited the Mormon Maori College at Bridge Pa this morniig, and found one definite case and >no doubtful. Both patients have

been quarantined, and steps are to he taken to prevent the spread of tho epidemic. Tho youth who brought the disease to tho college camo last Friday from Kaikoho, north of Auckland. It was reported this morning that two cases had boon detected at Paidpaki Pa, six miles from Hastings, but tho health authorities have not been notified, and the probability is that tho cases have boon confused with those at tho Bridge Pa. A largo number of Maoris and Europeans wore vaccinated by tho public vaccinators this morning.

NO ALARMING CASES IN DUNEDIN. Press Association. DUNEDIN, July 16. Dr Champtaloup states that plenty of vaceino lymph, is now available in Dunedin. So far nothing has como to bis knowledge concerning tbe Otago district to oauso the slightest alarm. Several cases of chicken-pox have come under the notice of the local health authorities, but there is nothing in these outbreaks to warrant, uneasiness. Dr Paterson, schools medical officer, who is assisting the Health Department, is paying particular attention to this disease, and is visiting the schools to see that tho necessary precautions are being taken. MAORIS FROM INFESTED AREAS ASK TO BE VACCINATED. Mr J: A. -Young, M.P. for Waikato, yesterday received telegraphic advico from Waotu, near Putaruru, to tho effect that natives were coming into the Waotu district from infected areas and asking that someone be sent there to vaccinate them. At Waotu there is a native school at which both European and Maori children are attending. Mr Young has placed the matter before the Minister of Public Health. Yesterday morning Dr Platts-Mills attended the staff of tho D.1.C., who now bear the "Sign of the Times."