The Star. FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 1904. THE SMALL-POX OUTBREAK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7910, 15 January 1904, Page 2

The Star. FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 1904. THE SMALL-POX OUTBREAK.

Although, as we said yesterday tier© is no occasion for anything in- the nature of a panio over the present outbreak of smallpox in Christchurch z there are certain plain facts in connection with the eruption -which the public -will do Trail to lace. One of these is that the difficulty of fighting the outbreak has been magnified by the inability jof the Health authorities to trace it to its source, and another is that the number of contacts is -unusually large. Do what they wilh Dr Mason and his subordinates are still in the dark as to the source of the disease, and' it is only by th'a exercise of the ver-y greatest energy that they are gradually laying their hands en everybody who has, either directly or indirectly t come into contact -with the small-pcx patients. Happily, Dr Mason considers that the outbreak is now well in hand. At th© same time ho admits that fresh cases may occur. In view of his opinion,, we think the pute lie ought not, to ignore his appeal in favour of vaccination. We have some sympathy with those people who object to being vaccinated 1 when there is*no danger of smallpox, but wo think' th&t such, scruples should bo abandoned at time's like the present. Apart from the question of self-protection, the public owes it as a duty to the Health Department not to ignore-tho advice of its officials. It has established a Department oi Health, to administer which it has appointed' an officer hoiaing the very highest credentials. When that officer makes, as Dr Mason has done, an urgent request to til© public to be vaccinated, we think thait the public should acquiesce. It has the Department's ' assurance that any danger that may arise from the operation has been deduced to a minimum' by the careful manner in which the lymph is prepared^ and' this aissurance, coupled with the obvious need; at the present time for strong measures, ought to dissipate the doubts of the \ sceptical.' in a word, it should be enough for the present that the officials to whoee | care the health of th© community has been confided have urged the public to seek the protection afforded by vaccination. Doubts and fears may be Mt for more settled times 1 .