THE EPIDEMIC.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1798, 10 July 1913, Page 6

THE EPIDEMIC.

MEDICAL MEN NOT CERTAIN.

FEARS OF SMALLPOX.

FIRM MEASURES WITH MAORIS,

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) Auckland, July 9, Tho most recent development in connection with the chickonpox outbreak in Auckland was tho disoorery of a caso in Mount Eden Hoad this morning. Ono of tho doctors Tesident in tho suburb was called in dnring t'ho forenoon to a young man who had developed' sickly symptom-j a few days ago. A rash had broken out, and this doveloped to such a degree as to

can so tho medical man to report tho oaso

immediately to tho Public Health Department as being of an infectious nature. When the doctor was approached, ho said that ho believed tho trouble to bo chickenpox, but would prefer not to make a definite statement nntil tho Publio Health officials had examined it. The patient is about 23 years of ago, and is engaged in the city. Some littlo timo ago ho was re-siding at Onehunga, but, so far, contact with other cases cannot bo traced. During tho forenoon a reporter visited the District Hospital to inquire after tho patients who aro now being treated in tho isolation ward. Tho medical superiiitendent (Dr. Magnire) said that the- five cases which woro taken out to tho isolation hospital at Point Chevalier yesterday were doing well. They were all Maoris, four being males, l'lio only cases now in the District Hospital were those of a European girl from liemuera, and a,European woman and her child. These, however, were purely chickenpox, and the patients were recovering. Dr. Maguiro stated that none of the seven cases at Point Chevalisr was of a critical nature, but the symptoms were certainly more severe than in the earlier cases. "From what I have observed in later cases," said Dr. Maguire, "I liavo been forced to tho conclusion that - the trouble is something more than chickenPi 031 ' ti ™ erstood that nil tho nurses at j District Hospital havo been vaccinated."

It is understood that the Auckland Jiducation Board will circularise teachers in their employment drawing attention to tlio advisability of vaccinating all children attending schools., It may bo mentioned in tins connection 'that tho Public Health Department has power under the Act to enforce vaccination, but it is hoped that tlio board s intimation will serve the purpose. The principals of the leading, secondary schools havo also been requested to impress upon parents, through the scholars, tho wisdom of vaccination ■ Most of tho doctors who act as public vaccinators report having treated numbers °f and many private practitioners 6fcate .that tliey have been busy in the same way. Most of those vaccinated so far havo been children, but an increasing number of adults are now, coming forward. The fivo Maori cases, which were removed to Point Chevalier hospital, were vaccinated after their admission a fow days ago, and, although 'ample timo lias elapsed for it ■to - havo taken its course, the vaccine lias not yet affected tho patients. Medical opinions 'aro therefore to the effect that th,o disoase is of tho nature of smallpox. There aro now seven patients at Point Chevalier. On tho other hand, the three European patients in tho hospital—a woman and her baby and a girl—havo each responded to tho vaccination, thus proving that tbsir trouble is not smallpox.

Advice received from Huntly, where the large Maori village of Waahi is situated, states that it is understood that the Public Health Department has authorised the local medical practitioner to vaccinato forthwith all Natives who, reside at' the Waahi settlement,"'ori'thW 1 Western bank of tho WaiKato'Jiiverl , 'dt''Hiintly l and also all Maori, children attending tho local schools. It is also understood that tlve police will have instructions that, in tho ovont nf any resistance, such parsons are to bo isolated, and provented from entering a publio place, railway train,' or steamer.

OPENING A COFFIN. (By- Telograpli.—Bjjcciul Correspondent ) Auckland, July 9. Tho unsolved outbreak in tlio Auculand district. is beginning to be taken inoro seriously both by medical men and the public. Tho former aro still divided, but it would seem that they aro approaching unanimity on one point: Namely, that tho disease prevalent would be moro wisely looked upon as though it was definitely snmll-pos. Two moro cases .have been ported in the city, one being that of an officer of the. Jvativo Land Court. During the forenoon several Maoris who desired to travel to othor parts were vaccinated at tho Public Health Office. Dr. Spedding is expected to arrive from Dunecfin on Friday to augment tho staff at the local Health Office. Most o" his

time will, in tho first instance, be spent at the Isolation Hospital. Both Dr. Cawkwell and Dr. Eleanor Baker are busily engaged north of Auckland id tracing and vaccinating Maori "contacts." Tho shipping companies have been notified T>y tho Health Department that Maoris aro not to bo carried on boats leaving Auckland unless they can produco a certificate to the effect that they have been vaccinated.

A message from Cambridge states that Dr. Stapley and Inspector Bennett -visited Maungatutari Settlement yesterday to investigate cases there. • Thev found 18 Natives suffering, and one dead in a coffin. They opened the coffin, and found that the body was much marked, and that 'tho Native had evidently suffered from a very virulent form of disease, tho symptoms nearly approaching small-pox, Returning to Cambridge, tho doctor communicated with, tho health authorities in Auckland and tho Mayor of the town. The latter at once took steps to prevent any Natives visiting Cambridge, for which purpose a- sentry was placed on the High Xevel Bridge over tho Waikato to turn back Natives attempting to cross. It is thought that the disease was imported from Mangere, where tho Natives lied been visiting. Dr. Stapley thinks that it 'is more serious than chicken-pos, but hesitates to pronounce' on it until ' tho health officers arrive.

Inspector Bennett has gone to Ifaimgatutan again, and, on his return, he will take -up his residence in the pavilion-at Victoria Square, which is being fitted with a telephone to provide oomiuiimeation without contact. Dr. Stapley is evidently isolating' himself, as ho refused to see anyono last evening. ' Something like a scare prevails here on account of the energetic methods being; adopted. Twenty fresh, oases are reported from Kaikau, a Native village In the north.

PORT INSPECTION HERE. Before tho Union Company's Manuka left Sydney for Wellington this trip all passengers and members of her crew were vaccinated. On arrival in port yesterday it was fonnd that tho lymph hod not re-acted on 14 members of the ship's company, and they were vaccinated ngaiii. Tho vessel was compelled to remain in the stream for two hour®. It is stated that some members of tho vessel's crow refused to be vaccinated at Sydney. They signed off tho vessel at t.lint .port, and were replaced by others. Those applying for passages to New Zeftland 0 t tho Union Company's cfTico in Sydney are compelled to show a certificate indicating that they have been vaccinated before a passage is granted.