SMALLPOX SCARE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144146, 16 July 1913, Page 3

SMALLPOX SCARE.

CASES IN SYDNEY HOSPITAL. POSITION HEBE SATISFACTORY BUT VACCINATION ADVISABLE. BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. —COPYRIGHT. SYDNEY, July 16. A disquieting smallpox development, was announced to-day. There are eight cases in the Prince Alfred Hospital. An old man admitted on Juno ‘23, suffering from pneumonia, died on June 28. Prior to death a rash appeared. Every precaution was taken, out notwithstanding this two patients, throe nurses, two ' wards men, and tho resident doctor developed smallpox in the usual mild form. Stringent isolation is being enforced and tho he.-pital is absolutely clc«cd to visitors, excepting in the most urgent cases. Besides those in the hospital there aro thirteen other-cases reported from tho various suburbs to-day. Tho Victorian authorities aro again rigorously insisting on passengers on trains from New South Wales producing .vaccination certificates. Many travellers aro stranded at Albury. Dr. Makgill vaccinated tho Mooraki’s passengers on Sunday. The doctor will commence his-inquir-ies immediately. Ho declined to say anything regarding his mission to Australia. A case of smallpox has been diagnosed at Lit'hgow, mid another at Penrith. Tho rash for vaccination fell off today, though there are stll large bors seeking treatment. Tho Union Company’s steamer Manapouri will not call at Sydney en route to Fijtf owing to tho smallpox. SILENCE INTERPRETED. (Received July 16, 9.26 a.m.) SYDNEY, July 16. Although Dr. Makgill declines to state his conclusions, the Telegraph says there is good ground for tho belief that Dr. Makgill is satisfied that tho New Zealand outbreak of smallpox is identical with the Sydney epidemic. PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, July 15. Dr. Vnlintine, Chief Medical Officer, referring to the outbreak of smallpox among tho Maoris, stated this afternoon that the position was satisfactory. Tho situation is still a grave one, and extreme vigilanc© on tho part of th© authorities is necessary. Such a reassuring statement as that expressed by Dr. Valintine in no way indicate* that tho strongest measures arc not necessary. The authorities are now prosecuting a vigorous campaign, and in Wellington their efforts aro being systematically supported by the bulk of tho community, Large numbers of whom to-day submitted themselves to inoculation. Dr. Valintine added to tho statement above recorded that no fresh developments were to bo recorded, and so far- as can be ascertained there is reason to believes that tho stops now being taken will bo sufficient to meet present and future needs. The officials of the Racing Club this afternoon stated that there had been no intimation that tho Maoris would be debarred from attending tho races, though those living a distance out may experience trouble with the railway officials. ' HASTINGS. July 15. A rumour was current this afternoon that a case of smallpox had been detected among the students at the Maori Agricultural College at Bridge Pa, about nine miles from Hastings. At tho request of the Health Department, Dr. Barcroft left for the college this afternoon to make an examination, and declares the case to be one of smallpox. The patient is a youth of 17, who arrived at the college from the north on July 11, and he has wellmarked evidence of recent infection. A number of. other students are showing symptoms, but the doctor is unable to form a definite opinion regarding them until to-morrow. Steps have been taken to isolate the sufferers, and the students and staff will be vaccinated to-morrow. DUNEDIN, July 15. Inquiry at the Union Company’s office toMay elicited the statement that the shrinkage of passengers between New Zealand and the Commonwealth is so great on account of the smallpox quarantining disabilities that if tho falling-off continues it is possible that smaller steamers will be placed on the routes affected. The cost of running the large steamers is,, very great, and a re-arrangement of the intercolonial service may become necessary. CHRISTCHURCH, July 15. Inquiries made to-day went to show that the local health authorities are quite alive to tho necessity for making preparations for ffie treatment of any cases of smallpox that may bo discovered in tho district. It is hoped, however, that the precautions being taken in tho North Island, tho stringent examination of passengers between the North Isiand and tho South, and the isolatiou, as far as possible, of Maoris who have been found suffering' from disease, would prove efficacious in preventing the epidemic spreading to the South Island. A fairly largo number of people in the city have boon vaccinated recently by the public vaccinators, and by medical practitioners, but it is considered that many more ought to be vaccinated. The work of cleaning up the city is progressing, and, as far as possible, steps are being taken to prevent tho disease finding a foothold in. Christchurch. A CASE NEAR HASTINGS. HA,STINGS, July 16. Dr. Barcroft visited the Mormon College at Bridge Pa again this morning, and found one definite case and one doubtful. Both patients have boon quarantined and steps taken to prevent the spread of the epidemic. The youth who brought the disease to the college came last Friday from Kaikohe, north of Auckland. It was reported this morning that two cases had. boon detected at Pakipaki Pa, six miles from Hastings, but the Health Authorities were not notified and the probability is that thq csefa were pqpfsßsed yjiUi

those at the Bridge Pa. Large numbers of Maoris and Europeans wore vaccinated by the public vaccinators this 'morning.

