SMALLPOX OUTBREAK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3102, 27 August 1913, Page 32

SMALLPOX OUTBREAK.

HOPEFUL OUTLOOK AT AUCKLAND. THE CITY CLEAR. AUCKLAND, August 19. It would appear tliat the city is now clear of smallpox. No cases of the epidemic were reported in the city to-day, and the district health officer (Dr Monk) stated that he was thankful to say that no fresh cases had been reported from the country districts either. “As far as stamping out the outbreak is concerned,” said the health officer, “to-day has been the most hopeful we have had at the health office.”

There is a very limited demand for vaccination, and the health officer has advised, that if the public desires the disease to be eradicated rapidly there will have to be a great deal more vaccination than is the case at present. The fact that 50 per cent, of the cases recently admitted to the Point Chevalier Isolation Hospital were Europeans appeared to indicate that the white community was not so well protected by vaccination as the Natives.

August 21. Another day has passed without notification of any further case of smallpox in the city. This Dr Monk considered very satisfactory, as this was the day for which most apprehension was felt, being the 12th day since the last case was located in the city" area, or the end of the incubation period. It does not necessarily follow, however, that the epidemic has been stamped out altogether. “It is certainly a lull,’ 5 said Dr Yalintine, Chief Health Officer, “ but there are still chances that our hopes may be dashed to the ground. What I deplore is the fact that the rush for vaccination has ended, and I would strongly urge the benefits of this most efficient method of protection. One cannot blame people who . are told by some doctors that the disease is not smallpox, but it is significant that those who have said so have not had any experience of the present cases.”

The District Health Officer (Dr Monk) received notification from Warpapakaurf, nine miles from Kaitaia, that five Maoris there were suffering from a disease which the doctor in the district diagnosed as chickenpox. Reassuring reports were received from the Waikato, Tirohanga, Ruruwera, Kaikohe, and a number of other centres.

The District Health Officer has received about 20 bundles of old clothes from Auckland residents for the relief of the Maoris whose clothing has been burned for diinfection purposes. One citizen has also forwarded £5 to be used for relieving distressed Maoris, and the money will probably be devoted to the inmates of the Kaikohe Isolation Hospital.

August 23

No cases have been reported in the city or suburbs for 13 days. As smallpox takes 12 days to develop after personal contact, the prospect of the total subsidence of the disease is hopeful, ivight more patients were discharged from the isolation hospital this morning, making 26 released. Fifty patients remain. Two .Natives from Kaikohe were admitted yesterday. No other cases were reported in the country districts. The Chief Health Officer states that no exceptions will be made in the vaccination regulations in respect to the English parliamentary party arriving from Vancouver on Tuesday. WELLINGTON, August 25. The following smallpox bulletin was issued by the Health Department to night: '1 he District Health Officer at Auckland reports that no fresh cases have been reported in Auckland city or suburbs. Two fresh cases at Kaikohe were reported on Saturday and five fresh cases admitted to the Kaikohe isolation hospital on Saturday were reported to-day. One ease is notified from Kapoaga (near Waikato Heads) and one from Oruoru, in Hobson Comity. The general news from the Waikato district is good. NEW ZEALAND LYMPH. A tribute to the quality of the vaccine sent out by the Government laboratory at Wellington is paid in a letter sent to the Minister of Public Health (the Hon. K. H. Rhode.') by the Chief Health Officer at

