THE BUBONIC PLAGUE.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3238, 17 April 1900, Page 2

THE BUBONIC PLAGUE.

United Press Asaociafcion— By Electric Telegraph— Copyright. Received April 16th, 9.30 a.m. Perth, April 16. A Bon of Constable Sweeney, residing m the police quarters at f remantle, 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 meanß of cheap fares the passage of persons from infected districts ; m 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 river frontages be immediately and vigorously undertaken at the cost of the various Governments and the bodies be burned. The Health Conference recommended tbat the Venice Plague Convention be adopted m Australia and Tasmania, subject to a number of alterations and additions. These include tbat each Government send daily to the various intercolonial health authorities every fresh CBse of plague, and that every case 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 of 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 17 tb, 12.18 a.m. Up to date there have been 116 cases and 40 deaths. Keceived 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 Wilberforce has been brought to Hydney. 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 Oonsul-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. KOCKHAMPTON, 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, 1.15 a.m. Melbourne, April 16. A second case of plague, that of a South Australian cabin boy named Wilson, has developed.

Fer Press Association.

WELLINGTON, April 16. The Mayor contradicts the Premier's allegation of laxity by the municipal authorities m the plague precautions. : A thorough investigation has already i been made of all streets m the heart of 1 the city, and every vestige of refuse re- i moved. Owing to the arrangements m i existence for conveying rubbish to the ' destructor there were no fereat accumu- 1 lations of refuse at ail, and none were i distinctly offensive. The Council's carts can keep pace with the collection, i Covered receptacles are now to be used. I For some time paat a vigorous crusade i has been carried on against poultry i

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 m Wellington is killing off his poultry, and m a few weeks there will be scarcely any left m 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 correepondingly elated. The Mayor confidently asserts that the Premier is altogether wrong m his statements, and inferential'? suggests that the greatest check the Council has received it- from the Government itself. Application was made for a portion of Somes Island upon which to erect a plague hospital, but the Colonial Secif-tary refused, and an appeal made to the Premier elicited no reply. The only alternative appears to be to - erect a struelure on the town belt. In reply to the Mayor's complaint re Somes' Island, the Colonial Secretary states that communication is frfquent 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 commis- ' sion, 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 had landed. . ■