SMALLPOX EPIDEMICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15821, 21 July 1913, Page 5

SMALLPOX EPIDEMICS

POSITION IN SYDNEY. COMPULSORY VACCINATION BILL. TO APPLY TO INFANTS ONLY. Press Association—By Telegraph.—Copyright. SYDNEY, July 19. Since the contagion first became known 288 cases of smallpox have been treated. Of this number 55 patients and 164 convalescents are still in quarantine, and 69 have been discharged.

Mr Holman states that the Government Compulsory Vaccination Bill will apply to infants only.

THE MAHENO'S PASSENGERS. | SYDNEY, July 19. The Maheno's passengers and crew were examined, and those not successfully vaccinated were re-vaccinated before their release. ORIGIN OF THE DISEASE. SYDNEY AUTHORITIES' BELIEF. DIRECT FROM NEW ZEALAND. SYDNEY, July 1?. The health authorities have been compelled to recast their belief that smallpox was introduced by a steward aboard the Vancouver steamer. This steward had been successfully vaccinated, and showed an eruption from which he suffered, but it was not smallpox. It is now believed the disease came direct from New Zealand, and the authorities are convinced that the New Zealand, Sydney, and Canadian outbreaks are all of the same type. It is thought extremely likely that the disease came to Sydney from New Zealand after the Maoris had been infected with the Canadian virus.

VACCINATION AT MELBOURNE,

THE KAROOLA'S PASSENGERS. MELBOURNE, July 19. Fifty thousand people have been vaccinated. Only a few of the Karoola'6 contacts are untraced. There are no further cases. A FALSE REPORT. HOBART, July 19. The statement that the Maungamu had four of tho Karoola's passengers aboard, though made officially, proved to be

groundless. She has no passengers from the affected area, nor were any landed here. FOUR MORE CASES. SHORTAGE OF LYMPH, NEW ZEALAND LYMPH INEFFECTIVE.

SYDNEY, July 20. (Received July 20, at 5.5 p.m.)

There were four fresh cases of smallpox on Saturday.

TheTe is a temporary shortage of lymph, but a supply from Noumea will arrive to-morrow.

A local firm is already turning out lymph, bnt it will not be available until the end of tho week

Seven thousand people were vaccinated at the public depots on Saturday.

It is reported from Newcastle that New Zealand lymph 'has proved ineffective. One doctor at Newcastle used it on 300 people, but all of them must be revaccinated.

A PLEA6LNG REPORT. SYDNEY, July 20. (Received July 21, at 0.25 a.m.) Only one case of smallpox was reported to-day. RUSH FOR VACCINATION. EXTRAORDINARY CROWDS IN SYDNEY. RESIDENT'S DESCRIPTION. (Fbom Our Own Correspondent.) WANGANUI, July 19. _ Writing to his relatives in Wanganui from Sydney concerning the smallpox scare Mr J. Ferry says that the doctors in that city cannot get amy lymph for private use. The Government holds the supply, and is giving lymph only to the vaccination depots of toe department. "It is next to impossible," he goes on to say, "to get near the different town halls where vaccination is done free. The crowd inside the Sydney Town Hall all day is such that ono would think there was an important political meeting on inside, though there are more women and children in crowds than would be usual. Some unfortunate women with, children have got into the crowd in the morning and not been able to get out of it all day, getting away after the doors were closed and the crowd dispersed no more vaccinated than when they left home in the morning.

POSITION IN AUCKLAND. MORE CASES REPORTED. MOVEMENTS OF VACCINATED • f CONTACTS. CASES AT HUNTLY. (Pee United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, July 20. Yesterday morning fresh cases of the prevailing epidemic were discovered in the city and subnrhs,' and the patients were immediately sent out to the isolation hospital at Point Chevalier. All were Maoris. Two of the cases were located at Onehunga, a, third was a waterside worker residing in Mairaion street, and a fourth was a Native who was discovered walking down Queen street. In the latter case Inspector Furniss, of the Public Health Department, saw the man walking aimlessly along the street. His face was badly pock-marked, and Inspector Furniss immediately "arrested" hint and conveyed hira to the Health Department's office, where- his trouble was at once diagnosed- as an undoubted case. The man was placed in an ambulance and driven without delay to the isolation hos\pital. Questioned with regard to the actual number of cases considered to he really smallpox, Dr Frengley said there were 35 cases in the isolation hospital Five of these were Europeans and the rest Maoris. All the patients were doing well, and ho was well pleased with the results 60 far obtained by the health authorities in combating the disease. The supply of lymph is still shoTt of the actual demand, but fresh quantities are arriving daily. Complaints have been received from country districts that Natives visibly suffering from some pock complaint are travelling about without restraint, because despite tne evidence of the state of health they are in they possess certificates indicating that they have been vaccinated. The matter was referred to Dr Frengley, and ho stated that the District Health Officer was now awaiting instructions from Wellington -as to what should be done to restrict the movements of contacts whether vaccinated or not.

The strictest supervision is being maintained by the department in_ regard to shipping. Every boat belonging to the coastal fleet is boarded by a doctor on arrival, and those who have not been vaccinated have to submit to the injection of the lymph or stay aboard the ship. The doctors are etill besieging the Health Department daily for fresh supplies of lymph. Nearly all the medical men have'been appointed public vaccinators, and peoplo may bo treated free by any doctor holding such an appointment. Word was received late this afternoon that three more oases had been discovered

in the city, including one of a European at Parnell. Light and severe Maori cases are reported from Huntly.

