SMALLPOX.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1807, 21 July 1913, Page 5

SMALLPOX.

MORE CASES IN AUCKLAND. EPIDEMIC SPREADING. BAD OUTBREAK IN A MAORI VILLAGE.. The Health Department issued the following bulletin on Saturday night:— Auckland Province, "There are 34 cases in the Isolation Hospital at Point Chevalier, those taken in to-day being two Maoris from Onelninga, one Maori i'rom Mangere, and a Burop;?an from Parnell. A house-to-'houso inspection is being mads through the Nelson Street district in Auckland. "The following cases are reported from the outlying districts in tho Auckland province i— "Two cases (children) at Awakanae. "Ono case at Waikaka. "One case at Teko. "One case at Punga Punga. "One suspected case from Okinomutu, taken to tha lloloraa Isolation Hospital. "The Mormon cider credited with having introduced the disease has been discovered and taken to liaiheko for m;cdical examination. Wellington Province. "In addition to the case in tho Isolation Hospital at Wellington, and tho oase in the Quarantine Hospital at Napier, a suspected caso has been isolated at Pahiatua." Still More Cases. Yesterday Dr.. Yalintine, Chief Health Officer, informed a Dominion' reporter that lin had been advised that there wero threo fresh cases in Auckland, and eight at Humtly. The subjoined telegraphic message from Aucldand makes it clear that the Huntly cases are among the Maoris, who, it is 6tated, live in a most insanitary Native village acioss tho Waikato River from Huntly. Tho effect of tho bulletin, or rather the deduction to bo made from it, is tliat the Health authorities havo not yet got the epidemic under control. Cases are cropping up daily in fresh localities, and as the disease is infoctious in the period of incubation, tho number of contacts, who may possibly dovolop smallpox, oannot even bo estimated. Th'sy can cortainly not be located, much less isolated. ■ Tho area in Auckland is being iuspected, tho Nelson Street district, is one of the areas which is nover reproduced in hand-books of Mr. Glover s Queen 1 City." It is a congested area m one ot tho poorest quarters of the city. The Wellington Contacts. Tho patient in the Wellington isolation hospital, who, by tho way, was a maid in the household of Mr. Vernon Reed, M.P. for tho Bay of Islands, is reported to bo making good progress towards recovery. Sho arrived recently from Ivawa ICawa, and it is supposed that she caught tho infection before leaving the north. , , , r When the sickness was discovered Mr. Reed and the members of his household at once took steps to isolate themselves, and all wero immediately vaccinated. In order to mako assurance doubly sure a policeman has been placed on duty in front of the residence, , night and day, in order to see that 110 person enters or leaves tho house. It was ascertained by telephono yesterday that Mr. Reed and all members of tho household are in excellent health. Tire vaccinations in every case are proving to be successful, and it is expected that the period of isolation will be over in a fow days. In fact; Mir. Reed said that lie expected to bo back in his plaoß in tho House during tho coining week. MORE AUCKLAND CASES. POSITION SERIOUS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Auckland, July 20. Yesterday morning fresh cases of tho prevailing epidemic were discovered in the city and suburbs, and the patients were immediately sent out to tho Isolation Hospital at Point Chevalier. All wero Maoris. Two of tho cases were located at Onehunga. A third was a waterside workers residing in Mannion Street, and a fourth was a Native, who was discovered walking down Queen Streot. In the latter case, Inspector Furniss, of tho Public Health Department, saw the man walking aimlessly along tho street. His face was badly pockmarked, and tho inspector immediately "arrested" him and conveyed him to the Health Department's ofiicc, • where his trouble was at once didgnosod as an undoubted ease. Tho man was placed in an ambulance and was driven without delay to the Isolation Hospital. Questioned in regard to tho actual number of cases considered to be really smallpox, Dr. Frengley said there wero 35 cases in the Isolation Hospital. Five of these wero Europeans and tho rest were Maoris. All the patients were doing well, and ho was well pleased with tho results so far obtained by tho Health authorities in combating the disease. Tho supplv of lymph is still short of the actual demand, but fresh quantities are arriving daily. Complaints have been received from the country districts that Natives, visibly suffering from some pock complaint, are travelling about without restraint, because despito evidence of tho state of health they aro in they possess certificates indicating that they have been vaccinated. Tho matter was referred to Dr. Frengley, and ho stated that the District Health Oiiiccr was now awaiting instructions from Wellington as to what should be dono to restrict the movements of contacts, whether vaccinated or not. The strictest supervision is being maintained by the Department in regard to shipping. Every boat belonging to tho coastal fleet is boarded by a , doctor on arrival, and those who have not been vaccinated havo to submit to _ the injection of lymph or stay aboard ship. Word was received late this afternoon that tliere were three moro cases in tho city, including ono European at Parnell. Eight severe Maori cases aro reported from Huntly. SHORTAGE OF LYMPH. NATIVES SUFFER HARDSHIP. (Br Telegraph.—Frees Association.) Gisborne, July 19. A hundred tubes of lymph were sent to Gisborno four days ago, atul none, has since been received. Tile Mayor has telegraphed to'the neallh Department: "Much dissatisfaction and inconvenience at the non-supply of lymph." Arrangements wero mado yesterday for vaccinating the residents at the Garrison Hall. Hundreds, including many from tho country, arrived, only to be disappointed. The Maoris are especially handicapped, not being allowed to travel. They havo been warned against entering Gisborno, and their children aro prevented from attending school. A CASE AT OHINEMUTII. WOMAN ATTACKED. Rotorua, July 19. There is a case of smallpox at Ohinemutu. Tho patient is a woman from the Bay of islands. Sho recently arrived here from Te Puke. Stringent precautions aro being taken to confine the Maoris to the pas at Whaka and Ohine--111 utu. SUSPECT AT PAHIATUA, Pahiatua, Julj- 19. Considerable consternation was caused here to-day by tho announcement of a local case of suspected smallpdx. A mid-dle-aged man from the Auckland district, who has boon staying at a local boardinghouse, developed very suspicious symptoms of tho diseaso this morning. Dr. Dawson was notified and ordered tho immediate removal of the man, who is a European, lo the isolation ward. An officer of tho Health Department was telegraphed for and a special nurse has been obtained from Masterton. CHICKENPOX IN CHRISTCHURCH. Christcliurch, July 20. Inquiries at tho Health Office go to show that there is no apparent cause for alarm regarding the reported outbreak of oliickrnpox at Bennett's. Tho doctor, who inspected the cases, whicli compromise three adults and a number of school chaldron, stales that ho is satisfied that tho disease is only ohiokonoox. and nothing

more Serious. Somo cases of clrickeiipDi occurred last month at Bennett's School, and it has been rather prevalent in South Canterbury and Southland, but so far Nortli Canterbury, with this exception.has escaped, .. . POSITION IN MASTERTON. Masterton, July 20, About a thousand persons havo so far been vaccinated in Masterton. Ail unfounded report was circulatcd last night that a suspicious caso was under treatment in' Masterton, and this caused a rush for vaccination. Tho supply of lymph has run out, Tho reported case at liastweU has turned out to bo simple rash. Inspector Cairns took a nurse and a supply of lymph to Pahiatua yesterday.