THE SMALLPOX CASES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14211, 30 May 1910, Page 6

THE SMALLPOX CASES.

o ! DOCTOR'S ALLEGED DECEPTION. : An interesting prosecution arising out of the recent outbreak of small-pox on the mail steamer Otway was commenced in the FiemanUe Court on May 12th, when L. 11. Bowkeit. medical oliieer of that- vessel, was charged by the Federal quarantine authorities (i) with having, -oil March L"2, at Fremantle, failed to answer to the best of his knowledge a question x>ut to him by the quarantine oiiieer touching the health of the crew and the passengers; and (2) with having, on the same occasion, made a false statement in answer to a question put to him by the officer. Defendant pleaded not guilty. Mr. Barker, the Crown prosecutor, conducted the case, and on his application ihe following particulars were added to the charges:—''The false statement was made in writing in reply to a question in writing, and was to the effect that "William Borkham, a male passenger on the Otway, aged 13, was suffering from sun fever, whereas he was suffering from small-pox. an infectious and qnarantinablc disease." Mr Barker said that lie had been instructed that there was no such disease in medical terminology as sun lever. Dr. Bowkeit neglect-d to write an answer to the folio wing fiuestion contained in the form supplied by the quarantine authorities: —''Is there, or has there been, any person on hoard sutfering fro man eruptive fever or skin eruption ? If to, state particulars on back hereof." -Mr. Barker contended, firstly, that the hoy's illness should have been diagnosed as smallpox, and secondly, that the boy was suffering from an eruxnive fever or skin erudition. The evidence showed that when Dr. "Williams, the port quarantine oilicer. hoarded the Otway, Dr. Bowketr told him that there was not- any sickness aboard. Dr. "Williams afterwards examined the hoy Borkham in the ship's i hospital, and formed the opinion, subsequently confirmed, that ho was suffering from small-pox. The boy had a rash I on his fa.ee and" other characteristics of | the disease. | Dr. Cumpston. medical officer to ihe

Central Board of Health, 'deposed tlwt anybody with medical skill should have

been able to suspect, from the appearance of the boy, that, he was suffering from a. quarantinablc disease, and

ousrht also to have suspected small-pox. The case was adjourned, and bail was fixed at £250.