AT THE NEEDLES POINT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1802, 15 July 1913, Page 6

AT THE NEEDLES POINT.

CITY VACCINATION SCENES. "EVERYBODY IS DOING IT NOW." LIVELY DAY FOR DOCTORS. REPORTS ON EPIDEMIC IN THE NORTH.

In the large sun-flooded room of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, in Marion Street, the lady doctor and her starched-robed assistants, operated busily with lymph tube and needle-point. A spirit lamp offered but a feeble show against the glorious shaft of sunshine, which fell in a blaze on the table. Occasionally the assistant held tho used needles in the pale bluo flame to sterilise the delicate steel points. There was no lack of patients for the lady doctor, no lack of patience on the part of those waiting. It was all beautifully arranged—quite an interesting and altogether untoward scene. A linei of men stood up against a wall, each with tho left arm hanging loose and bare to the shoulder, whilst with the other hand they held tho tightly-rolled up sleeve clear of tho red "pawnbroker's sign.' l These had been treated, and were waiting' for the mixture of lymph and blood to dry before being given a dab of cotton-wool and 6ent on their way rejoicing. Ono lady did not wish' to have her arm disfigured—it was so awkward in) evening dress—so, without any apologies to anyone, she there and then offered tho calf of her leg to the needle-point, and after the faint scratching—which is the only sensation folt at the time, exposed the "sign" to the sun until it had dried sufficiently. "Everybody's doin' it," whistled a facetious citizen, as ho entered the room and took in thej unusual scene. And so they were. Ministers and professional men, police officers, pressmen wero there standing beside factory hands, labourers, and little children—a smallpox scare is a great leveller. And as they stood with bared arms, the talk did east and west about vaccination. One had last been vaccinated at Calcutta, when the smallpox was killing off tho natives like flies, in the interior. Another had been treated at Gibraltar, and a third in Johannesburg. One burly man showed three deep red scars on his biceps. There was no mistaking that his "little lot" had taken. "Yes—l had hard luck with that. I had been vaccinated about a week or so, and my arm was well up when I was unfortunate enough to get into a fight, and the bandages were torn off. That's why tho marks aro so pronounced!" "Oh, what a.- dear little chap—you aro a beauty," said the lady doctor tactfully to a really very chubby little boy who was there to be "done." "There you are— that's right," as she blew three tiny drops of water-white lymph on to tho round of tho youngster's arm. "Now, look at daddy over. there , . . ifs all right, you see only three littlo spots of " red paint. . , , He is oi good little, chap— tho best we've had. * They usually get frightened when they see the blood, but thoy practically feel nothing." "T told him that vaccination was like chocolates," offered the father with a smile. "A very good' idea," consented, the doctor, 'we must get some chocolates for the children—the dears!" And the little man, aged four, took his place in tho row of men, quito happy in being one of tho crowd, and quito oblivious to any pain. And so tho procession went on throughout tho day without pause. Everybody's doin' itl MAORIS ON CARS. It is very probable that Maoris will bo forbiddon to travel on Wellington tramcars after to-day.- A similar prohibition is already in force in Auckland. Tho Health Department, in conjunction with the municipal authorities, is also taking steps to carry out a thorough inspection of boardinghouses in the city which are frequented by Natives. CIVIL SERVANTS. The vaccination of public officers has not so far been made compulsory, but it is fully anticipated by membfcrs of tho Service that this 6tep is inevitable. -In the meantime, hundreds of civil servants aro taking time by the forelock, and submitting themselves to tho operation. Of those_ who presented themselves for vaccination yesterday to various officers, a large proportion were in tho employ of the Government Departments. An officer of the Health Department is carrying out tho operation in a temporary surgery in the old Parliamentary Buildings. He was kept very busy all day yesterday. Since the rush for vaccination started about a wq?k ago, he alono has mado some 000 inoculations. His clients include members of. Parliament, representatives of almost all tho branches of the Public Service, members of the Parliamentary pfioss gallery, and House messengers. Setting a good example to their fellows in tho Servico, tho officers of the Health Department havo cheerfully submitted themselves to the ordeal. MAYOR SEEN, LIKELY STEPS IN THE CITY. Although the City Council is not particularly called upon to combat infectious diseases, it is ready to act in co-operation with the Health Department. Tho Mayor of Wellingon was asked yesterday whether anything was being dono by the City Council to prevent anything resembling an outbreak in Wellington. Mr. Luke replied that he had consulted with tho City Engineer (Mr. Morton), and the matter had been discussed, with the result that they wero convinced that -the ordinary cleansing and sanitary requirements wero being carried out thoroughly in the cit>. Mr. Morton recognised tho responsibility of the present position, and was making preparations, with a view to having the strictest supervision carried out by responsible officers in referenco to the several 6anitary services under his control. In this connection the Mayor referred to the fact that the council, at its meeting a fortnight back, when dealing with the estimates, had allocated a sum of ,£IOOO, additional upon the amount expended last year, for the purpose of improving tho scavenging of the city, and a further ifilOOO, in excess of last year was placed upon the estimates for removal ot refuse from houses in the city area. This additional sum of ,£2OOO would enable Mr. Morton to extend tho sanitary services to a considerable extent. Tho Mayor recognised the danger which might result from the congregating -in Wellington of large numbers of Maoris, and he has written to the Health Department, bringing under their notice the desirabilitv of taking immediate steps to prevent tho crowding of Natives, which invariably takes place in and around Parliament Buildings at session time. "This, in my opinion," said the Mayor, "is a dangerous element at all times, and at tho present timo even more so than usual.. Tho communication of these Natives with areas which we how know to be infected with the disease is a grave source of danger, and every steps should bo taken to prevent any possibility of tho outbreak being carried to the European population of Wellington." The Mayor added that ho had 110 doubt that tho Health Department would see that tho Natives conformed with any requirements having as their aim tho safeguarding of the people of this city.

