SMALLPOX.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1808, 22 July 1913, Page 5

SMALLPOX.

TWO DEATHS IN THE NORTH. CASE IN PAHIATUA. TALK OP "CORNER" IN LYMPH. MOVE BEING WATCHED. POINT CHEVALIER CASES TRUESMALLPOX. At 9.30 o'clock last evening, Dr. Valintino issued tho following bulletin, giving tho smallpox situation to dato:— Iu Auckland City some forty persons are . isolated, including two Europeans from Onehunga and another European admitted to the hospital to-day from Onehunga. A European case was reported at Otahuhu yesterday. (Owing to a breakdown in telephonic communication, ithe exact Toturns are not yet to hand.) Dr. Gunn reports three severo cases amongst tho Natives at Parawera, and six eases of a less severo typo. Inspector CJalderwood re-ports a case at Matapuna, and another at Pungapunga, -near Taumarunui. Dr. Will reports cases at Mangonui, and is using Rangiwahia Hall for isolation purposes. Dr. Douglas reports some thirty oases in various stages of the disease in tho Waikato district. All tho cases are isolated, also contacts. No further nqws has been received from ■ the Bay of Islands, whero several cases are reported. A case has been reported at Pahiatua. Dr. M'Kenzie reports all clear on the Wanganui River, and Dr. Couzens has come across no cases in tho Tdkaanu district. The latest report from Auckland states that a Native woman died at tho Point Chevalier Hospital to-day, tho first death recorded in Auckland.

THEATRES, HOTELS, ETC. AND THE CHANCES OF CONTACT. Both the official bulletin, and from other' sourccs, it seems that the Dominion is really menaced. After a few days of oomparativo quiet, the situation has onoe more become anything but reassuring. As indicated abovo, Several new cases have b|:en reported, and £he proportion of Europeans amongst the latest cases is uncomfortably large. The Publio Health Department must, of course, bear the brunt of the battle, but a feeling is growing among the "powers that be" , that if the efforts of its officers are to bo successful, hearty co-operation by other public bodies is 'essential.

Tho 00-operation chiefly necessary is in the matter of guarding against the use of publio railways and tramways, and the frequenting of public places by persons who may have been, exposed to the risk of infection. The Health Department has striven tb confine Maoris resident in infected places to those areas, but their efforts liftvo not met with Buoh a measure of success as is judged to be ncoessary to the safety of the community. As one officer of tho Department pointed out to a. Dominion reporter yesterday, it is hardly, worth while to guard trains and boats wliilo Natives aro allowed to mix freely with' other people in picture theatres, public meetings, hotels, and restaurants, no matter where they may lmvo come from. Somo consideration for its efforts from tho proprietors of suoh institutions would, no doubt, bo appreciated by the Department. The Department is anxious that its efforts in this direction should not be misunderstood. "The matter is not a racial one," said Dr. Valintino yesterday. At fiotorua, tho Department's officers have been instructed to treat as Maoris all pakehas married to Native women, or living in the pa with tho Natives.

"CORNER" IN LYMPH. THE MANOEUVRE BEING WATCHED. Tlie Chief Health Officer (Dr. T. H. A. Valintine) was questioned yesterday afternoon by a Dominion representative with regard to several matters connected with the epidemic. Regarding tho important matter of tho supply of lymph, Dr. Valintino said: "The -Department has been inundated with demands for lymph from all over the Dominion. The public is now in a state of panio, and having ignored for years tlie representations of tho Department with regard to vaccination, now expects tho whole Dominion to be vaccinated in a week. That is, of course, impossible, but every attempt is boing made to supply the infected areas. At tho same time, a supply has been issued to every Hospital Board in tho Dominion, so that, in the event of an outbreak, the contacts could bo vaccinated at once. "Tho Department has now some 40,000 inoculations in stock. The majority of this will bo forwarded to tho infected areas, and tho rest proportionately distributed to those districts where tho needs for. it are not so great" "A complaint has beon received from Gisborno that tho supply of vaccine thero is insufficient,'' said tho reporter "I cannot understand why tho supply should not suffice in any district," was tho reply. "It is certainly not tho fault of the Department. Tho demands made on it are not altogether reasonable. It is not possiblo for tho public vaccinators to have carried out so many vaccinations in tho time, as could have been done with the amount of lymph we have distributed. Tho officers of tho Department have beon working night and day to cope with the demand, and it is hoped that within tho next weok or ten days enough lymph will bo issued to satisfy all requests. In the meantime, we must reserve a largo stock for tho infected districts. JDuring the last nino days, tho Department has sent, out •over 150,000 doses, in addition to tho largo quantities which have been held in stock in various parts of the Dominion, and this week wo hope to distribute another 100,000 inoculations. So you see, tho Department has not been wasting much time."

