THE EPIDEMIC.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144147, 17 July 1913, Page 3

THE EPIDEMIC.

TRAVELLING TO MELBOURNE. DOMINION OUTLOOK IMPROVING. ONLY FOUR NEW CASES. BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. —COPYRIGHT. MELBOURNE. July 16. Consternation has been caused at the discovery that a second-class lady passenger on tho steamer Karoola is suffering from smallpox. The Karoola arrived from Sydney with 323 passengers on Monday and was granted a clean bill. She has been lying in the river since. All the passengers weio vaccinated prior to tboir departure for Sydney. The bulk of them left on arrival, only those for Adelaide and M'estralia remaining aboard. Tho patient, after visiting friends in the city, returned aboard, and discovering suspicious symptoms last night, visited a doctor, who diagnosed tho case as smallpox. Tho Karoola, with 320 aboard, including' 132 remaining passengers, was immediately taken to quarantine. Iho authorities are making urgent efforts to collect the remaining passengers, wdio are distributed in tho city and elsewhere. SYDNEY, July 16. Since tho outbreak 258 cases of smallpox have been reported and 110,000 people have been vaccinated. It appears that tho disease is getting a hold outside tho city. A case was discovered at Parramatta to-day and another at Armadale. The latter is that of a child recently from Sydney. Nineteen fresh cases of smallpox were reported to-day, mostly from tho suburbs, including three or four now districts.

SUSPECTED TASMANIAN CASE. (Received July 17, 9.30 a.m.) HOBART, July 17. There is a suspicious case at Deloraine. A patient arrived recently from Sydney, whore he had been quarantined for contact. EFFECT ON STEAMER TRAFFIC. (Received July 17, 9.30 a.m'.) SYDNEY, July 17. Tho necessity of possessing a certificate of successful vaccination has had a marked effect on the passenger traffic on steamers to other States and to Now Zealand. Tho Wimmera, for Auckland, carried a very small number. THE MELBOURNE CASE. (Received July 17, 10.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, July 17. The Keroola’s passenger is suffering from a mild type of smallpox. She waa vaccinated in Sydney eight days ago, but the infection evidently already had six days’ start. Doctors state that .vaccination will check fho disease provided tho infection has not more than three days’ start.

PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, July 16. The outlook in connection with the outbreak of disease amongst the Maoris is improving, according to a statement made by the District Health Dili cor. No fresh Maori cases had been reported in the city, but one case, that of a male Native, had been discovered in the suburbs. The patient bad been in contact with other cases and has been removed to the isolation hospital. The number of patients now isolated is 27. A few cases of pustular disease outside the city and suburbs' were reported to the District Health Officer, but turned out to bo certainly chicken-pox. In regard to the statement of Dr. Good, of Whangarei, that fully 300 Natives were affected by the disease in the north, and that a certain percentage of tho cases wore certainly smallpox, the District Health Officer stated that it did not appear that Dr. Good had had an opportunity of going through tho district said to be infected, and there-* fore the report of the doctor who was specially sent by the Health Department to these districts must be taken as final. The doctor in' question reported that the statements in regard to infection, in tho north had been very much exaggerated. It was reported by telegraph yesterday that four deaths had taken place round about Kawakawa, where there has been a# outbreak of disease. It had not yet been made clear whether these Natives died from the prevailing pustular disease or from some other complaint. The District Health Officer hqs not yet received word as to the disease from which-the Natives died, but Dr. Lunn, of Kaitai, at tho instance of the Health Department, is visiting the settlements, which are widely scattered, and his report will probably soon be forthcoming. There is still an unsatisfied demand for vaccine from the local doctors: Lymph sufficient to inoculate 3000 patients arrived by tho Main Trunk express to-day, and was distributed to applicants. A further supply of lymph sufficient to inoculate 9000 persons will arrive by the express tb-morrow momme‘ WELLINGTON, July 16. An official bulletin regarding the smallpox outbreak was issued by the Health Department to-night. It states that one case (a Native admitted to Port Chevalier Hospital) occurred in Auckland to-day. Altogether there are 27 cases under treatment in Auckland, of which 25 are Natives. Some 20 oases are under treatment in various parts of the Auckland Province, principally at Maungatautari, Kaikohe, Otorohanga and Te Awamutu. Three fresh cases were reported at Taupiri and one case is under observation near Hastings. Up bo date there have Been four deaths, the last occurring to-day at Pr rawer a, near Te Awamutu. Dr. Gunn is working among the Natives in tho neighbourhood of To Awamutu. Dr. Ross is proceeding to Whatawhata, where a case is reported. He is en route bo Raglan, where other cases are reported. Dr. M'Kenzie is proceeding up the Wanganui River and Dr. Oouzens bo Takaanu, en route to Taupo. Ten thousand doses of vaccine were sent into the Auckland Province by this morning’s Main Trunk train. Some six thousand doses have been distributed throughout other parts of the Dominion. Vaccination is proceeding apace throughout the North. Island.

