SMALLPOX.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1809, 23 July 1913, Page 8

SMALLPOX.

THE OFFICIAL BULLETIN. MANGERE ONCE MORE. SIX CASES IN ONE HOUSE. AUCKLAND'S IDEA. SET UP A MEDICAL COMMITTEE. Reports from the various centres affected by tho epidemio appear below. Ono of these messages contains a suggestion, emanating from Auckland, that a largo committee of mcdioal men should bo set up to diagnose tho disease and dei termino finally whether it is smallpox qr not. The Auckland members are to bo asked to bring this suggestion under tho notice of the Government. Of the cases reported in to-day's news, the outstanding feature is the fact tliat six more suspect cases have been loeated at Mangere. The Health Department's officio! bulletin, issued last night, is as follows:—

Six Natives from ono house at Mangere were admitted' to tho Auckland Infectious Diseases Hospital to-day. There are now 4G cases isolated. Of this number nine arc Europeans. There aro 15 pronounced cases isolated in other parts of the Auckland province. A small isolation hospital, under the superintendence of Dr. Gunn, has been established at Parawera. Dr. Baker reports a suspected case at Taugiteroria. Another case, a European, has been reported at Huntly. Two deaths aro reported from Maungatautari, both Natives. This makes the third death reported from this district. Th 6 Wellington and Pahiatua patients are progressing favourably. '

ISOLATED CITY HOUSE. A Dominion reporter spoke by telephone last night to Mr. Vernon H. Heed, M.P. for Bay of Islands, whoso household has been isolated for some days. Mr. Reed stated that all tihe inmates were in Rood health. Their vaccination had taken well, showing that none of them had contracted the disease through contact with' the caso wliich had occurred in the house. The inmates will be examined to-morrow, and should their vaccination be considered satisfactory, the period of isolation will probably be ended. The house will be fumigated. THE LYMPH "CORNER" With regard to the alleged "cornering;" of the lymph supply, a practice which has been indulged in by several doctors in different localities since the commencement of the rush for vaccination,, Dr. Valintino yesterday issued tho following statement "The Department does not, wish to cost an unfair reilection on the medical profession, which, as a whole,' has given the Department every assistance, and has borne with considerable patience tho iuconvenionco of not having a sufficiency of lymph to meet the demands; but, as in all professions, there are some members who. do not exactly play the game, and some have undoubtedly held up lymph which they might' have shared with their neighbouring practitioners. This practice- is especially to bo condemned in those districts which, are infected, and where it is of the utmost importance that, all lymph available,, should be used as soon as possible by every vaccinator in tho neighbourhood."

MAORIS ON THE CARS. At the meeting of the City Council tomorrow night, consideration will'be given to a resolution adopted by tho Tramways Committee, recommending the council to give effect to the precautions advised by fee Health Department against Maoris travelling on the tramcars in tho city. Possibly-such extremo measures may not be adopted. Yesterday tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) had a conversation of a reassuring -naturo'on'the subject with Dr. Valintinc.

RUAHINE'S PASSENGERS, The New Zealand Snipping Company's Ituahine arrived in Wellington yesterday morning from London, via Hobart. The vessel brought over 400 third-class passengers. Tlio Port Health Officcr (Dr. Pollen) went out early to inspect the passengers, and was able to give the vessel a clean bill of health. Speaking to a Dominion reporter, Dr. Poltoi said that the Chief Health Officer had decided not to hold tho vessel up to vaccinato all the passengers. Two passengers who boarded the Ruahine at Hobart, although not in any way contacts with tho disease, were vaccinated, and tw<) stowaways from tho samo port wero also treated. Passengers were advised to get vaccinated, especially those travelling north. M.P.'S WHO "SUFFERED." Several of the members of the House, who. have suffered severely front tho effects of vaccination, aro now making progress towards recovery, and wero ablo to again take their places yesterday. One or two, however, including the Minister for finance (Hon. J. Allen) were still absent. In view, of the improvement in tho conditioiffliof many of the • members there has"sjMi no occasion to raise the question of a short adjournment of the House, which was suggested in the lobbies on Monday.

