TYPHOID AMONG THE MAORIS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3634, 21 September 1912, Page 7

TYPHOID AMONG THE MAORIS

TOLOGA BAY CASES

REPORT TO THE HOSPITAL BOARD.

Recently cases of typhoid fever were reported from Tologa Bay and on September 11 the secretary of the Hospital Board received a telegram from the District Health Officer (Dr Chesson) suggesting that Inspector York and Nurse Cormac-k should Ire despatched to deal with the matter. Reporting to the Hospital Board last evening. Inspector York stated that on arrival they were met by Air F.. Boland, who kindly assisted them to open a temporary hospital, besides providing a lot of necessaries tor the nurse. The Natives among whom this outbreak occurred granted the use of their meeting-house as a temporary hospital. On making inquiries from Dr. AYeeks, lie found that two more cases had broken out since his visit a week previously, and there had been one death, and there remained three cases that needed isolation. These they moved with their beds to the temporary hospital, where they were making satisfactory progress under the nurse's cure. The cause or this outbreak could be traced to one family. In the early part of March last, or late in February, a corpse was removed from the hospital at Gisborne. death being due to typhoid, find taken to lologa Bay tor the purpose of holding a tangi. The coffin was fitted with a tap. which from time to time was turned on in order to allow the gas to escape. Since that time he had had seven cases notified by Dr Meeks, two or these having proved fatal. He was not prepared to say that the present outbreak was due to the tangi. but it was quite probable, and the practice was a dangerous one and should be immediately abolished. There were other causes surly as shallow well and pinis gathered fiom the beach near creeks that emptied into tho sea. He recommended that provision should be nuido in tho township for isolating The pa was verv clean and the Natives places were far above the average for cleanliness. The natives were also alive to the dangers of fever. Dr Chesson wrote stating that ft ha vine occurred that bodies of Maoris who had died of typhoid fever m thehospital had been removed bv their friends for the purpose ot holding atamd. and as this practice was most undesirable and likely to cause the spread of infection, he was ot opinion that no body of any Maori who had died of an infectious disease should he allowed to be removed from the hospital promises except tor the purpose of immediate burial, and therefore under Section eO of the 1 üblic Health Act order that- such bodies should be buried as soon as possible after decease in the. nearest public cemeterv. or if removed to the iNatne burial ground of the pa to which the Native' belongs, that the bodv be enclosed in an hermetically sealed lead coffin and buried immediately on its arrival thereat under the supervision of tho Inspector. . , Air Boland said he thought there should ho a (\ittage hospital at Tologa Bay. Ho thought a site would soon be' forthcoming. It- was decided to write to the Department, pointing out tlio necessity of a cottage hospital at Tologa Bay and that there was a possibility ot a site forthcoming, and ask them it the Government* would assist them, j A vote of thanks was passed to air. Bohuid for assisting the Inspector.