Rarotonga. He states that 190 inoculations have been carried out with 100 tubes of lymph that have been in cold storage since February, 1912, and that of the total number not more than half a dozen were failures. THE STEAMER DELPHIC. WELLINGTON, August 20. The case of the quartermaster of the Delphic, who is now in the isolation hospital, lias been definitely diagnosed as that of the variety of smallpox which is prevalent in the north. Every member of the ship’s company, except one, was vaccinated before the Delphic left Auckland. All those who had not taken have been re-vaccinated. Regarding the strong complaints of the coalworkers who were detained on the Delphic all Monday night without blankets, Captain Evans, the Shaw-Savill superintendent, expresses regret, and points out that he was unaware of the position till late at night, when it was impossible to make arrangements. Dr Chesson said the Health Department’s first duty was to take necessary precautions, and owing to the lateness of the hour it was impossible to do moro than was done. The department went to great trouble to let the relatives of the men who were detained know the position. DISTRESS AMONG MAORIS. APPEAL FOR ASSISTANCE. WELLINGTON, August 21 A short discussion in regard to the distress that is stater! to exist amongst the M noris in the districts affected by smallpox took place in the House this afternoon. The Hon. A. T. Ngata read the following telegram which he had received from Dr To Rangihiroa, M.P., who is now at Kakohe:—“There arc not so many acute oases of smallpox being reported. I have been making efforts to work in with the Maori Councils and the Maori Committee to maintain the isolation of the infected houses, especially on the borders of the infected districts, to prevent the spread of the disease to unaffected villages. The Maoris are suffering from the restrictions, and arc unable to obtain work. There is a danger of the food supplies failing. The department is endeavouring to assist, but there is etilT serious danger. I consider it my duty to remain here longer to assist in drawing a cordon of vaccination around the infected district. If the Europeans desire to assist, I consider that a public subscription would alleviate the distress, also donations of clothing to help in the work of disinfecting the villages and the destruction of infected clothing.” It seemed, Mr Ngata continued, that the matter had now got beyond the resources of the Health Department, and demanded the attention of the Native Minister and the Government r.s a whole.

Mr Russell said that the people of New Zealand usually responded generously to appeals for assistance to cases of distress amongst people in other countr.es. Now there was an opportunity for them to exorcise this charity in their own country. Ho suggested that the Minister should communicate with the mayors of the big cities on the subject of affording relief to the Maoris who wore in need of it. The Hon. R. 11. Rhodes (Minister of Public Health), in reply, said that be believed the Europeans would readily subscribe to help the Natives. ; Before, when Dr Valintine suggested that clothing would be acceptable, ho was ridiculed in the press, and asked why should the people of this country help the Natives. The Government, it was said, must do everything. He believed, however, that the people would not wait for the Government, but would send clothing, and money too, if it was necessary. The Government was already supplying the Natives with food, and he hud given directions that no Native should be allowed to suffer in this resi>ect. After Dr Pomare had visited the Waikato ho had reported to him that some houses would have to be destroyed, lie again agreed with that. The houses that could not be disinfected would bo mere shells, and it would only cost a trifle to replace them. He was having a full report made on these places, and the Government would have to provide tho necessary means. The Natives mentioned by Mr Ngata would not bo allowed to suffer. He was glad to say that some of the Natives were taking the position very well indeed, apd wore doing what they could do to help their fellows. The Prime Minister, in response to Mr Russell, said that, whatever might bo necessary could bo very easily done through tho Health Department. He had received communications from some outside districts to the effect that matters were very much more satisfactory now than they were a few weeks ago. The Minister of Public Health road the following telegram that he had received from nine Natives who described themselves as “directors of works” in connection with the isolation hospital at Parawera, near To Awarnntii : ‘ Wo desire to inform you, in regard to the hospital at Parawera, that we and our kind European friends arc able to pay all the expenses of tho hospital beyond the doctor and nurses and medicine and incidentals. Wo will pay for all the food for the invalids, and firewood and water and for the running of tho hospital.” Tho fallowing reply was subsequently sent by thg-dVlinistcr to tills telegram: “I have read'vour telegram with pleasure. I fully appreciate the whole-hearted way in which your people have responded to the efforts made to protect thorn from this severe illness. I will see that the doctor and nurses and medicines and incidentals' arc paid for by the department. You all have done your part well. I congratulate you. Please convey my best wishes for their good health to your friends.”

PATIENT IN WELLINGTON. GOOD PROGRESS. (From Ora Own Coerkspondxict.l WELLINGTON, August. 24. The one smallpox patient now isolated in. Wellington, the man taken off the steamer Delphic, is doing well.