From one remark of Dr. Valintino's, it would appear as though some doctors were not above indulging in a small "business scheme." Emphasising tlio fact that the lymph so far issued cannot possibly have been used up, and that the Department must exerciso groat care in tho distribution of further supplies, Dr. Valintine _ said: "What wo must guard against most particularly is a 'corner' in lymph in a district." Tho Department has recognised tho possibility —and from recent evidence may suspect the probability—of certain practitioners receiving larger supplies .of vaccine than they need for immediate use, and "holding on" to a' stock. ' Should this bo done, and other vaccinators in ihe district exhaust their simply, n liarvesi of half-crowns follows. Therefore, I}r. Valintine says, the Department is "guarding against cornors."

NEW ZEALAND LYMPH. ITS QUALITY DEFENDED. "Doubts liavo been cast on the efficacy of New Zealand lymph in Australia, Dr. Valintine," said the reporter. "Can you account for that?" "Yes," was tho positive reply. "It was not our lymplii. The cablegrams in yesterday's papers say that New Zealand lymph failed at Newcastle, and I havo caused full inquiries to bo made. Tho only lymph issued to Australia by us was sent to Sydney to tho Public Health Department there, and to Dr. Walsh, of tho Sydney University. Some was given to tho Union Steamship Company, hut from'inquiries made from tho local malinger,of tho company, I a.m assured that none was sent to Newcastle. It is possible that some of tho Now Zraland lymph issued was diluted, a not uncommon practice in times of epidemic, but I Hp not think that hnn happened in tftls cfisa. I would point out. that the,

Government vaccine laboratory is not tlio only source of supply in Now Zealand, ami that lymph is used in Australia and other centres as New Zealand lyniplv, which is not manufactured in tha Government laboratory." ON ISOLATION. REMARKS BY DR. VALINTIN'B. Another matter mentioned by Dr, Valinlino was that of tho isolation of confacts. Some of tlio comments passed on tho Department in this connection, ho said, wero hardly fair. In overy' caso, tho greatest care was taken, and nobody was allowed to enter or leave a houso in which thero Uiad been a suspicious ease. Of course, they had to look after tho material welfare of tlio inmates, and food had to be supplied to them. Foodstuffs wero brought to tho isolated liouse, and set down in tho grounds, where it could bo picked up by an inmate. Tile police were co-operating with tho Department to seo that its orders were strictly carried out. Tho period of isolation varies in different oases, from a few days to three weeks. "Tlio public may be assured," concluded Dr. Valintino, "that all precautions are bainjf taken, amithat there is no slackness in the isolation of.contacts." It may bo added that in tho case of tho isolation of tho-residence of Mr. V. Reed, M.P., we are assured that tho quarantine has been very strictly observed. Mr. Reed, while he has been put to great inconvonienco, recognises that it is duo to tho publio that proper precautions should bo taken. He is of opinion that, owing to tlio nature and circumstances of tho case, the quarantine regulations aro superfluous in this instance; but he feels that it is incumbent on him as a 'public man to as far as possible assist the Health Department officials by a ready acquiescence in any step they may deem advis-'. able to allay public anxiety. . THE BUSY NEEDLE. SOME HUMOUR & SOME FIGURES. There was a considerable slackening in the number who presented themselves for vaccination at the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board's room yesterday. There wore, however, a good many who submitted thoiusolves to "tho busy needle." During tho day, too, about fifty of thoso vaccinated a week ago caino m for inspection, and of those about a fifth had not "taken," and were given a second application of lymph. It was rather curious to note tho varying effects of tho operation on different poople. Some of last week's cases presented violently inflamed and swollen arms, and complained about pain. They were cheerfully informed that they wero "splendid cases," and on being so warmly congratulated, lowered tlioir shirtsleeves, accepted their certificates, androtired wreathed in smiles. In some cases only one out of tlio throe spots had "taken," and that only mildly. Theso were advised to try again, and invariably they submitted. The most aggrieved persons reporting themselves were thoso wlio had not "taken" at all. It was almost with a senso of injury that they exhibited their marks "with nothin' dom*." One humorist blamed tlio Reform Government for his absenco of sores—his treatment h.-ul not been "liberal" enough. Tho following aro the totab of thoso vaccinated at tho board's room last week: Monday, 221; Tuesday, 315; Wednesday, IC3; Thursday, 133; Friday, 83; Saturday, 112. Total, 1027. REPORTER ISOLATED. It was reported yesterday that tlio household of a mombtsr of tho literary staff of one of the Wellington newspapers had boon isolatod. Inquiry elicited the information that a policeman was set on guard at tho residence, which is in Austin Streut, for a white, but that subsequently thio precaution was deemed to bo unnecessary.

