SMALLPOX.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 58, 14 July 1913, Page 5

SMALLPOX.

THE DISEASE SPREADING.

THE SYDNEY OUTBREAK

fx ■£ Electric Telegraph—C »pyright] r United Press Association.]

Sydney, July 1

Ten fresh smallpox cases were reported yesterday and fourteen to-day.

WHOLESALE VACCINATION. • (Received 9.45 a.m.) Sydney, July 14. The vaccination record has reached 100,000. A better supply of lymph has been secured.

WHERE DOCTORS DIFFER

[Per Press Association.] Wellington, .July 12

The Minister for Public Health stated last night that it was the same disease as chicken-pox when it first broke out. The same thing had happened in Sydney; the disease was there regarded for months as chickenpox, not smallpox. The doctors said there could be no doubt as to whether the disease was smallpox or chicken-pox. Doctors had differed in Sydney; they still differed in New Zealand. For example, in the case of patients in the Auckland hospital, one doctor was emphatic that it was chicken-pox ; another equally emphatic that it was smallpox. Ho supposed it was the same form of disease in each case; there were, no doubt, tests which could be applied and which proved the disease to be one form or the other. So far, these tests had not proved the accuracy of any particular doctor's diagnosis.

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES

'■'lt may be necessary to stop the trains on the Main Trunk line, but as yet we see no necessity for that," said the Prime Minister on Friday. Intending passengers to the south by the Maori last night were considerably surprised when they heard that the Department had decided that they must all be vaccinated before being permitted to leaver Wellington. The Chief Health Officer, Dr. Valintine, informed a Times representative that this step had been taken to ensure that no infection should be carried to the South Island. As far as the Department knew, there were no cases of the disease in the South; and it was deemed | desirable to do , all pos-; *jible to prevent it getting a footing there. Athough all the known cases were limited to the northern end of this island, it would hardly do to establish any system of land quarantine at, say, Taumarunui, for, in addition to being extremely vexatious, it would not be efficacious. The Department could not very well restrict the movement of people across country, but it could easily catch them at the ports, and this was what was to be done. He did not think that the vaccination would interfere with the comfort of passengers in any way. If a passenger could produce a certificate showing that he had been vaccinated within the last five years he would lie allowed to pass, but if not he would either have to submit to vaccination or stay behind.

OUTBREAK AT THE THAMES Thames, July 13.

Up to the present, Thames has been immune from the epidemic, but oi! Saturday an elderly native staying at one of the local hotels displayed alarming symptoms. The police and th< Health Officer were informed, and the man was taken to the hospital and isolated. Already eruptions have appeared on the face, though otherwise the native appears to be in' good health. The disease is believed to be similar to that manifest elsewhere. The man attacked cairn from Raglan so far as can be ascertained, and is the only case reported so far. The bath-room at the hotel where the ntive stayed has been fumi gated under the supervision of the Health Department. On Saturday night telegraphic information was re eeived forbidding any person, vehicular or steam company from allowing a native or half-caste to travel unless: he produces a certificate from the Health Department authorising the Maori to travel.

PREPARATIONS IN OTAGO. Dunedin, July 13

Owing to the smallpox epidemic in the North, the local officer of the Health Department has been making preparations in case trouble should appear in Otago. To-morrow afternoon, a meeting of representatives of the Hospital Board, Health Department, Port Health Officer, and doctors attending the Maoris, will be held, and the matter will be thoroughly discussed, and a plan of campaign drawn up in case of the epidemic making its appearance. Dr. Ross, in charge of the Waitaiti Mental Hospital, has been summoned North, and will probably be called upon to give assistance there. When the Manuka arrived yesterday at Port Chalmers, Drs. Borrie and Hodges boarded the vessel and examined the vaceinatioTi certificates of the pasengem and also vaccinated members of the crew. The supply of lymph at the loeal health office has completely run out.

NEWS FROM TE KT r TTT. Te Kuiti. Jnlv 1-1

The disease is spreading in the district. There is one case at Mangapehi and several cases at Waitniha, including the European schoolmistress. Dr. Gunn arrived this morning, and proceeded with Dr. McCrae to WTaimiki, The Maoris are anxious for vao-

filiation. The supply of lymph is inadequate.

A NORSK WOOD CASE. Dannev.rke. July 14

A suspicious case of sickness is reported at Raukatatahi pa, near Norsewocxj. The patient, five years old, is suffering from a skin disease which Dr. Yeitch considers has every symptom of smallpox. The pa is isolated and other necessary precautions are being taken. The patient and parents had been visiting Rotorua and Waikato. Returning a month ago they stayed and also visited a tangi at Tukapau last week. General precautions are being taken.

NO NEED FOR ALARM.

WHANGAMOMONA'S SUSPECTS

MILD TYPE OF CHICKEN-POX

Particulars of the suspected case* at Whangamomona show that the disease is chicken-pox, and then only of a mild type. Two patients are under medical treatment, and are isolated. Miss Hill, the local school teacher, and a boy named Harris, aged five, are down with it. Inspector Gray, health officer from Eltham, has been in Whangamomona for the past two days, and is paying special attention to the sanitary arrangements and to other matters to prevent the spread of the trouble. The origin of the disease is a mystery, as the two patients have not been out of the district for some time.