VACCINATING CRUSADE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15855, 29 August 1913, Page 5

VACCINATING CRUSADE.

HELP FROM DUNEDIN. TWELVE STUDENTS AWAY NORTH. On malting inquiry among the medicai students m Dunedin with regard to the request by the Chief Health Officer (Dr Valintine) that six junior medical men or fifthyear medical students should proceed to the North Island to assist in the work of carryins out a systematic vaccination campaign, tho District Health Officer (Dr Champtaloup) found that so many were willing to undertake the service that he immediately communicated with Dr Valintine and suggested that tho _ number should be increased to 12. Dr Valintine complied, and yesterday tho 12 men set out by tho second express from Dunedin. Dr, Champtaloiip states that so ready and so willing wero the senior medical students to proceed to tiip north, that even tho in&eased number could have been doubled, but, the matter being urgent, it was not thought advisable t?> further prolong tho negotiations. The notico tho men got was very short, and their departure was made in haste that they might be got to Auckland by Saturday, .Even now, of course, it would bo possible to send another 12 Should tho department find such a course necessary. The keenness of tho students to como forward on an emergency of this sort reflects tho greatest crcdit not only upon themselves but upon tho profession, as it is an indication of tho readiness of medical men to meet the requirements in cases of emergency, and it is also a distinct tribute to Dun,'din that so many senior medical students are to lie found here willing and ablo to fiil the breach. Tho fnct is still the more creditable to the students in that, though they may gain considerable experience tlhrough n direct contact with the present smallpox epidemic, they still do so at considerable inconvenience to themselves and less of time in their studies. Considerable disorganisation of the ntedioal claeaca must take place, but tho profossora and lecturers, equally with the students, will riso to the occasion, and already they lisvo intimated that, they will olioorfully hold speoial classes for tho volunteers after their return. Tho names of those who havo gone arf us follow:—Messrs F. Cameron, S. Easlett, L. Rerpell, W. Watt. K. Tapper. P. Myers, J. Connor, D. Milne. D. Maclcay, G. Shorp, IT. Short, W. Wallis. fir Ohn.mmtaloup accompanied them as far as ScaclilT,

PROTECTION OF THE SOUTH. VACCINATION REGULATIONS. The Health Department has issued instructions that all vessels coming from Auokland (an area infectod with smallpox) to Wellington are liablo to quarantine there, and will have to undergo an inspection similar to foreign shipping. The regulation applies also to Lyttclton and Dunedin. It is pointed out that the regulation is anomalous, as the "vessels arc allowed to call at Gisborno and Napier without similar precautions; also, veseek coming from Onehunga to New Plymouth arc free. The passengers by the Main Trunk trains are also allowed to come and go unmolested. The situation, so far as Wellington is concerned. is cortainly one that' might fairly be objeoted to by the shipping companies, ae it is obviously unfair to single them out for quarantine restrictions, and at the same time permit the railways to convey possible contacts overland without any restriction whatever. In the faco of tho present posi tion in the north a more rigid general supervision of all passenger traffic seems desirable.