TRUE SMALLPOX. ONE DEATH AT MANGONUI. (By Talegraph.—Prasß Asaoolatlon.) Auckland, July 21. Word was received >at the District Health Office to-day that thrco very severe cases had been discovered amongst tlwj Maoris at Tarawcrn, near To Awamutu, these being declared to bo true smaJlixjx, even to tho marked characteristic odour. Six less severe cases were reported from tho same place. The death of a Native patient was reported from Mangonui where dthcr cases had been isolated. Further cases notified (all amongst Maoris) were as followMntapuna, near Taumanui, ono; ICawhia, ono (a contact with Auckland cases); Okoroiro district, ono; Tauranga, ono. _ In the Okoroiro district vaccination, isolation, and quamntino hava boen enforced.

PT. CHEVALIER CASES. SMALLPOX FROM THE FIRST. Auckland, July 2t. A definite statement regarding the nature of the epidemic in tno Auckland district has been made by Dr. Frenglcy, of tho Health Department. "The Health Office," lie said, "has from the outset declared tlio cases isolated at Point Chevalier to be modified smallpox, and all our precautions have been based on that diagnosis of the disease. All tlio patients now at Point Chevalier are considered by tho Department to be suffering from modified 6mallpox. Tho Department's fenr is that this modified form of smallpox might become more virulent in a comparatively immuno . aboriginal race such iib tho Maoris." "This," added Dr. Frengloy, "seems unfortunately to havo already boon demonstrated in tho occurrence in tho To Awamutu district, as is reported to-day." "Thero is no doubt that two diseases aro prevalent," remarked Dr. Monk, health officer. "Some pcoplo aro suffering from chickecapox and others from smallpox,"

MAORIS & THEIR JOKE. REMARKS BY DR. FRENGLEY. Auckland, July 21. Supplies of lymph aro coming to hand from Wellington daily except on Mondays, when no Main Trunk express arrives. On Sunday 1000 tubes were received, and these woro all disposed of by this aftorjioon. At least ono instance has been reported to tho health officers of unvaccinated Maoris in tho north of Auckland district travelling upon certificates borrowed from vaccinated friends. "The Department considers this practico to bo very illjudged on tho part of ignorant or designing Maoris," said Dr. Frengley iij discussing'the matter. "If such actions continue there is just a likelihood that still moro drastic measures will bo imposed upon the V.'holo population should tho epidemic mako itself more manifest. Instead, therefore, of persons who hear of, such cases enjoying them as a joke against tho Department, it would bo well for tjiem to look upon them as very serious. It affects their own interests, and thoso of tho peoplo of Auckland generally."

v A SECOND DEATH. WOMAN AT POINT CHEVALIER. Auckland, July 21. A Maori woman diod in tho Isolation Hospital at Port Chevalier to-day. Tho other patients aro progressing favourably, the 111110 Europeans (all of whom aro "contacts") being only slightly affected. Two more Europeans were found' to bo suffering from tho diseaso to-day—one at Ponsonby and the othoi- at Parnell. lloth were immediately sent to tho hospital.

CROSS-STRAIT TRAVELLERS. Nelson, July 21. There is considorablo adverse comment hero concerning reported laxity in vaccination at Wellington. Arriving pasgongers report it to bo purely optional, and many ooniuig across tho stiviit aro un vaccinated. It is reported that a passenger arrived by tho Patocna on Saturduy who had oomo from tho King Country and had not been asked either to submit .to vaccination or to produce a certificate. Tho press urge greater stringency, mnd also that vaccinated persons be not allowed to travel until the lymph lias had sufficient time to take effect. UP THE WANGANUI. NOTHING MORE THAN "MAORI ITCH." (By Teloerapli— Special Correspondent.) Wansanui, July 21. Dr. F. W. M'Kenzie, of Wellington, who has beon busily engaged for tho past week vaccinating up-river Natives, was in town to-day for a. fresh supply of lymph. Tie rcport« that tho Natives are willingly submitting to tho operation, and aro ooming