OR. .ALIHTINE’S BULLETIN

PLENTY OP LYMPH. BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN COREESPONnENT. WELLINGTON, July 15. In a statement this evening, Dr. Valintine (Chief Health Officer) Said that there were now 26 eases of the epidemic at Auckland, of which 24 wore Natives. Cases, ho said, had been reported from Raglan and Kaikohe, but those wore being attended to by Dr. Ross and Dr. Baker respectively. Dr. Cawkwell had isolated a case near Whangarei. Tho report of a case .at Ormondville (Hawke’s Bay) had proved to bo inaccurate, hut there was a suspected case at Hastings. Dr. Valintine says that there is an ample supply of lymph; 40,000 doses, ho says, will ho immediately available. Of these 10,000 doses will bo sent to Auckland and the balance will be distributed in other parts of tho North Island. PLEA FOR THE MAORIS. Dr. To R-angiliiroa (Northern Maori district) has given notice to ask tho Jlinistcr of Public Health whether tho stei>s taken by the Public, Health Department in forbidding any Maoris in tho North Island to leave a Native settlement supposed to lie infected by smallpox, or their “carriage in any public conveyance by sea or land plying in any iwrt or between any ports of the North Island” unless they can produce vaccination certificates or certificates authorising them to travel, are" not sufficient, without being inconvenienced inrther by city authorities, racing clubs, hotel proprietors and others? KEEPING THE DISEASE IN CHECK Dr. M'Kenzio left Wellington this morning for Wanganui to vaccinate Natives all along the riverine district, and Dr. Columns also left for Tempo, .via Tokaami. Both medical men have explicit instructions to see that the Government proclamation with regard to the movements of Maoris is siirictly enforced. The Maoris are to bo blocked wherever possible, to prevent thorn coming out of certain districts. MAORIS AND THE RACES. Wairarapa Maoris are, so far ns is known, unaffected by the epidemic. Now, these are all zealous turfites, and the Maoris who make a point to attend the Wellington race meeting at IVentham number anything from 400 to 600. As to whether they will be barred from passing the turnstiles no decision has yet been arrived at by tho Racing Club. . It is probable, however, that no action will be taken, although the Health Department requested the exclusion of Maoris from the course. The Maoris for tho most part come from the Wairarapa and Otaki and by travelling in motor-cars can evade the regulations forbidding their travelling on trains. The Maori would deem his isolation a great hardship if it meant his enforced absence from the races, and it is anticipated that there would bo some difficulty in carrying into effect a decision to exclude Natives' from tho racecourse. A TRIVIAL OPERATION. Describing tho process of vaccination as carried out at the office of the Hospital Board in Wellington, the Dominion says;—The scone in the board-room was in many respects a notable one. A glance round tho room revealetf about a score of persons —men, women, and, children —with their sleeves rolled up to tho shoulders. Some were awaiting the surgeon’s attention; Others were standing in tho sunshine by the windows, drying three or four small wounds, at which they occasionally cast a wistful glance. The doctor on duty was steadily working away, by his side a bunch of needles, a box of tubes of lymph, and a blazing spirit lamp. As each “patient” entered, he or she was asked by one of the nurses to bare an arm. The upper arm was then carefully cleansed with a piece of cotton wool dipped in absolute alcohol. Then tho patient, having duly registered his name, was submitted to the ordeal. And what a trivial thing it turned out to he! A few gentle—very gentle—scratches with a needle, tho application of two or threo drops of lymph, the glow of an infinitesimal quantity of blood —far less than a man loses when he cuts himself with his razor —a joke with the doctor, a friendly “rally” from the other victims—and it was all over. Those who desired to travel wore granted a certificate of vaccination by the operating doctor. Others must return in a week's time, in order that the effect of ’ the vaccination may be observed. The Health Department notifies today that no Maoris or half-castes residing in the North Island will bo allowed to travel on the Government Railways unless in possession of a permit from a public vaccinator. The department also urges everyone to take advantage of tho protection afforded by vaccination, which is performed free of charge by the public vaccinators of each hospital district. Tho names of the Taranaki officers will be found on > page 7. Arm-to-arm vaccination is illegal and only calf lymph is used.