Tho demand for lymph has been very considerable.—(Signed) Valintino, Chief Health Officer. WANGANUI, July 16. Vaccination is going on to a considerable extent boro, special attention being paid to the Maoris. Tho Education Board this evening took the matter up seriously. The Chief Inspector’s report called attention to the disgraceful personal unclcanlinees in a Native family attending ono of the schools, and it became a question, said tho report, whether the homes of all tho Native children in attendance at tho schools should not bo periodically inspected by tho health officer. The board passed the following resolution: “That the Education Department bo informed that the board intends to take stops to refuse to admit Maori children to schools in its district unless certified by the Health Department or otherwise that tho children come in a healthy state.” Tho Chairman said lie would not dream of drawing tho colour lino, but ho considered the prevailing epidemic emanated from the Maoris and was contracted by children at schools. Maoris, unlike Europeans, would not go to a doctor when affected. Tho board also resolved that teachers bo informed that Maoris or children living with Maoris bo vaccinated or prevented from attending school until vaccinated. WHANGAREI, July 10. There are eight cases of smallpox in tho Whangarei Hospital. A wellknown resident carrying on business in Cameron Street has contracted tho disease and is now an inmate of the hospital. A rumour went round to-day that the case was definitely one of smallpox, but Dr. Frazorlmrst says that tho case is the same as all the others, and in his opinion is not smallpox. Ho fully believed that the cases were similar to those in Sydney, but could not call one of those he had seen smallpox. There was absolutely no need for alarm. The position was no more serious here than it was six weeks ago. At the same timo ho coasidered that all those who had not been'vaccinated should submit to the operation now. It would prevent parsons from getting smallpox if there Were any about. A Maori was brought into tho hospital yesterday from Limestone suffering from tho malady. Two other Natives of Limestone, a man and a woman, who contracted the disease, have been isolated and are now convalescent. Quito a large number of Maoris have assembled at the island from the surrounding district. They were addressed by Mr. Fitz Gibbons, of the Cement Company, and have all been persuaded to undergo vaccination. A supply of lymph is being sent direct te Mr. FitzGibbons, and as soon as this arrives a medical man fi'itl go down and put them through. • HASTINGS, July 16. There are no further developments in connection with smallpox at the Maori Agricultural College at Bridge Pa. Tho doctor is unable to say definitely whether the symptoms in tho second case are those of small-pox. A further examination will be made to-morrow. Two hundred and thirty-nine were vaccinated at the public depot this morning, including a largo percentage of Maoris. OUNEDIN, July 16. * Dr. Champtaloup states that there is plenty of vaccine lymph now available in Dunedin. So far nothing has come to his knowledge concerning the Otago district to cause the slightest alarm. Several cases of chicken-pox have come under tho notice of the health authorities, brut there is nothing in these outbreaks to warrant uneasiness. Dr. Paterson, tho schools’ medical officer, who is assisting the Health Department, is paying particular attention to this disease, and is visiting the schools to see that the necessary precautions are taken.