forward freely to bo vaccinated. Ho says ho found 110 traco of smallpox in tho river villages, but cunie across three or four children suffering from Jiaki-haki, a skin disease of a pustular nature, which appears among tho Maoris at intervals, aiid which some, though without expert medical knowledge, liavo lieon declaring is tho real nature of the present opidennc. Dr. M'Konzio returned up river this afternoon, having several hundred to vaccinate at Ranuua and Jerusalem. VACCINATION. THE SEVEN STAGES OP MAN. [CONTMUBTEP.] All tlio world's Oz-scaro, and all tjio men and women meroly cautiouß. Tlioy liavo their suspicions and their doubts, and one maa in his lime plays tho very deuce, hie acts being soven EtagCß. At first three emca.ry pin>poimts on the patient's arm; Then tho whining "vaccinee," with Jiis concealed shield and sad lujnibrioua faoo, creeping liko snail unwillingly to work. And Mien tho doubter, seeking in the glttEfl . Ms fate to know, Then tho complete inrdtent, full of tttttnge oaths and restless as tlio pard; . Jealous of hidden wounds, sudden oral quick in quarrel, with fraying tcmpor, of patience not a whit. And then tho convalefjoont—a. puro and holy state—with grooious oyee and mion, full of nieo sores and modern cultures; and so ho looks hie part. Tlio sixth stage shifts into tlio bright and boastful .buffoon. Of shield and lint bereft, who puts on side. His itch and pain, nil gono; his empty talk a world too wide for othc.ra newly pricked, and Ms brawn martyrdom cnouprh to make one choke it in hia sound. Last scono of nil that ends ' tills brief pustulary history is health restored and tongue at rcstEans boast, sans brag, stme itch, Etms BMAUrox. THE SYDNEY EPIDEMIC. <) EXCITEMENT SUBSIDING. END PREDICTED: IN FOUR WEEKS. By Telegraph—PrcEa ABJociition-OoDVrlchl Sydnoy, July 21. A satisfactory supply of lymph lias arrived from Melbourne. All tho vaccinating depots are open, to-day. 'l'ho case at Ulmarra has proved to b4 one of chickcnpox. So far 115 cases have recovered; tliera havo been no deaths. The Manuka, on arrival here, was granted pratique. Tho excitement here is subsiding, though vaccinations continue to be numerous. An authority on smallpox Buys ho is confident that with the extensive vaccinations that havo taken place tlio disease will reach an end in Sydney in about four weeks. The outbreak is afTccting tlio passenger traffic by steamer eo seriously that tha big liner Canberra has beon replaced on the coastal running by a smaller vessel. Another now boat, tho Warilda, also goes off next week, and possibly tho Wandilla will bo taken out of tho Queensland sctv

vice. CASES IN QUEENSLAND. Brisbane, July 21. Two eases aro under observation. OiiW is from Sydney. A case at Toowoomba i« also under observation, but its lidturo hai not been decided yet. IN TASMANH. Hobart, July 21j Arrangements liavo boon completed for examining passengers by New Zealand steamers. Tlio suspected oass at Deloraino ia pro. grossing favourably. CAME FROM NEW ZEALAND. DEFINITE OPINION OP FEDERAL QUARANTINE OFFICERS. (Reo. July 21, 10.85 p.m.) Molbourno, July 21. Dootor Cumpston, Federal Director olQuarantine, and other quamntino authorios, have arrived at a definite conclusion that tho epidemlo of smallpox which, has boon introduced into Sydney came from New Zealand. GUARDING AGAINST MISTAKES. (Reo. July 22, 0.40 a.m.) Adelaide, July 21, . Tho Government is making chickenpoS a notifiable disease, with a view of proventing an outbreak; of smallpox through! mistaken diagnosis. . LATEST REPORTS. ' (Rec.' July 22, 0.10 a.m.) < . Sydney, July 2U Four smallpox patients were removed into quarantine to-day, while several oth. cvs, in whom have appeared oertoin condi' tions indicative of smallpox,' will b6 completely diagnosed to-morrow. Tho country districts report two eases at Ulniarra, and ono at Pai'kes. Tho vaccinations aro falling off again in the city, contemporaneously with the d&< crease in tlio number of smallpox cases.