THE BUBONIC PLAGUE

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2762, 17 April 1900, Page 2

THE BUBONIC PLAGUE

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Received April 16th, 9.30 a.m. Perth, April 16. A son of Constable Sweeney, residing in the police quarters at Fremantle, has developed plague.

Sydney, April 16.

The International Health Conference have recommended the strict inspection and fumigation of vessels ; that a medical passport system be introduced on frontiers of adjoining colonies ; that each Government be recommended not to encourage by means of cheap fares the passage of persona from infected districts; in cases of death from plague, cremation and burial at sea to take place where practicable; and that where there is reasonable suspicion of danger, the destruction of rats on sea and riverfrontages be immediately and vigorously undertaken at the cost of the various Governments and the bodies be burned. The Health Conference recommended that the Venice Plague Convention be adopted in Australia and Tasmania, subject to a number of alterations and additions. These include that each Government send daily to the various intercolonial health authorities every fresh case of plague, and that every ease and suspected case be Immediately and compulsorily notified ; that if the prevalence of the plague be considerable, no vessel shall leave the Infected place for another colony until inspected by a duly appointed officer of such colony where the prevalence is considerable. Bones are added to the list of articles supposed to carry the plague. The division of vessels into four classes is recommended, namely, infected, suspected, ordinary health, and healthy. In the case cf suspected, ordinary, and healthy vessels, the passengers and crew are to be kept under observation for not exceeding ten days. Every vessel is to be disinfected immediately after the discharge of the cargo. All practical measures are to be taken for the destruction of rats. An infected vessel is defined as one on which cases have occurred within ten days. Mr Mills considers the quarantine restrictions quite too stringent. The growing opinion appears to be that except on ships where the plague has actually occurred, there is no danger of infection and no need of detention unless they come from an infected port. He does not regard the outbreak as giving any cause for alarm. Received April 17th, 12.18 a.m. Up to date there have been 116 eases and 40 deaths. Received April 17th, 12.20 a.m. The cases of plague to day are Powell, of George street ; Wang Hoong, of Botany. The Goulburn case is confirmed, and Wllberforce has been brought to Sydney. In consequence of the plague, the Victorian and Queensland Governments have protested against the transports carrying the quotas of Imperial Bushmen taking fodder and coal at Sydney. The Consul-General of France has informed Mr Lyne that quarantine at Noumea had been abolished for some time, but there are still a few cases there, also on the East Coast. Received April 16th, 8 p.m. Rockhampton, April 16. Just as the steamer Burwah was leaving the wharf with a thousand excursionists, a steward named Meyer was taken ill with suspicious symptoms. All the excursionists were unloaded. The case was subsequently declared to be plague. Received April 17th, 1.16 a.m. Melbourne, April 16. A second ease of plague, that of a South Australian cabin boy named Wilson, has developed. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 16. The Mayor contradicts the Premier’s allegation of laxity by the municipal authorities in the plague precautions. A thorough investigation has already been made of all streets in the heart of the city, and every vestige of refuse removed. Owing to the arrangements in existence for conveying rubbish to the destructor there were no great accumulations of refuse at all, and none were distinctly offensive- The Council’s carts can keep pace with the collection. Covered receptacles are now to be used. For some time past a vigorous crusade has been carried on against poultry yards and stables, and all earth closets are being gradually abolished. It may be added to what the Mayor says that so drastic are the regulations threatened against the poultry yard that nearly everyone in Wellington is killing off his poultry, and in a few weeks there will be scarcely any left in the city. There are loud outcries against what Is regarded by some as the unnecessary severity of the regulations which are practically prohibitive, and farmers round the city are correspondingly elated. The Mayor confidently asserts that the Premier is altogether wrong in his statements, and inferentially suggests that the greatest check the Council has received is from the Government itself. Application was made for a portion of Somes Island upon which to erect a plague hospital, but the Colonial Secretary refused, and an appeal made to the Premier elicited no reply. The only alternative appears to be to erect a structure on the town belt. In reply to the Mayor’s complaint re Somes’ Island, the Colonial Secretary states that communication is frequent on account of the lighthouse there, and It may be necessary to land passengers on the Island from infected ports who are not themselves infected.

Dr Mason, who with Mr Gilruth, is acting as a peripatetic health commission, has been commissioned to report whether passengers should be quarantined for the full length of time after arrival. It is thought possible that a case might originate at the last moment and not be detected till the people bad landed.