THE SMALLPOX SCARE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3986, 17 July 1913, Page 5

THE SMALLPOX SCARE.

POSITION IN POVERTY BAY

CASE OF CHICKEN-POX

REPORTED.

SUPPLY OF LYMPH ARRIVES

YESTERDAY

As was only to be expected, the outbreak of smallpox iij the' Dominion formed the chief topic in town yesterday, and many wild rumors were in circulation to the effect that several cases had been located in town. These scare rumors are only to be. expected while the public mind is excited, but, •fortunately, they proved groundless. On inquiries at the office of the Hospital Board, a “Titnes” reporter was informed that no local cases had so far been reported. Inspector York, local Health Officer, stated that he had heard nothing of any cases of smallpox locally, and he should know, if anyone did. Probably the fact that a mild case of ehickenpox had occurred in Fitzherbert Street had' given rise to the rumors. This was an in* fant, and the case had been isolated. Air H. M. Porter, secretary to the Board, stated that a supply of lymph had arrived that morning, but, owing to the demand from all parts of the Dominion, only 100 tubes had been forwarded. Each tube, he explained, was sufficient for two cases. A further quantity, he explained, was being forwarded by next steamer. _ l)r. Wi Repa, who has arrived from Wellington has only 10 tubes of lymph with him. He stated that he had requested the Health Department to forward 1000 tubes, and when these arrived he would make a stait with the work of treating the .Natives throughout thje Ooolc Hospital disThe Mayor, questioned on the subiect. stated that notices had been "printed in Alaori, and would be posted up at the different centres throughout the district. These advised Natives of the advantages of vaccination, and informed them that all the Natives in town were being treated. The notices advised where vaccination could be obtained and flirt her suggested that it would be advisable if Natives, did not come to town while there was danger of infection His Worship further stated that, at the request of those concerned, he had telegraphed to the Education Boaid. suggesting that Native children should „ot be allowed to attend public schools with Europeans until the danger ot contact was over. In the advertising columns of this issue, Dr. Va'lintine, Chief Health Officer, notifies that Maoris wand lia lcastcs are forbidden to travel on the Government railways to or from any - place within the Auckland W ellington, and Hawke’s Bay health districts unless able to produce a certificate from the Public Health Office or public vaccinator. , . . The Health Department also advises every person to take advantage of the protection afforded by vaccination, which is performed free of chaige l\ the public vaccinators. Hie nanies ot the public vaccinators for tins nre <nven as follows:-Gisborne, Dr J. W. Williams;, Tqlago Ikun Di. H. Weeks - Waipiro Bay. Dr. C. S. Hav The District Health Officer (Dr. Chesson) notifies that owing to an impression existing that arm-to-arm vac--5 is still practised, the Department assures the public that such is prohibited by law m the Dmnmiou. and that only pure calf There were eager mqmnes vestei div for lvmph hv local medical Petitioners, who have many waiting to be vaccinated lh Bin runs the public vaccinator, had a busy day yesterday, but the snppH t lvmph at lus command uas limited. ' A limited supply of lymph sent on bv steamer to the Waiapu Hospital authorities yesterday. . Passengers who arrived i> . „ ~,%+o'inier vesterdav mornin„ of. *••««« refused permission to tiorel on moil train from *ss “ASSIST,*. w ret X r iimitMpP^ m^b ’ ° nl / SiJecf’t'oie^Me^al'Se^^dbeen received that patients at Hospital must be vaccinated. Dr Williams, public vaccinator, had an extremely busy day yesterday, during which, he treated some HU people, of all ages and sizes He has received a large number of appbcations for vaccination, which will )e dealt, with as lmyph is available. The Mayor (Air J. R. Kirk) last uifdit received a reply, from the Education Board regarding his suggestion that Native children should be debarred from attending public schools in the meantime, to the effect that authority would be given to teachers to do as*, suggested, the Mayor informed a “limes reporter that he had notified the local schools to the effect that unvaccinated Native children were not to be allowed to attend. , . , , . . His Worship said it seemed L o him that this was one of the best ways ot bringing home to the Natives the necessity for vaccination. Once the children informed their parents, the matter would be discussed with the best results.He wanted to assure the Natives that these measures were being taken in their own interests, and they were not being imposed as differentiating in anv wav, but because of the peculiar liability of the Natives to infection the measures were Rendered absolutely necessary.

