The Star. THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 1881.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4164, 25 August 1881, Page 2

The Star. THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 1881.

Ok Saturday laet we incidentally referred to the infl a«nce of eltotrio communication in drawing closer the bonds of sympathy and interest between the Mother Oountry and the Oolonies ; aB a set- off againat this, we have the consideration that the rapid steam com. munication now carried on between England and Australia, via Suez, exposes the people of tbese Southern lands to the importation of forma of disease which oould not possibly bave survived the prolonged voyage of sailing shi^s of tbe old Btyle, indeed some of the passages now made are ahort enough to admit of obolera being imported. New Zealand being more completely isolated, and not yet enjoying the advantages of regular steam communication, standa in little danger of the importation of any of the scourges of Europe direot ; bnt, if they should obtain a firm footing in Australia, tbe chances of this Oolony escaping some dread visitation becomes reduced to a minimum. Under theße circnmßtanceß, it is of tbe first importance tbat great alertness should prevail in regard to tbe enforcement of cleanliness in cities, towns and villages, and of all sanitary laws throughout tbe country, together with inoreased attention to quarantine precautions. The paßt thirty years havo Been the voyage from England to Australia reduced from an average of one j hundred days to about forty dayß ; and in view of what bae already been accomplished — who shall venture to say that the limit of Bpeedy transit has now been reached P It is time to realise tbat the closer connection between Australia and the Old World brought about through the medium of steam communication, may possibly prove a connection for the worse instead of for the better ; at all events a very heavy per contra may arise at any time to all the great benefits wbich undoubtedly have been derived. It is to be remembered that in April last the small-pox was brought to Sydney by the steamer Brisbane ; that although it was discovered on board and the vessel subjected to etrijt quarantine, after the expiration of the required month — on the very day she was deolared a clean ship — a case of small-pox was discovered in the very heart of the city. There could hardly bo a more striking proof afforded of the terribly insidious nature of the discnse than the facts connected with itß origin nnd rupid j development in the sister Oolony. On i Monday a telegram reached us that since our previoua isaue nn W* than seven

additional casesof email pox had been reported to the Boatd of Health, and on Tuesday two more cases were added, making eighteen caseß in all reported since the 17 th of the ourrent month ; it appears therefore that despite all the strenuous efforts put forth by the Sydney authorities, the infection has obtained such a powerful hold as almost to preclude any hope of its eradication, and such a portentouß fact can no longer be looked upon with indifference by a population only a few days' sal from tbe shores of the Australian main. The Govornment of Victoria, which but a month ago Btood in proud consciousness of the safety of its people in vaccination, is now beginning to feel a considerable degree of alarm, and is uneasily casting about for addition* 5 1 measures of precaution, and certainly the bint thus given should not be lost upon us. It is the bounden duty of the General Government of New Zealand to give their most earnest attrition to *hia most important subject and i»uc to treat it with the cavalier nonchalance lately exhibited by the Postmaster- General in the Assembly. It is the duty of Parliament to protect the people from the possible culpable indifference of a Do nothing administration ; and, lastly, it is the duty of the looal bodies throughout the country to see to the maintenance of cleanliness and the striot enforcement of all Banitary laws within their distriots.

We have already referred in these oolnmnß to the fact that in vaccination a perfeot seourity ib afforded ta any people against small-pox. Given a population in whioh every individual has been faithfully vaccinated, and it would be impossible for that terrible malady to find a footing amengßt them. Under suoh oircumstancee, it is truly wonderfal that a safeguard so simple, so almost froe from pain and inoonvenienoe and so effeotive, should reqnire to be enforced nnder the pains and penalties of 'bo jaw, instead of beiag eagerly sought as an invduable blessing. It is open to every indvidual to find a thorough protection against small-pox, yet, singular as it may seem, it has been found necessary to oompel people ta take measures to proteot those dear to them against suoh a fearfully dangerous foe. Since we last wrote upon this subject, the Officer of the Board of Health has reported that, from an examination of the ohildren attending publio sohools in tbe Ohristohuroh district, he has arrived at the conclusion, that about one in every seven has either not been vaccinated, or vaccinated imperfectly. If this is the case in the city, what may not be expected in the oountry distriots f It appears olear then that there is abundant scope for the destroyer — small-pox — amongst this community if by any chance it should appear in this Oolony. Evidently the law has been very negligently administered, and there has been great indifference — perhaps prejudice — amongst parents and guardians. Unquestionably there iB a feeling in many minds against vaccination, but it is very unreasonable ; whilst it is not uncommon to find parentB — espeoially mothers — firmly persuaded that there ib a danger of the constitutional infirmities, or may be virnlent diseases of delicate ohildren transferred to their own robust offspring through the lymph used in the process of vaccination. It is due to the members of the medical profession however to Bay that, almost without exception they are oareful to reduce any risk of contamination other than that intended by vaooination to the smallsat minimum. Perhaps* it would be advisable to bow so far to the solicitude of parentß as to wholly abandon — if practicable — the praotioe of vaccinating with lymph taken from human beings, and to insist npon the use of that taken from the cow direot. A difficulty may possibly arise in obtaining lymph from oowa when it may be required, but in a provinoe where cattle are plentiful it is reasonable to suppose that a constant demand should be productive of a.n abundant supply. It is not, however, to be tolerated that mere prejudice shall be allowed to oppose itself to the obvious require* ments wbioh the safety of tbe community demands. The vaccination of the people must be insisted upon and submitted to. We are glad to observe that this important matter has not esoaped the attention of the members of thelocal Board of Health, and we trust the sound oommon Bense of the people will u{£ >rd them a firm support in any measures which they may deem it their duty to take. The question has assumed a phase now in whioh it would be folly to trifle with it. Dr Nidwill also deserves recognition for tho very proper activity he is manifesting to seoure compliance with the lav, and the local Magistrates have given it to be understood that tbey will visit upon parents and guardians the full penalty of the law for any failure of duty in respeot to vaccination. This is aB it Bhould be. The one question of importance, however, remains : What steps are now to be taken to enforce vaccination upon the large number of ohildren amongst us, who, according to the report of the Health Officer, are at present unprotected P We commend thiß point to the consideration of the Board.