WAIPAWA CHILDREN VACCINATED. WAIPAWA, July 17. Vaccination is being carried on vigorously. Natives and Europeans attending the* High School have been vaccinated. The chairman of the Education Board has instructed teachers to refuse admission to Native children unless they are vaccinated. FOOTBALL INTERRUPTED. GISBORNE, July 17. There was no football at Gisborne on Saturday owing to tho representatives who are about to visit Auckland having to undergo vaccination. The match at Te Karaka was abandoned, tho team preferring not to play with Natives, in view of the smallpox scare. MORE DOUBTFUL CASES. HASTINGS, July 17. Further cases of smallpox are suspected at the Mormon Agricultural College at Bridge Pa, but the doctors are yet unable to form a definite, opinion. WILLOCHRA TO LAY UP. DUNEDIN, July 17.. The Union Company announce that owing to the serious falling off in tho inter-colonial passenger traffic, consequent on the smallpox scare, the Willochra, on arrival at Sydney, will lay up temporarily. Passengers who have booked by tho Willochra will bo carried either by the Maheno or the Niagara, both for Auckland. Passengers for other ports than Auckland will have tho option of travelling from there either by steamer or rail, at the company’s expense, to Wellington. NAPIER QUARANTINE STATION. NAPIER, July 17. The Quarantine Station has been furnished and equipped. The first smallpox patient from tho Mormon College at Bridge Pa, was sent to tho isolation hospital to-day. No frosh cases are reported. REASSURING STATEMENT. NELSON,' July 17. The Rev. T. G. Hammond, who has been working among tho Maoris for 35 years, speaking here, stated that tho alleged smallpox was only a scare. Tho disease ho described as ake ake. Ho had known an outbreak six months previously run its course and not attack Europeans to any extent. Tho disease appeared among tho Maoris at different periods, and there was no need for alarm.

DR. VALINTINE’S SUMMARY. BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. WELLINGTON, July 17. Dr. Valintino (Chief Health Officer), in a statement this evening regarding the epidemic, said that there were 27 patients in the Point Chevalier Hospital, 25 being Natives. Some twenty ■cases, ho said, were now under treatment; ia’.waiiTHiSioa’.V-aaif-.the AuekJaatd

district, principally from Maungatau- | tari, Kaikoho, Otorohanga, and To Awamutu. Three fresh cases had been reported from Taupiri, and there was ono case under observation near Hastings. Hour deaths had occurred to date, the last being one which occurred to-day at JParawaora, near To Awamutu. Hr. Guinn was working in that neighbourhood. Dr. Ross was proceeding to Whatawhata, where a ca.se had been reported, en route to Raglan, where other cases had been reported. Dr. Valintino states that some ten thousand doses of lymph were sent to Auckland to-day, and that six thousand wore sent to other parts of the Dominion. There is still a big demand for vaccine. Dr. Valintine has received a cablegram from Dr. Makgill in Sydney, to the effect that tho epidemic there is identical with that in tho North Island. From Sydney Dr. Makgill will go on to Melbourne to meet Dr. Compton, director of quarantine of the Commonwealth. A TARATA SUSPECT. Some days ago, residents of Tarata were alarmed by the report that there was a case of 'smallpox among them. Dr. Gault, of Inglewood, has visited Tarata and reports that the patient is suffering from eczema. VALUE OF VACCINATION. In referring to some statements made in the House of Representatives, Nurse Everitt writes as follows to the New' Zealand Times; “Having been engaged in nursing in the smallpox epidemic of 1895 and 1896 in London, by tho Metropolitan Asylums Board, I would like to state that nothing but vaccination protected all those employed in fighting the scourge. In Loudon every child is compelled to be vaccinated unless the parent can claim an exemption order from a magistrate. The law in Now Zealand is tho same, but unfortunately is not enforced. Smallpox is now controlled m London because vaccination of coloured crows, who carry infection from India and other tropical 'countries, is enforced. Through contagion tho disease is carried into a healthy community to find ono weakly subject—hence an epidemic.

Vaccination is not only a preventive, but a protective measure. It draws poisonous matter to one healthy and loss vital part—tho arm, and protects tho eyes, head and face, which can bo so fearfully mutilated by tho disease. The efficacy of vaccine has been proved in confluent cases by the mild pitting of a vaccinated one. The arm to arm system has been abolished twenty years in London, and is certainly not good. Is the Gloucester epidemic forgotten, when those who once scoffed at vaccination then had to beg for vaccine, and their loss, was great P

The Chief Health Officer in this issue notifies that no persons carrying passengers for hire in any public conveyance, by sea or land, shall allow any Maori or half-caste Maori to travel unless such- Maori produces a certificate under the hand of the Public Health Department or Public Health Vaccinator. Maoris also must not leave any place supposed to be infected unless vaccinated within one month previously. In each case a penalty of £SO is provided for a breach of these regulations.