SMALL-POX AT AUCKLAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3243, 28 June 1872, Page 3

SMALL-POX AT AUCKLAND.

The New Zealand Herald, in its issue of the ISth inst., says :—"Dr Philson, Provincial Surgeon, informed us yesterclay that there was a case of small-pox in the Provincial Hospital. The sufferer, Henry Thompson, is about forty years of age, and appears to he a healthy, vigorous man. He arrived in Auckland by the Nebraska from Dunedin, and was on his way to join his family in Melbourne, -whore tht y reside. The connecting steamer, however, not sailing directly, Thompson was compelled to live in Auckland, and took lodgings at the Wharf Dining Rooms, kept by Mr Gardner. He lived there for three days, but feeling unwell, he walked up to the Hospital on Sunday morning, and was admitted. On Monday morning (yesterday), it became perfectly manifest that his disease was small-pox. He was at once removed to a separate house, and every precaution taken to isolate him from the other patients. So far the symptoms are not unfavourable ; but^as there are no marks of vaccination upon his arm, it is most probable that the disease will run its course. Thompson cannot account for his infection. He states

that there were two men on board the Nebraska with him who had eruptions on their skin, but the ship's surgeon did not consider it serious after examining them. It is more than likely, however, that he caught the infection from these men. A searching inquiry should be made regarding the passengers who travelled by the Nebraska last trip, with the view of tracing the disease to its origin. Judging from the simultaneous appearance of the disease in Wellington, we are inclined to attribute it to the release of the passengers by the ship England too soon. There is also the frightful possibility of the disease being on board the Nebraska from a like cause. Too much praise cannot be given to Dr Philson for his promptitude in separating Thompson from the other patients ; and it is to be hoped that the disease may not spread. When two cases of small-pox occurred at Wanganui a few years ago, the disease was ' stamped out' by the precautions taken to prevent its spread ; and a very grave responsibility rests with the local authorities of Auckland in this matter. Whether it may be necessary to have Auckland proclaimed an infected port remains to be seen. At present there does not appear to be any necessity ; but should there be, it would seriously interfere with our intercourse with the outer world."

From the same issue of the Herald we take the following report of some remarks made by the Mayor at a meeting of the City Council held on the preceding day :—" The Mayor in taking his seat said : I have no wish to excite alarm, but I am sorry to have to inform the members of the Council that there is an undoubted case of small-pox in the town. From what I have been able to gather, it appears that a passenger by the Nebraska slept in an eating and lodging house on the wharf for three nights, and was taken ill; upon being examined it was found that he was infected with this disease. He was taken to the Hospital, aud the doctor there has declared his case to be an undoubted case of small-pox. The man, however, has been isolated as far as possible, having been taken to a house at some distance from the Hospital building. The most unfortunate part of the business is that this man should have slept in a house of public resort in the town, where, however unintentionally, he plight be the means of communicating the disease to many others before any effectual preventive could be applied. I may, however, inform the Council that steps have been taken to get all the bedding in which he slept destroyed, or steeped in water. I have also to inform you that a telegram has been received, to the effect that there is good reason to believe that the mail-agent of the Nebraska was also ill of small-pox. This is, of course, a serious matter, for we are more or less aware that others on board that vessel are said to have exhibited symptoms of the disorder, and it is impossible to say where the evil may end. At present, however, no serious harm has been done, and it is not desirable that alarm should be spread throughout the city. But every means must be taken to prevent the spread of the disease, now that it is known to exist among us. A meeting of the Board of Health was held this morning, when the matter was discussed, and steps taken for fumigating and destroying whatever might be likely to disseminate the infection. A deputation waited on His Honour the Superintendent this afternoon with the same object in view. Ido not know whether at present the Council will feel it necessary to take any immediate action, but I am sure we will ail be happy to give what assistance we can to the authorities to prevent the spreading of so serious a disorder. It was with this view thayLdeemed it necessary to bring the siibjCT^pHfc£neritly before the Council. It may; turn out to^B-ao^ing---l hopefit may be so --^but still it may^Be^fefirs^tagssta setieas public r . The, Herald also has , the following ;— " When the announcement was made to the representative of the General Government in Auckland (Dr Pollen), that officer at once proceeded to take active measures for meeting any emergency that jnight arise. The Govornn^ont plans for "quarantine buildings were at once_ placed in the hands of Mr Wrigley, architect, with instructions to prepare similar plans and specifications without delay. Those plans are the same as those drawn out for the proposed quarantine establishment on Soames Island. The situation of the quarantine ground has been determined upon. It is to be Motu Ihi. Dr Pollen also calls for tenders. We may state that the Government have been for some time endeavouring to hasten the erection of a block of quarantine buildings for Auckland."