SMALLPOX.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1812, 26 July 1913, Page 6

SMALLPOX.

THE OFFICIAL BULLETIN. AND DISTRICT REPORTS. OVER 50 AUCKLAND CASES. "ALASTRIM" THEORY. The official bulletin issued last night by tho Health Department reads as follow: "There aro 51 cases in tho Auckland Hospital, 12 being Europeans. Dr. Cawkwcll reports the case of a half-easto at the temporary hospital, Kaikoho. With this exception, the other cases there aro doing well. At Jlatarana there are 15 convalescents, and one woman sickening. Three suspected cases are reported at Orakei.

"Dr. To Rangihiroa reports three acute cases ajid 15 convalescents at the smallpox camp at Ngiawha Springs. As it is impossible to keep casos isolated in the villages, it has been decided to establish an isolation camp at Nga-■H-ha. In his report, Dr. To Rangihiroa states that there is a mass of evidence accumulating with regard to the immunity afforded by vaccination, and quotes a case of father, mother, and eight children, where the throo children vaccinated were not affected whilst the other members of the family contracted the disease. "Dr. Ross is at Whakawhaka, where seveTal cases aro reported. No fresli cases have been reported from tho Waikalxj." TECHNICAL SCHOOL, The question of the vaccination of pupils was introduced at last evening's meeting of the Wellington Technical Education Board. The matter was left in the hands of the director (Mr. W. S. La Trobo), tho chairman (Mr. D. Robertson), and the Public Health authorities. THAT "CORNER. ,,

MORE ALLEGATIONS & A REPLY. Apropos of the alleged corner ia lymph, Eome of the local doctors are experiencing great difficulty in procuring sufficient supplies to vaccinate their own regular patients. A reporter, while ia the waitingroom of a well-known physician yesterday, observed several applicants for vaccination being turned away, and later heard the physician at the telephone literally begging the Department to send along a supply. Doctors with large practices maintain that they should bo allowed pro rata supplies before quantities are served out to other doctors to use at large factories and other like institutions. From the point of view of a doctor with a large practice, the position is that while ho does not want (has not time, in fact) to bother with factories and the like, he considers that he should bo able to obtain enough lymph to satisfy the requirements of his own practice. Otherwise his patients may be forced away from him.

This matter was referred to Dr. Valintine last evening. He said: "I do not think there is any truth in the statement that Wellington doctors are short of lymph; They have been very moderate in their demands, as the Department asked them to be so. We have given them all that they required. To-day about 100 tubes wcro distributed to private practitioners.'\ Dr. Valintine desired it to be made clear that there was no shortago of lymph, but the Department liad to uend the bulk to the infected areas, and had to keep a stock in hand for emergencies. ' DOCTOR'S DOUBTS. THE NEW THEORY OF "ALASTE-IM." (By TcleErapli— Pra-s Association.) Auckland, July 25. It has been suggested that the epidemic prevalent is akin to alastrim, a name given by Jacobs, a well-known authority, to a mild form of epidemic, very similar to smallpox, but differing in important particulars. In the epidemic of alastrim at San Paulo the mortality was about one-half per cent. The disease is less dangerous to children than to adults. Thero is no secondary fever, the pustulation is quicker, the fetid smell of smallpcs ai> sent, and the cicatricial formation (pitting) wanting. Although vaccination is a prophylactic against alastrim, cases have Ijcen noted where vaccinated patients have been infected. Alastrim originated in Africa.

Dr. Mnguire, officer in charge of the Isolation Hospital, had his attention drawn to this theory, and said that the description of alastrim closely resembled tho difioaso epidemic here. Alastrim appeared to bo discrete smallpox. There was certainly an important feature in the low mortality and immunity of children, combined with the .mildness of tho attack. The cases under his notice in the Isolation Hospital differed in 'several important respects from smallpox. There has been no pitting in the convalescents. In tho majority of cases tho characteristic disturbances of smallpox aro lacking. UNLIKE SMALLPOX. OPINION OF MEDICAL MAN. (By Telegraph—Special Correspondent.) Wanganui, July 25. Questioned regarding the Auckland suggestion that the present epidemic is not I smallpox, but a West Indian disease known as alastrim, Dr. Crawford, of AVauganui, expressed doubt whether it was smallpox, as had been supposed. If it were smallpox, even in a mild form, the Maoris would, ho said, have died in dozens, and, in his opinion, tho low mortality was tho strongest point demonstrating that the epidemic was not genuine smallpox. In his opinion the disease would not remain epidemic for much longer than a fortnight. POINT CHEVALIER. (Bj Tcierraph.-Prc-fla Association.) Auckland, July 25. Six more Maoris suffering from the prevailing epidemic wero ordered by tho District Health Officers to bo removed to tho isolation hospital at Point Chevalier today. Ono was a ten-year-old girl from Pukaki, near Mangere, threo wero from Orakei, and two from Shoal Bay—all areas already infected. Tho suspicious case in Nelson Street proved, on examination, to possess none of tho characteristics of tho epidemic. Some confusion exists at the District Health Office as to tho exact number of patients at Point Chevalier, but it was officially given out that tho six fresh cases brought the total up to 59, and that 12 of these are Europeans, who aro "contacts" with Maoris. All the latest cases aro mild.