SUSPECTED CASE AT PAHIATUA.

SPECIAL NURSE OBTAINED.

(Peh United Press Association.)

PAHIATUA, July 19. Considerable consternation was caused here to-day by the announcement of a local case of smallpox. A middle-aged man from the Auckland district, who has been staying at a local boamdinghouse, developed very suspicious symptoms of disease this morning. Dr _ Dawson was notified, and ordered the immediate removal of the man, who is a European, to the isolation ward at the Pahiatua Hospital. An officer of the Health Department was telegraphed fcr, and a special nurse has been obtained from Masterton.

VACCINATING THE NATIVES,

WILLINGNESS TO SUBMIT.

(Fnoit Onn Own Cobbespondext.)

WANGANUI, July 19. During the past few days the public vaccinators have been kept fairly busy vaccinating the Natives of tho Patea district. At Waitotara a great number of Maoris have gone through the operation with a willingness that has rendered much less difficult the work of the medical men. At the Pariroa Pa the same precautions have been taken, and all the Maoris of that district appear to be in a fairly healthy condition. SITUATION AT WELLINGTON. NO FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS. CHICKEN-POX PREVALENT. (Pse Uhited Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 20. _ There are no further developments in the local smallpox scare. The patient isolated on Friday is reported to be making excellent progress, and none of the contacts, who are being kept in rigid quarantine, have developed any indication of the disease. The hospital authorities are confident that nothing more serious is likely to follow.

All the public vaccinators continue to be well patronised.

There is at present a good deal of chicken-pox prevalent in the city, and the district health officer is urging that in all cases there should be no delay in calling in medical advice as chicken-pox is now a notifiable disease. THE ISOLATED POLITICIAN. MEMBER FOR BAY OF ISLANDS. WHOLE HOUSEHOLD IN QUARANTINE. ■ SUCCESSFUL VACCINATION. (From Our Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, July 20. The patient who has been placed in the isolation ward at the Wellington..Hospital as suffering from the prevailing epidemic, or what is commonly spoken of as a mild case of''smallpox, is a European maid, in the employment of Mr Vernon Reed, M.P., for the Bay of Islands. The patient, who recently arrived from Kawakawa, is reported to be making favourable progress. When the sickness was discovered, Mr Reed and the members of his household at once took steps to isolate themselves, and all were immediately vaccinated. In order to make assurance doubly secure the authorities have placed a policeman on duty in front of the residence, which is in Hobson street, Thorndon, night and day, in order to see that no person enters or leaves the house. Arrangements have been made' for food supplies to reach the inmates without them or the persons delivering the supplies coming into communication.

The general practice with regard to isolation, it is understood, is to treat all houses and families alike. No one is allowed to oome out of the house, so as to mingle with other people in the streets, and no one is allowed to go in. If they do, they stop in until such time as they are permitted by the health authorities to go out and mix with the rest of the world.

It was ascertained by telephone this afternoon that Mr Reed and all the members of the household are 'in excellent health. The vaccinations in each case are proving to be successful, and it is expected that the period of isolation will be over in two or three days; in fact, Mr Reed says that he expects to be back in his place in the House during the coming week. Several members of Parliament and others engaged in the Parliament buildings, including half a dozen members of the press gallery, were vaccinated yesterday.

VACCINATION IN PARLIAMENT.

EFFECT ON THE HOUSE.

SUFFERING MEMBERS,

(Fbou Ode Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, July 20. Towards the, end of last week, and more especially on Friday, members of the House were suffering more or less patiently the effects of vaccination. A number of them have had rather a, fying time, not merely from sore arms, but from other complications which vaccination induces in certain victims. It is6tid that the ragged nerves and uncertain temper of the House generally had something to do with the early adjournment on Friday night.- The House had, as the Prime Minister said, done a very gtod day's work, but a few of the vaccinated members were unwilling to vork much more, and altogether it is said that the temper of the House, was too uncertain for the Government to ask- it to pass the second reading of the next Bill i.n the order paper—the Police Force Bill,

More than one vaccinated .ncmber h«6 had to seek, medical advice, and to-day one, a prominent member of the G] position, was, walking about the rjildings .with his arm in a sling. CHICKENPOX AT BENNETTS. NOTHING SERIOUS. (Pee United Phess Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, July 20. Inquiries at the Health Jffice go to show that there is no apparent arise for alarm regarding the reported outbreak of cbickenpox at Bennetts. The doctor who inspected the cases, which comprise three adults and a number of school children, states that ho is satisfied that the (iiseasc is only ohickenpox and nothing more serious. Some cases of chickenpox occurred last month at the Bennetts School, and it has been rather prevalent in South Canterbury and Southland, but eo far North Canterbury, with this exception, has escaped. DR VALINTINE*S BULLETIN. (P»B Unitko Press Asaoci.moa.) WELLINGTON, July 19. There wo 34 cases in the isolation hospital at Point Chevalier. Two Maoris were received to-day from Onehunga, and one from Mangere. A European was entered from Parnell. A house-to-house inspection is being made through Nelson street,. Auckland. The following cases are reported from the Auckland district :— Two at Awakana, one at Waikaha, one at Te' Toko, one at Punga Punga. A suspected case at Ohinemutu has been removed to the Rotorua isolation hospital. The Mormon elder suspected ,of having introduced the disease has been discovered and taken to Kaiheko for medical exam: ination. In addition to the case reported in Wellington and the one in Napier a suspect has been isolated at Pahiatua. July 20. There oro three new cases in Auckland and eight at Huntly.