the Wellington Racing Club's meeting at Trentham this week is one that lias been raised. The Health Department lias made representations on the point that Maoris should bo debarred admission to the racecourse at Trentham. When the matter was mentioned by a reporter to Sir. A. E. Whyto (secretary of tho Racing Club) lato last night, lie stated that it had not been definitely decided yet what action would be taken. In this connection our Masterton correspondent states that a number of Wairarapa Natives who object to vaccination have expressed an intention of proceeding to the Wellington, races by motor-car.

RUSH TO BE IMMUNE. Although it is impossibly to say how many Wellington citizens presented themselves yesterday as voluntary subjects of the vaccinators' needles, it is eafe to say that tho number ran well into four figures. Every medical practitioner in tho city was more or less besieged, and many •people had to wait a long tim& for their turn. As indicated above, one of the busiest centres was tho office of tho Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, in Marion Street, where the Health Department had arranged for relays of doctors to bo present throughout tho day. From 9 a.m. to 0 p.m., with a brief. interval for lunch, tho board room was more or less thronged. The work of vaccination was carried out -by Drs. Platts-Mills, Elliott, M'Lean, Lewis, Hogg, and Ramage. Altogether 202 operations wero performed hero during the day. Tho scene in tho board-room was in many respests a notablo one. A glanco round tho room revealed about a score of persons—men, women, and children— with their sleeves rolled up to tho shoulders. Somo were awaiting the surgeon's attention; others were standing in the sunshine by the windows, drying three or four small wounds, at which they occasionally cast a-wistful glance. The doctor on duty was steadily working away, by his siao a bunch of needles, a box of tubes of lymph, and a blazing spirit lamp. As each "patient" entered, ho or she was asked by one of the nurses to bare an arm. lne upper arm was then carefully cleansed with a piece of ootton wool dipped in absoluto alcohol. Then the patient, having duly registered his name, was submitted to tlio ordeal. And what a trivial thing it turned out to be! A few gentle—very gentle—scratches with a needle, the application of two or throo drops of lymph, tlio glow Of an infinitesimal quantity of blood —far le«s than a man. loses wlion ho cuts himself with his razor—a joke with tho doctor, a friendly "rally" from the other victims—and it was all over. Those who desired to travel were granted a certificate of vaccination by the operating doctor. Others must return in a week's time, in order that the effect of the vaccination may be observed. In tho gathering in tho board-room almost every profession and trado in the city found at least ono representative. At ono time thero wero in tlio room two representatives* of the detective force, three journalists—whoso curiosity wa3 ( almost as great as their desire to be "on the safe side"—a postman, w'lio had "just dropped' in off his round," three small children, attended by their mother and aunt, a wharf labourer, two young ladies, and tlireo Civil Servants. As ono flippant young man, with' a genius for mental arithmetic, put it, "One room held £2 worth for the doctor." Outside, in. the corridor, a score of people were patiently waiting their turn. Tho atmosphere of the operating room was charged with mirth, but at the same time it was quite noticeable that everyone _ present took a serious view of the situation. One or two of the Civil Servants especially, who spend their lives amongst documents of all descriptions, openly avowed their