SMALLPOX.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10522, 19 December 1901, Page 1

SMALLPOX.

Opinion of Dp Mason.

• (Per United -Pres« Association.) WELLINGTON, December 18. The possibility of smallpox, now raging in London, being brought to this colony, although considered to be remote if- due precautions are taken, has not escaped the attention of the Public Health Department. Dr Mason, Chief Health Officer, points out that a fact in favour of this colony's favour is that for the most part the incoming vessels from Home ports do not make New Zealand the first port of call. • Tliejt generally call at Hobart, and aie subjected to inspection of the Health authV_ orities there, and a further inspection I of a rigid character is made upon arrival here. It has not been considered necessary to enforce quarantine either as to the possibility of smallpox or plague cases so long as the inspection is adequate. To obtain, this the department is working in conjunction with the shipping companies, with which » cordial understanding has 'been come to. Dr Mason, howeyer, considers that ■- snxallpoi is a. greater danger to this polqny than plague, because of. the nnTaccinatsd state of the community. Should 4 cose escape the sanitary cordon, we should have a heavy penalty to pay. There con, in his opinion, be np possible doubt as to- the efficacy of vaccination. Statistics, he says, prove it conclusively, and- the colony, in his opinion, never made a greater mistake than when it introduced the "conscience clause" with respect to vaccination.