ALL OVER IN A MONTH. Auckland, July 25. In his official bulletin, Dr. Frenglcy states that "within ten days or n fortnight all the Maoris in the Auckland health district arc likely to be vaccinated. I am, therefore, of opinion that the end of the outbreak can be anticipated about one month hence. Nevertheless, Auckland and suburbs will still be endangered unless a greater number of people are protected by vaccination. Once the Maoris have been successfully vaccinated, wo cannot well prevent them travelling except from definitely-infected areas." A vaccination depot established by the Health officers at St. John Ambulance Station was opened. There were only a few applicants for vaccination. Dr. Cawkwel) reported that he had found three severe, cases at Ngawha Springs, nnd 15 convalescents at Ngawha Village. Ono infant was seriously affected, and one child was convalescent. All the cases were Maoris. A suspicious case at Knikoho township (a European woman) had been isolated. PEREGRINATING MAORIS. Auckland, July 25. The telegram which was forwarded by Dr. T. 11.. A. Valintino. head of the Health Department, to tho Auckland Hospital Hoard instructing tho latter lo itslrict the movements of Natives from infoetid tlislriclf, was considered by the board at a special meeting held this after-

noon. After the position had been discussed at length, Mr. Coylo moved, and Mr. Uarbut seconded: "That, in tho opinion of tho board, tho suppression of the epidemic is a purely national question, not & local matter, and should be taken in hand by the Government." The resolution was carried. THE MEDICAL COMMISSION. Auckland, July 25. At the Hospital Bsnrd to-day, Mr. Mcnnie referred to tho reply made'by the. , Hon. Mr. Rhodes to the suggestion that a medical committee should be set up to investigate, tho nature of the disease. Perhaps the board could get a report from ita own doctors, and, in justice to themselves, this should bo done. Such a course might allay a good deal of trouble. Tho general opinion of the board waa that it would be better to airail the Government's reply before setting up such a committee. If tho Government foixed the board's hand, the board could carry out its instructions under protest. It could also appoint a committee if it thought fit. Mr. Mcnnie: I think this is a national thing. The disease was brought into the city i'roin outside districts, and I think the Government should attend to it. It was decided to seo what reply the Government made before taking further steps. QUARANTINE AT SUVA. Auckland, July 25. Cable news received from Suva statee that in response to a public demand tho Government is proclaiming vigorous quarantine regulations. To-morrow's passengers arriving will be quarantined until the completion of fourteen days from the date of leaving an infected port. CASE OF S.S. WAIRUNA. (To the Editor.) Sir,—Eβ your paragraph in to-day'J issue about detention of s.s. Wairuna, please let us correct you on behalf of tho men affected. Wo did not object to vaccination in this port, but wo did in Sydney. The port doctor here had 110 gear with which to vaccinate us with liini, so had to hold the ship in quarantine till ho went ashore and got the gear. Wβ only objected in Sydney on hygienic grounds, as we aro all firemen and had to work in the heat and dust of tho stokehold, and we reckoned we were endangering our onus. Hoping you will insert this in your next issue and do us justice,— We ore, etc., PIREMEN S.S. WAIRUNA, "A CORNER IN LYMPH." AN INDIGNANT DOCTOR. (To the Editor.) Sir,—ln to-day's Dominion , there appears an account of an interview with Dr. Valintiue, Chief Health Olh'cer. Tho paragraph is headed "Corner in Lymph"

—"Tub Manoeuvre being Watched." As a member of the medical profession, I beg to protest against Dr. Valintiuc's most offensive and jincalled-for remarks about his professional brethren. In the district There 1 am situated (and I presume it was the same in other districts), the public vaccinators received an urgent telegram from the Health Department, instructing them to "arrange for the vaccination of all Maoris as soon as possible," and also "to vaccinate the publio generally." One would suppose that, after issuing such instructions, the Health Department would furnish themeans of carrying them out, and would commend the zeal of those medical men who endeavoured to make vaccination as universal as possible. As a matter of fact, the public vaccinators of this district havo been doled out, at infrequent and uncertain intervals, phials containing from half a dozen to a dozen tubes of lymph; and even this ludicrously inadequate supply has been obtained only in response to incessant appeals by wire and telephone. Moreover, tho doctors have no means of knowing when the next supply is coming, or how much is to bo sent, and as a result they can make no arrangements with people who wish to bo vaccinated. Scores are therefore being turned'away, daily, .probably to return, and h'ud that their doctor is still unable to say. when any more lymph will arrive. It may bo true, as Dr. Valiiitino says, that tho Vaccine Department is working day and night j but it would work to bettor purpose if it had a little system in its distribution of lymph. I would suggest that the Chief Health Officer should turn his attention to this point, instead of making foolish and offensive insinuations about medical men, who (in addition to their ordinary work) are trying, under very adverse conditions, to carry out the instructions of the Health Dcpartment.1 am, etc - NO LYMPH. July 22, 1913.