THE SCARLET FEVER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1006, 11 March 1871, Page 1

THE SCARLET FEVER.

If there is one thing more than another of which the settlers of Otago are justly entitled to boast, it is of the salubrity of the climate of the province in which they live. We believe that the statistics of mortality show that even in Dunedin, town though it be, the deathrate is considerably lower than in the healthiest village in England, and the comparison in the case of the country districts is still more favourable. There can be no doubt that to its reputation in this respect the province owes in a great measure whatever proportion of immigration it receives. But should this reputation become tarnished, and disease make havoc in our midst, we shall soon find that the number of'perjsons who Leave the densely crowded and comparatively unhealthy portions of the old world for the breezy healthful hills of Otaga will greatly diminish, and one of the chief attractions of the province will disappear. We hope that the day when this becomes the case is very distant, should it ever come at all, but it is nevertheless our duty Dot to* overlook things which are taking place under our own eyes at the present time. A few mouths ago the ship Robert Henderson arrived in this port with a large number of immigrants on board, but scarlet fever having broken out among them during the voyage, and several oases still existing, the vessel was placed in quarantine. After being two or three weeks on the Quarantine Island, during which time the ship andi the clothes alike of the crew and passengers were to be fumigate^ the latter were allowed to land, it being- believed that all fear ot infection was past. Shortly afterwards* however, it was announced that a case of scarlet fever had occurred in a family that had arrived by this ship, and at intervals eiapo

then up to the present time we have heen informed of the occurrence of other cases. At Dunedin, Port Chalmers, the Quarantine Island, Green Island, Invercargill, and Switzers, the disease has made its appearance, and in more than one case, we regret to say, has terminated fatally. In every case, we believe, the infection has been traced primarily to passengers by the Robert Henderson. The questions, therefore, arise — Were precautions taken while the passengers were in quarantine to remove infection ? and, if so, of what did those precautions consist 1 Recent investigations have shown the extreme difficulty of removing 1 the infection of this disease — a difficulty so great that it is now said that nothing short of the complete isolation of the patient and the destruction of his body clothing and bedding will suffice to avert danger. It is accordingly important to know whether the passengers by the Robert Henderson were kept for a sufficiently long time in quarantine, and whether every necessary precaution for the removal of infection was taken. We do not mean to hint that such was not the case, but we should like to be authoritatively informed upon both points. We have no wish to become alarmists, but from information that has reached us, we believe that this disease is spreading rather than subsiding, and it is therefore necessary that no further time should be lost in dealing with the matter. The citizens of Invercargill have set a laudable example of promptitude in this respect, having considered the subject a few days ago at a public meeting called for the purpose. A suggestion then made, viz., that a Committee (in default of a Municipal Corporation) should be formed to consider the matter and take the necessary steps in the way of burning infected clothing, and reimbursing its owners, <fee, is a good one. In Dunedin we have a City Council who may fairly be expected to deal with the matter; but in some of the localities where the disease has made its appearance, as at Switzers, no such organisation exists, and the responsibility of taking action must be assumed either by the Government or by private individuals. Where time is so precious, none of it should be wasted in discussing whose business it is to act in the matter. When the disease is stamped out will be quite time enough to do so, for while we are discussing, it is spreading. Immediate action, we repeat, is imperative, and while such action is being taken, we shall be glad to receive from the Board of Health answers to the questions we Lave asked above.