determination to "take no risks." In a few days, when the effects of the operation begin to be noticeable, "sore arm" will be a very general complaint in Wellington. "KEEP OFF MY ARM!" "Keep off my arm!" was the gruff reminder of one recently vaccinated . to a person somewhat roughly hustled into a seat on a city-bound car in Courtonay Place. Doubtless the Tema-rk will bo mado many hundreds, if not thousands, of time 3 in Wellington during tho next week or two. Thero is a creed outlined in tho comedy, "A Message from Mars," which is embodied in the term "otlierdom," and which interpreted means a thought for others. It is "othcrdom" that the public will be called upon to practice for some time to' come, as after a week the vaccination sores become extremely tender, and their owners' tempers just a little bit short. Allowances must ; bt» made—gentleness and consideration must bo shown by all, especially where people are thrown closely together as in a traincar or a street orowd. In short, tho public must have a little more thought, for others than they usually have, if peace—and tempore—are to be preserved. AUCKLAND REPORTS. THE STEAMERS & THE SCHOOLS.(Br Teleeraph.—Press Assooiatlon.) Auckland, July 14. The recent activities of tho Public Health Department appear to have given a check to the prevailing malady among the Maoris of northern New Zealand. Only ono fresh case has been reported from city or suburbs since Saturday, and the number located in the country is diminishing. The precautions which have been taken to ensure the vaccination of the passengers of outward-bound vessels hare been responsible for A noticeable falling off in the numl>ers of people travelling to Sydney and the south. At. the Union Company's office anyone asking for a ticket must show a certificate of recent and satisfactory vaccination. Large notices have been posted in tho shipping companies' offices and about tho wliarvc3 warning Maoris that they must not leave any infected placo unless armed; with a certificate of recent vaccination. When the Maheno arrived from Sydney yesterday islio was at once boarded by Drs. Sharman, Murray, and Lawry. An examination was made, but only one passenger was called upon to submit to vaccination. Dr. Houghton, who is in chargo of the work amongst the coastal vessels, is busilv engaged amongst the steamers of the Northern Company's fleet in portAlready several crews have been vaccinated. A doctor was in attendance on tlie N-avua prior to her departure for tho Islands on Monday to vaccinate those passengers who did not possess the necessary certificate. A number of intending passengers by the Tofua, which is' to leave for the Islands and Sydney to-mor-row, were vaccinated on board that vessel this afternoon. Head teachers have lx>en strongly recommending the vaccination of children attending public schools, and large numbers of parents are responding to -the suggestion. Public departments, such as the Cih- Council, are circularising their staffs with the same object, and the response in this connection has been of a readv nature. Some of the passengers tfho left bv the Main Trunk express on. Sunday ni»ht consented to be vaccinated, as the TMult of an official announcement that tickets would only be issued, on tho production of vaccination certificates. It transpired, according to a subsequent Ministerial statement, that this precaution was not compulsory, although it was strongly recommended. Consequently, somo of the passengers wero vaccinated and some were not. Discussing the heavy demand for vaccination. Dr. Frenglev stated that tho Department desired to impress upon the pnbiic vaccinator* that, during M-.re;9. profejpw should given .to tfte so-.