THE OUTLOOK AT AUCKLAND. DISTRICT HEALTH OFFICER, OPTIMISTIC. [PRES3 ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM! AUCKLAND, July 16. The outlook in connection with‘the outbreak of disease among the Maoris is improving, according to a- statement made bv the District Health Officer. No fresh Maori cases had been reported in the city, but one ( . tISG that of a male Native —had been discovered in the suburbs. The patient had been in contact with other cases and was removed to the isolation hospital. The number of patients now isolated is 27. A few cases of - pustular disease outside the city and suburbs were reported to the Disti let Health Officer, but turned out to be certainly chicken-pox. • In regard to the statement of Dr Good, of Wliangarei, that fully 300 Natives were affected by the disease in-the north, and that a certain percentage of the eases were certainly small-pox, the District Health Officer stated that it did not appeal; that Dr Good had had an opportunity of going through the districts said to be in-, fected, and therefore the %-eport of the doctor was who specially sent by •the Health Department to these dis-tricts-must be taken as final. _ Ihe doctor in question reported that the statements in regard • to inieetion in - the north had been very much exag-„ gerated. - , • , . It was reported by telegraph yesterday that' four deaths had taken place among the Natives in the settlements round about Kawakawa, where there has been an outbreak of the disease. It 'has not-yet been'made clear , whether these Natives died from the prevailiii"- pustular disease or some, other complaint. The District Health ; Office

has not yet received' word as to the disease from which the Natives died, but Dr Limn, of Kataia, at the instance of the Health Department, is visiting the settlements, which are widely scattered, and his report will probably soon be forthcoming. There is still an unsatisfied demand for .vaccine from local doctors. Lvmph sufficient to innoculate 3000 people arrived by the main trunk express today, and was distributed to applicants. A further supply of lymph sufficient to innoculate 9000 persons will arrive by the express to-morrow morning.

EIGHT CASES AT WHANCAREI, WELL-KNOWN RESIDENT AFFECTED. [PBESB ASSOCIATION TEIiEGB.AM.I AVHANGAREI, July IG. There are eight cases of small-pox in the Wliangarei Hospital. A wellknown resident, carrying on business in Cameron Street has contracted the disease and is now an inmate of the hospital. A rumor went round to-day that the case was definitely one of small-pox,' but Dr Frazerhurst says the case is the same as all the others, and, in his opinion, is not small-pox. He fully believed the cases were similar to those, in Sydney, but could not call one. of those he had seen smallpox. There was absolutely no need for alarm. The position was no more serious here than it was six weeks ago At the same time, he considered that all those who had not been vaccinated should submit to the opei ation now. It would prevent persons from getting small-pox if there were anv a was violently brought into hospital yesterday from limestone suffering * from the malady and two other Natives from Limestone—a man and a woman —who contracted the disease, were isolated and are now convalescent. . ~ Quite a large number of Maoris have assembled at the Island from the surrounding district. They were addressed bv Air Fitzgibbons, of the Cement Company, alul have all been persuaded to undergo vaccination. A supply of lymph is being sent direct to Mr Fitzgibbon and as soon as this arrives a medical man will go down and put them through.

THE HASTINGS OUTBREAK. NO FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS. [PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM] HASTINGS, July 16. There are no further developments hi connection with the small-pox outbreak at the Maori Agricultural College at Bridge Pa, and the doctor is unable to say definitely whether the svmptoms in the second case are those of small-pox. A further examination will be made to-morrow. Two hundred and thirty-nine people were vaccinated at the public depot this morning, including a large peicentage of Maoris.