MANGERE'S REPUTATION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Auckland, .Tidy 22. The only fresh development in connection with the prevailing Maori epidemic in the Auckland district was tho location of six more Native cases at Mangore. Believing that that place had boon tho origin and stronghold of tho outbreak in the district the health officers reinspected it, tho result being that tho six patients referred to were found to bo suffering from some complaint. All aro members of the samo family. They were removed to tho Isolation Hospital at l?oint Chevalier.

HOW TEST THE WHOLE THING? Auckland, July 22. A proposal was mado to-day that a "Medical Committee of sufficient sizie to give confidence to the public, by its representative character, should bo appointed to investigate the preTailintj disease by examining patients and adviso as to which measures to check and eradicate tlio epidemic." This suggestion meets with tlio entire approval of llio DeputyMayor (Mr. John Court), of tho president of "the Auckland branch of tho British Medical Association (Dr. J. C. Pabst), and of other medical men. It is th>? intention of Mr. Court to telegraph to the Auckland district M.P.'s urging them to ask the Government to set up a committee as suggested. "I think it is a splendid idea," raid the Deputy-Mayor yesterday. "It would settle onco and for all the question of'whether tho epidemic is smallpox or not. If it is smallpox, then proper and efficient methods could be taken to combat it. Judging by my own experience of tho diseaso in tho Old Country, all I can say is that, if tlio present outbreak is smallpox, it is of a very inild typo."

AUCKLAND'S DAILY SUMMARY. Auckland, July 22. The total number of pationts liow at Point Chevalier, according to corrected figures supplied by tho health officers, is 40, of whom .13 are Maoris,' and- 13 are females. Of the moles nino arc Europeans, all _ of whom aro believed to be contacts with Maoris, and some of whom were living amongst Natives wlien the.v became infected. The whole of the snlTcivrs are making satisfactory progress. ami it is expected that four or jive will b? discharged in a day or two. The cases reported to Dr. Prengley from tho country districts wore-.—One' from Tnngitororia, Knipara (Maori), and ono from Huntly (European). A report was also received to the effect that the cpi-

domic is very prevalent mnongst tlifl jtaoris at Olown, where a Native woman 1 died fome time ago, and where there ore several convalesccnt patients. Suspected cases are reported at Hiuera, near Matauiata.

CROSS STRAIT VOYAGERS. NELSON FAR FROM SATISFIED. ' (By Telcurapli—Frees Association.) Nelson, July 22. At a meeting of the Town Committer of tho Hospital Board to-day, it was de», cided to erect a temporary structure in ' the hospital grounds for isolation -purposes, in the event of smallpox mating its appearanoo here. Tho medical superintendent commented on the futility of vaccination as practised at Wellington, and said that the North Island should bo declared infected. Tho District Health. Officer ilelegrahped that tho present, vaccination regulations only applied to Maoris, and that no power existed to prevent unvaccinated persons landing at Nelson. Tho committee decided to urge tho shipping companies to insist on their crows being vaccinated. FOUR THAMES CASES. , Thames, July 22. Four cases liavo now been reported 111 tho Thames district. Ono case yliich occurred in the borough 1 * iH now isolated in the Thome.? Hospital. Tho other cases are at Waikeka. Woitakaruni, and Miranda, about twenty miles from point to jxiint. Nono of tho eases are said to be serious. The patient in the Thames Hospital is making satisfactory progress, also tho case nt Waikeka. No official information is available ro tho cases at Miranda and Waitakaruru.

DRASTIC PROPOSAL. Thames, .Tuljr 22. Modical men in tho outlying districts are vaccinating Natives and Europeans. There is a bipr rush of "the public to bo vaccinated. Tho shortage of lymph has now been, overcome. It is suggested that if the disease increases complete segregation of tho Natives should be insisted on ( DUNEDIN CASE.

