EPIDEMIC.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1797, 9 July 1913, Page 8

EPIDEMIC.

MYSTERIOUS MAORI MALADY. IS IT SMALLPOX? HEALTH PRECAUTIONS HERE. (By Telegraph—Prces Association.) Auckland, July 8. The arrival of official instructions from Wellington last night has caused increased activity in Auckland with regard to precautions against the spread of chicken-pox. Six Maoris, who lave been, treated for tho disease in tho isolation wards at Auckland Hospital, a re being conveyed to an isolation hospital at Point Chevalier. On inquiry at tho District Health Office this morning, a reporter was informed that a fresh outbreak of chicken-pux among Maoris had been reported from, Cambridge. No dotails were available, but instructions had Tiecn telegraphed far an inspector to go out fTom Cambridge, and seek out the affected Natives and also any suspected "contacts." • Tho district health officer said that no further notification had been made. Asked for an estimate of the number of cases among Maoris north of Auckland:, tho officer said that tho number would probably be Bomeivliero in the vicinity of GOO. When asked further if he know of the prevalenco of chicken-pox among children in Auckland (thero aro a number of known oases among school children), ho remarked that, so far as h© knew, no European children were suffering in any way. The health officer added that he was endeavouring to ascertain the length of time which had elapsed between the adl- - of the first patient to tho hospital and that of tho next patient who was known to bo a contact. If tho period of incubation proved to bo twelve days, the disease would bo small-pox, but, if it was 21 days, it would bo chickenpox. It is understood that steps are likely to bo taken at tho earliest dato to prevent members of tho Native race travelling away from their places of residence. It is also likely, if other precautions are necessary, that Maoris will bo prevented from travelling by tho tram-cars and steamers unless they can exhibit a permit.

Several local doctors were spoken to this morning concerning the nature of tho diseaso. "I am emphatically of opinion," said'ono, "that tho trouble i.s something more' tlian chicken-pox, and I am inclined to believe that the diseaso in Sydney may be identical with that which broko out sooner here. It is possible that both outbreaks have como from tho same source—Vancouver." •

Another doctor remarked that a significant fact was that, -while tho Department was causing "contacts" to be vac-" cinated, its officials had not been vaccinating tho6o' who were actually from tho disease. In his opinion, tho trouble' could only bo ono of two things, namely Chicken-pox ot small-pox. .If the former, vaccination was of no, avail, but, df tho latter, it was tho most effective method of checking tho outbreak. THE ITCH' THEORY. Mr. G. H. Davis, of Ivarori, mentioned yesterday to a reporter that a similar outbreak occurred in tho Auckland province some forty-five years ago, when it wa.9, in fact, fairly general throughout the North Island.' It was then diagnosed by doctors as an aggravated form of itch —hakihaki itch. The European portion of the population was not affected, although they worked with the Maoris. "And I think I am right in stating," continued Mr. Davis, "that Captain Mair on one occasion marched his Maori Cavalry (who were affected by this complaint) to the Whnkarewarewn Hot Springs, Kotonia, and in a very short time tho baths effected a cure." PRECAUTIONS- HERE. Passengers on the Manuka, which arrives from Sydney to-day, who are not vaccinated, will bo vaccinated by tho Pflrt Health, officials prior to being allowed ro land. Also, before their departure : for Sydaisy on Friday next, tho wliolo of tho crow of tho Moeraki will bo vacciliated also. Strict measures aro being adopted by tho health authorities with steamers arriving at Wellington from oversea ports. For some time past it lias been tho custom to allow passenger vessels from Sydney to berth at tho wharf, and the Port Health Officer has carried out his examination there. Since tho outbreak of smallpox in Sydney, intercolonial steamers have been compelled to remain in the stream, pending pratique being granted. It has always been the custom for Home eteamors to be examined in tho stream, but the measures adopted in connection with tho Arawa yesterday were more striot than has formerly been the case. Only Health Officers and Customs officials were allowed to board tho Arawa until the vessel was berthed at the Quean's-Wharf.' This v;as dono on account of the cases of scarlet fever which were discovered on board the Corinthic and Remuera. Immigration officers were unnble to seo tho assisted passengers on board the Arawa till she was berthed. On account of tliis it is alleged that a number of assisted immigrants were unable to get away to their destinations by yesterday's Main Trunk express.

IN THE HOUSE. The Minister for Public Health (tlio Hon. R. H. Rhodes) was aslced in tho House last evening by Mr. Myers- (Auckland East) whether ho could specifically state- the exact nature of tho epidemic that has broken out amongst tho Natives in the Auckland district. Mr. Rhodes replied that he did not think they quite understood tho exact nature of the disease that had broken out in Sydney. There they had what they called a very mild form of smallpox. There was somo doubt as to whether tho disease amongst tlio Maoris was tho same diseaso that existed in Sydney. The Department had bean able to trace a passenger who had come from Sydney, and who apparently bad been infected with the samo disease. The doctors could not yet say whether tho outbreak in tho north ■was smallpox. "I do not wish to alarm tho puMre," said the Minister, "and I do not. think that there is any cause for alarm. We aro taking every possiblo precaution." SMALLPOX OR CHICICENPOX? , A DOCTOR'S OPINION. ' (By Tclenrapli— Special Correspondent.) Auckland, July 8. A local doctor remarked to a reporter to-day that ho had heard on very good authority that in the ease of a European patient who had been vaccinated in tlio Whangarei district the vaccino had failed to take effect. If this was so it was presumptive proof that the trouble was smallpox and not chickenpox. In his opinion tho Health Department should have caused patients as well as "contacts" to lw vaccinated, for then tlio , disease could have been definitely ding- '' nosed. "It .is as futile io vaccinate against chickenpox," he added, "as it is to try and stop a bolting horso with a piece of cotton."