POSITION AT WANCANUI. EDUCATION BOARD TAKES ACTION. ' [PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM] WANGANUI, July 16. Vaccination is going on to a considerable extent here, special attention being paid to Maoris. The Education Board this evening took the matter up seriously. The Chief Inspector’s report called attention to the disgraceful personal uncleanliness in a Native family attending one of the schools, and it became a question, said the report, whether the homes of all the Native children in attendance at the schools should not he periodically inspected by the health officer. „ „ . ‘The Board passed the following resolution: > “That the Education Department he informed that the Board intends to take steps to refuse to admit Alaori children to schools in its district unless satisfied by the Health Department or otherwise that the children came in healthy state.” The Chairman said he would not dream of drawing the color line, but he considered that the prevailing epidemic came from the Maoris and was contracted bv children at school. Maoris, unlike Europeans, would not cro to a doctor when affected. ” Tiie Board also resolved that teachers be informed that Maoris or children living with Maoris he vaccinated or prevented from attending school until vaccinated.

STATEMENT BY DR. VALINTINE. FOUR DEATHS TO DATE.’ [BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT] WELLINGTON,. July 16. Dr. Valintine (Chief Health Officer) in a statement this evening regarding the epidemic, said that there were 27 patients in the Pt. Chevalier hospital, 25 being Natives. Some 20 eases, he said, were now under treatment in various- parts of the Auckland district, principally at Maungatautari, Otorohanga, and Te Awamutu. Three fresh cases had been reported from Taupiri and there was one case under observation near Hastings. Four deaths had occurred to date, the last being one which occurred to-day at Parawera, near Te Awamutu. Dr. Gunn was working in. that neighborhood. Dr. Ross was proceeding to Wliatawhata (where a case had been reported) en route to Raglan, where other cases had been -reported. Dr. Valintine states that some 10,000 doses of lymph - were sent to Auckland to-day, and that 6,000. were sent to other parts of the Dominion. There-Is still a/ big demand for vaccine. . ' ■ , Dr Valintine has received a cablegram from Dr. Makgill from Sydney to the effect that the epidemic there is identical with that in the North Island. From>Sydney Dr. Makgill will go on to Melbourne to meet Dr.' Compton, Director of Quarantine for the Commonwealth. *

PLENTY OF LYMPH IN DUNEDIN \ U ' -7. NO CAUSE-FOR ALARM. [PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM^ "7 DUNEDIN. July 16. Dr Champataloup states that plenty of vaccine lymph is now available in Dunedin. So far nothing has come to his knowledge concerning the Otago district to cause the slightest -alarm. Several cases' of chicken-pox have come tinder the notice of the local health .authorities, but there is nothing in these outbreaks to warrant-un-easiness'.-;. ,7;. Dr Paterson, schools medical officer, who is assisting the. Health Department, is paying particular attention to- this disease, and is visiting the schools to see that the necessary precfniHons'are-being taken.

THE'SYDNEY OUTBREAK. 258 CASES REPORTED. [UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT] (Received July 16, 9.30 p.m.) SYDNEY. July 16. Since the outbreak 25S cases of small-pox have been reported, and 110,000 people have been vaccinated. The disease appears to be getting a hold outside the city. A case was discovered at Paramatta to-day, and another at Armidale. The latter case is that of a child recently from Sdyney. (Received July 17, 1 a.nr.) There were nineteen cases of smallpox ‘to-day, mostly from the suburbs, Including three or four new districts. CONSTERNATION AT MELBOURNE. STEAMER FROM SYDNEY AFFECTED. (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT] (Received July 16, 9.30 p.m.) MELBOURNE, July 16. There was consternation on the discovery that a second-class lady passenger oil the steamer Karoola was suffering from small-pox. The Karoola arrived from Sydney with 323 passengers on Monday and was granted a clean bill, and has been lying in the river since. All her passengers were vaccinated prior to the ship’s departure from Sydney, and the bulk of them left the vessel on her arrival here, only those for Adelaide and Westralia remaining aboard. . . . The patient, after visiting friends in the city, returned aboard, and on the discovery of suspicious symptoms last night she was visited by a doctor, who diagnosed the case as smallP °The Karoola, with 230 souls aboard, including 132 remaining passengers, was immediately taken into quarantine and the authorities are making urgent efforts to collect the remaining passengers, who are distributed in the city and elsewhere.