DOCTORS NOT SURE OF IT. (By Telegraph—Prc63 Association.) Dunedin, July 2* This morning Dr. Hodges reported to the local Health. Department that a caso \yhicihi might he an early outbreak of smallpox had come under his notico at Port Chalmers. The ambulance was at once sent down from Dunedin with an inspector, and the patient—an Islander— who had recently arrived bv steamer from the north, was brought to the isolation hospital at Polioliet Bay. He was seen there by Drs. Ohamptaloup and Falconer, who discovered that the patient was suffering from some nodular tion. It is not thought however that it is a case of smallpox, but it is yet too early to orrlvo at any conclusion. Tho patient will be kept under close inspection.

Dr. Champtaloup states that all tho lymph which is being used in Dunedin is proving very 'effective, and that every person treated by him, and who has again come under his notice, has responded to the vaccination. Though the supplies of lymph are short, thero is quite sufficient to treat people who (have to travel—in fact, sufficient is coming to hand from Wellington to meet all ro J quirements. FOOTBALLER'S CASE. •: Gisborne, July 22 A suspicious case at Tokomaru Bay 13 under close surveillance of tho health officer. The patient is a Maoii footballer, who was recently an emergency with tho team visiting Sydney. He has developed a rash. It is understood lie was vaccinated at Auckland on his return from' Sydney. The doctor thinks the suspected case may be merely vaccination rash. He hoq run out of lymph, for which thero is q considerable demand.

SYDNEY'S .EPIDEMIC. CONTROVERSY OVER THE LYMPty SEVERE AFTER-EFFECTS. . Sydney, July 22. Further laying up of vessels is threatened. Many ■ stewards and other attendants are idle through the paucity of tho passenger lists. A public meeting resolved against panio legislation for the enforcing of compulsory vaccination, and appointed a committee to present tho resolution to the State Premier. Tho City Medical Officer 6tates that! there is at present a lull in tho smallpox epidemic, which it is expected may bo got under control. He hopes so, but personally does not think eo while there are people still mora or less unvaccinated. The great need, he says, is general cination. The Grafton- cases have been as chickcnpox. Thero has been a great rush for vaccination at Newcastle, whero nine thousand have already been treated.' Dr. Harris says tho ineffectiveness of the Now Zealand lymph was probably duo to over-diluting. Xlie battle of tho medioos regarding tho question of tho severe results following in many cases of vaccination is- proceeding. Ono side claimed that investigation had disclosed that the lymph contained organisms of blood poisoning ns 'well as, vaccination, and'the other side says tho eflcctg aro not more severe than usual, LATEST'REPORT. (Eec. July 23, 0.30 a.m.) . Sydney, July 23. Eight smallpox cases wcro reported fak day. The Willoclira has been got ready fop-, her "clearance." An order has been issued that nil vessels, from New Zealand must bring up in, Watson's Bay for medical inspection.

FOREIGN GERMS IN LYMPH. H AN OUTCRY FROM THE PUBLIC. (Rcc. July 22, 7.35 p.m.) • Melbourne, July 22. Dr. Cuinpston, Director of Quarantine, declares tlint it is ridiculous to mako ,i fuss over tho alleged presence of foreign germs iu the vaccination lymph. Thero was not tho slightest danger to bo approbended from those. Every person rfas a carrier of several millions of germs about his skin. As a rule, ho says, tho. lymph is lield back long enough for all germs to bo eliminated, but under "rush" condi. tions, that had been impossible, and counteractant* had been added to destroy tho germs. Ho was convinccd that th<> lymph was perfectly good, and healthy.

VACCINATION EXEMPTIONS. (Sydney "Sun" Special—-Julj- 22, G.SS p.m.],. London, July 22, A Parliamentary paper shows that in 1912 275,929 vaccination exemptions wora'i granted to conscientious objectors. A list of those authorised by the Goveminent to perform miblic Vaccination (free of charge) will bo found in th<j public notices' column of this issue, '

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