MAORIS AT THE RACES, Ths question of what ia goinif to happen ,in AtoMya gf Mwtfe to

called "loss educated" members of the community. Tho Department's view was that educated persons had had ample opportunity in years past of making themselves acquainted with the pros and cons of vaccination, and it was, therefore, preferred that others should not bo deprived of tho facilities which are boing provided by the Department. OTAGO CONFERENCE. QUARANTINE ISLAND READY. (By Telegraph—Association.) Dunedin, July 14. . A meeting of local medical authorities, convened by the District Health Officer (Dr. Champtaloup) for the purpose of considering tho precautions necessary in view of the outbreak of smallpox in tho North Island, was held to-day Dr. Champtaloup said he did not think they neod alarm themselves, though they might have a case or two here. It wa9 resolved that it was necessary for passengers from tho north to bo vaccinated. Other resolutions passed wero in effect that tho meeting approved of tho notifies tion of all cases of chicken-pox being com-1 pulsory, and that investigation and vaccination should bo carried out whore it was considered accessary; that an officor should be appointed to investigate cases of chicken-pox; that regular weekly visits should be made to settlements, and a note should be sent beforehand that the people would bo vaccinated, and that a medical officer would pay special attention to any illness in Maori settlements; that suitable temporary accommodation be immediately provided for suspected cases and contacts. It was reported that tho hospital at Quarantine Island was ready for use, and that tho Department also had a staff of officers ready. Six nurses in the hospital had been vaccinated, and notice has been posted onlling for volunteers for nursing duty. In tho ovent of a smallpox outbreak, a motor boat had been arranged for to establish communication with Quarantino Island, and an ambulance was available. It was mentioned during tho conference that word had just beeu received that cases of 6mallpox had appeared in Hawke's Bay, 1 S.S. WILLOCHRA'S PASSENGERS. I nvercargi 11, July 14. Most of tho Willochra's passengers from Sydney, who arrived at Bluff to-day, produced tho necessary certificates as to recent successful vaccination, but five were vaccinated by tho port doctors before boing allowed to land. Four passengers outward bound by tho Manuka for Hobart and Melbourne woro also vaccinated, all others having previously been treated.

Several of the mercantile firms who are connected with shipping in Wellington had their employees vaccinated yesterday. The New Zealand Shipping . Company, Union Company, and Messrs. Levin and Co. were among tho list. Several members of tho permanent etaff of tho Harbour Boord wero also vaccinated, yesterday. TRAIN PASSENGERS' COMPLAINTS. (Reo. July 14, 9.20 p.m.) Sydney, July 14. Tho fPremier and party aro visiting tho town and rendering valuable assistance in checking the spread of tho epidemic. The city is full of sore-armed "vaccinees," and numbers of people have been incapacitated from work.

The authorities insist that, vaccination is tho only sure method of checking tho cpidomio, and are insistent that tho only sure road to safety lies in its universal application.

Vaccination depots have been opened in the various suburbs. Tho children of tho various schools, their staffs, <md most of tho business firms aro being treated en masso. All the doctors are overworked and aro reaping a rich harvest.

> Amongst tlip cases quarantined are two nurses, ono attached to tho city hospital, and one to another. Everyono in tho two institutions lias been vaccinated.

An anti-vaccinator has challenged the whole of tho members of the Chamber of Commerce and manufacturers to publicly debate tho question that vaccination is both useless and dangerous, and does not benefit anyone excepting the doctors and tho undertakers. Much confusion and delay havo been caused by tho insistence of tho order that no train passengers for Victoria may proceed beyond Albury without a certificate of successful vaccination. Many passengers have been turned back at that station. Others, persisting in proceeding, were forcibly ejected. Subsequently an order from Melbourne allowed them to proceed. Tho number of passengers in the train from Brisbane has been reduced to a minimum, THE SYDNEY EPIDEMIC. VACCINATIONS TOTAL 100,000. Sydney, July 4. Tho vaccination' record has reached one hundred thousand. A better supply'of lymph has been secured. FIVE ADDITIONAL CASES. (Rec. July 15, 0.10 a.m.) Sydney, July 14. Five additional smallpox casos were reported to-day.