SMALLPOX EPIDEMICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15824, 24 July 1913, Page 7

SMALLPOX EPIDEMICS

POSITION IN NEW SOUTH WALES, j SUSPECT AT NEWCASTLE. Press AEEOoiation—By Tolograph—Copyright. SYDNEY, July 23. A suspicious case is reported from Newcastle. , LULL IN VACCINATION. NOTICEABLE DECREASE. SYDNEY, July 23. In spite of the urgent appeals of the doctors there has been a noticeable decrease in vaccination during the past few days. THE MELBOURNE SCARE. • EXCITEMENT OVER. MELBOURNE, July 25. Tho rush for vaccination has ended. CONFERENCE OF HEALTH AUTHORITIES. RECOGNITION OF CERTIFICATES. SYDNEY, July 23. At a conference of the health authorities, at which Dr Makgill was present, an agreement was reached to mutually recognise all certificates of successful vaccinations issued in New Zealand and Australia respectively. ORIGIN OF THE OUTBREAK. DR MAKGILL'S OPINION. MELBOURNE, July 23. Dr Makgill, of Auckland, disagrees with the suggestion that the contagion reached Australia from New Zealand. He says that the appearances in Ne ( w Zealand do not support the theory. He thinks it fair' to assume that it was introduced both in Australia and New Zealand from Vancouver about the same date. FIVE NEW CASES. CLOSING VACCINATION DEPOTS. SYDNEY, July 23. (Feceived July 23, at 11.40 p.m.) Fout .fresh cases of smallpox were discovered in the city to-day, and one at Parkes. Several supposed cases in the country districts are being investigated. A large number of the vaccination depots will" be closed to-morrow owing to the falling off of applicants.

Sixteen thousand doses, of lymph have arrived from Melbourne and also a supply from Noumea. The bulk .of this lot will be despatched to the country.

The total number of public and private vaccinations in Sydney and suburbs is 200,000 —slightly over a quarter of the population.

PASSENGERS FROM NEW ZEALAND. SUCCESSFUL VACCINATION REQUIRED. MELBOURNE, July 23. (Received July 23, at 11.40 p.m.) A proclamation has been issued that passengers from New Zealand miwt present an official certificate of successful vaccination. UNFAVOURABLE CONDITIONS. DOCTORS ANXIOUS. SYDNEY, July 23. (Received July 23, at 9.30 p.m.) The weather is wintry, and rain is falling steadily.

Tlie health authorities view the unpleasant change with concern, pointing out that smallpox is always worse in winter than in summer. The history of epidemics shows that in the summer people, by not keeping indoors and not keeping close together, do not transmit the disease with the same freedom as they do in winter.

The Newcastle case has been diagnosed as smallpox.

POSITION IN AUCKLAND PROVINCE. ANOTHER DEATH. SIXTY-NINE CASES AT OT/UA. TWENTY SCHOOLS CLOSED. THE PROPOSED COMMISSION. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, July 23. i Five fresh cases of the prevailing epidemic were isolated at the Point Chevalier hospital to-day. Three of these are Maoris moved from Shoal Bay and the other two are Europeans. One of the Litter, a girl, was removed from Nelson street and was a contact with Maori cases previously taken from the same area. The second, a man, presented himself at the Auckland Hospital. He had been in contact with Maori cases in the Waikato, and stated that he had walked into Auckland from Mercer. Prior to that he had been in Te Kuiti.

Reports received in oountry districts by the local Health Officer included a communication from Te Rangihiroa (Dr Buck) stating that he had seen 69 cases of the disease at Otaua (Bay of Islands). Advice was received that a case at Kawhia had been found to be a contact with a Maori from Auckland. The death of a Maori was reported from Ngawlia. Advioes from Dr Cawkwcll,. at Kaihoke,_ stated that the disease was more evident in the young people of the district. The Deputy Mayor (Mr John Court) has telegraphed 'to the Minister of Public Health (the Hon. E. H. F.hodes) _ suggesting that he should appoint a medical commission to investigate the prevailing epidemic. Mr Court has also telegraphed to the Auckland City Jl.P.'s at present in Wellington informing them of the request made to the Minister, and asking them to confer with their colleagues with a view to urging the Government to act promptly in setting up the proposed commission. He added that the matter was daily becoming more urgent. A Teport presented to the Education Board yesterday showed that 20 schools in country districts had been temporarily closed. Maoris and half-castes had been prevented from attending the schools while the epidemic lasted, and this had resulted in eurih a falling off in attendance that it was deemed necessary to close tho schools. e

HUNTLY CLERGYMAN AFFECTED. FAMILY ISOLATED. BAD CASE FROM MATANGI. (Per United Press Association.) HAMILTON, July 23. A case of smallpox is reported from Huntly, tho patient, being the Methodist clergyman, who should have performed a marriage ceremony to-day, but was unable to do so, and tho* service of another cleric had to be requisitioned. The patient was isolated, together with members of tho family with whom he resides. Tho public school, which contains a large number of Native scholars, lias been closed. While smallpox ie emending in the Waikato, Hamilton is still unaffected, A bad case was brought in yesterday from Matnngi—an elderly Native, in a very advanced stnee of tho disease. He was isolated at the Hospital.