SMALLPOX EPIDEMICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15826, 26 July 1913, Page 9

SMALLPOX EPIDEMICS

NEW ZEALAND LYMPH,

EXCESSIVE PURIFICATION.

Prew Association—By Talegr&ph—Copyright SYDNEY, July 25. (Received July 25, at 9.30 p.m.)

It is stated officially that one consignment of New Zealand lymph liad Ucn so purified that all the cowpox was purified out of it.

In a trial at Sydney only one case took out of six.

Some of jthe Board of Health's lymph trom New Zealand was sent to New-

castle,

COMPULSORY VACCINATION,

PROTEST BY. LABOUR

SYDNEY, July 25. The Labour Council carried a resolution expressing the strongest protest .against compulsory vaccination.

ANOTHER CASE IN QUEENSLAND,

PRISONERS TO BE VACCINATED.

BRISBANE, July 25.

There is a case of emalloox in VmIpswich district,. The Government has ordered the prisoners in all gaols to be vaccinated. Strict precautions will be enforced against passengers arriving by trains from New South Wales.

.SEVEN FRESH CASES. SYDNEY, Jrdy 25. (Received July 26, at 0.25 a.m.)

The Victorian arrived from. Auckland at 7 o'clock to-night, and was anchored down the harbour awaiting medical .inspection. Her passengers will land to-morrow morning- 4

Six cases of smallpox were reported in the metropolitan area to-day.

One of the patients came from a house which was in a filthy condition. It is suggested that the local authorities should make a house-to-house visitation.

A case at Nyngan has been proved to be smallpox, and a case at Carcoar is fioabtfwJ.

SUSPECTED CASE IN SOUTE AUSTRALIA.

ADELAIDE, July 25. (Received July 26, at 0.20 a.m.) There is a caso of suspected smallpox at Rosewortly. A recent visitor to Sydney, where he was vaccinated, has developed a suspicious rash. ■ South Australia luis been declared an infected district.

PRECAUTIONS AT SUVA. v

QUARANTINE REGULATIONS,

SUVA, July 25.

(Received July 25, at 10.57 p.m.)

In response to a public demand the Government is proclaiming rigorous quarantine regulations to-morrow, and passengers on arriving will be quarantined until the completion of 14 days from the date of their leaving infected ports. . POSITION IN AUCKLAND . PROVINCE. SIX CASES SENT TO POINT CHEVALIER. DISCUSSION AT HOSPITAL BOARD. (Pee United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, July 25. Six more Maoris suffering from smallpox were ordered by the district health officers to be _ removed to the isolation hospital at Point Chevalier to-day. One was a 10-year-old girl from Pukalri, near Mangere; three were from Orakei and two from Shoal Bay—all areas already infected. A suspicious case in Nelson street proved on examination to possess none of the characteristics of the epidemic. Some confusion exists at the District Health Office as to the exact number of patients ait Point Chevalier, but it was officially given out that the six fresh cases to-day brought the total up to 59, and that 12 of these are Europeans, who are contacts with Maoris. All the latest cases are mild.

In his official bulletin Dr Frengley said that within 10 days or a fortnight all the Maoris in the Auckland health district are likely to be vaccinated. ".I am, therefore, of opinion," he says, "that the end 'of the outbreak can be anticipated about one month hence. Nevertheless, Auckland and 6uburbs will still bo endangered unless a greater number of, people are; protected by vaccination. Once Maoris have been successfully vaccinated we cannot well prevent them from travelling except from definitely infected areas. When the vaccination depot established by the Health Officers at tha St, John Ambulance Station was opened there were only a few applicants for vaccination." Dr Cawkwell reported that he had found three severe cases at the Ngawha Springs and 15 convalescents.. At the Ngawha village one infant was seriously affected, and one child was convalescent. All the cases were Maoris. A suspicious case at K&ikohe township (a European woman) had been isolated. A telegram which was forwarded by Dr Valintine (head of the Health Department) to the Auckland Hospital Board, instructing the latter to restrict the movements of Natives from the infected districts, was considered by the board at a special meeting held this afternoon. After the position had been discussed at length Mr Cole moved, arid Mr Harbut seconded, "That in the opinion , of the board the suppression of the epidemic is purely a national nuestion, and not a local matter, and should be taken in hand bv Government." The resolution wws carried. Mr Mennie referred to the reply made by the Hon. R. H. Rhodes to the suggestion that a medical committee should be set up to investigate the nature of the disease. Perhaps, he said, the board couid get a report from ita own doctors. In justice to themselves this 6hould be done. Such a course might allay a good deal of trouble. The general opinion of the board was that it would be better to await the reply of the Government to the resolutions before setting up 6uch a committee. If the Government forced the. band of the board the board could carry out its instructions under protest. It could also appoint a committee if it thought fit. Mr Mennio thought it a national question. The disease had been brought into the-city from ontsido districts, and the Government should attend to it. It was decided to see what reply the Government made before taking an further steps.

DR VALINTINE'S BULLETIN.

(Peb United Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, July 25.

The official smallpox bulletin issued at 8 o'clock tliis evening is as follows:— "There is 54 cases in the Auckland Hospital, 12 being Europeans. Dr Cawkwell reports the case of a half-caste at the temporary hospital at Kaikohe. With the exception the other cases there are doing well. At Matarana there are 15 convalescents and one woman sickening. Three suspected cases ai'o reported' at Oraki. Dr To Rangihiroa reports three acute cases and 15 convalescents at the smallpox camp at Ngawha Springs. As it is impossible to keep cases isolated in the villages it has been decided to establish an isolation camp at Ngawha. In his report Dr Te Rangihiroa states that there is a mass of evidenco accumulating with regard to the immunity afforded by vaccination, and he quotes a case of a father, mother, and eight children, where three children vaccinated were not affected, whilst the other members of tlie family contracted the disease. Dr Ross is at WhaKawhaka where several cases are reported. No fresh cases have been reported from the Waikato." i