EPIDEMIC REPORTS GRAVER.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1818, 2 August 1913, Page 5

EPIDEMIC REPORTS GRAVER.

SYMPTOMS REAL ENOUGH,

THE TRAIN TRAVELLER.

AUSTRALIA'S CAMPAIGN.

CHEAP VACCINATION—2Jd. PER HEAD.

CITY INSPECTIONS,

BREATHING SPELL.

LYMPH-DEMAND BIG,

"DON'T TOUCH THE ARM."

IN DRAPERY SHOPS.

WAIRARAPA CASE.

SOME REAL SYMPTOMS.

THREE DEATHS REPORTED,

OTHER NORTHERN CASES.

THE STATE OF WELLINGTON

Official intimation as to the progress cf smallpox (or otherwise) was given in yesterday's bulletin as follows:—

The District Health Officer, Auckland (Da-. Monk), reports two cases of smallpox in the Auckland Hospital District yesterday. There is a further outbreak at Waitara; three deaths are reported here, hut not yet confirmed.

A caso is reported from Waikare (Kawakawa way) as typical. Dr. Cawkwell reports three cases at Wairere, and eight eases at Tautoro, in the vicinity of Kaikoho.

One fresh caso is reported at Te Awa-

miitu, also one caso at Tainvhc.ro. Tho District Health Officer adds that tho latest accounts given by telephone and telegrams certainly point to the fact that tho cases aro assuming the moro regular symptoms of the disease. Nothing fresh is reported in the Wellington. Health District. (Signed) JOS. P. FRENGLEY, Deputy Chief Health Officer, DR. VALINTINE GOES NORTH. F oaltll officw < Dr - Valintine) lett Wellington yesterday for the Auckland district. Ho will stop at To Awanratu and proposes to see the cases of tlio diseaso which have occurred at Parawere. Subsequently lie will confer with the representatives of local authorities and others concerned in tho stamping out of the disease. The Chief Health Officer lias taken upon himself a great deal of work since the outbreak, and his example lias been followed by all members of the Department.

Strict supervision is still being carried mi Vr 10 10 City Council staff. Ill© Mayor stated yesterday that, eo far 03 \\ eilingon was concerned, affairs were normal. Information from tho Health Department indicated that tho town was lreo from suspicions cases, beyond tho case which had already been dealt with. In reply to a question as to whether any spccial inspection was made of dwellings whero Maoris congregate, the Mayor stated that, at all times, a careful watch was kept on such buildings, but during tho present timo of alarm rnev had beju made tho subject of very critical examination. Ihere wore always soma places in tlio city "which required special observation, and the council's staff were aware of this,

THE VACCINE LIST DROPPING. Since Monday there has been a steady falling off in tho number daily applying for vacciuatiou in the city. Tho public seem tobo under the impression that all danger is past. Tin's is not quite correct. Until tho Health Department certifies that tho disease has been thoroughly stamped out the danger may bo presumed to exist.

Public vaccinators, however, have appreciated tho breathing spell which has been given them. They are expecting, however, that a fresh rush may result, in view of the "case" which was discovered thi9 week in Aucklaud. The patient travelled in tho Main Trunk express. Speaking to a reporter yestemay, Mr. H. Brittain remarked that tho tnllingoff iu tho number of vaccinees had been marked during tlio last few days. On Thursday only about a dozen applied, which was» iu marked contrast to tlio number who crowdcd his shop some tiro weeks ago. Yesterday tho number increased, but this was accounted for by tho fact that the Sydney boat was leaving in tlio evening, and all passengers had to bo vaccinated. Of courso thero were still a number of firemen and sailors from tho boats calling for vaccination. Doctors from tho Health Department have ceased to attend at tho Hospital and Charitable Aid Board's office to vaccinate, 'and, for the last* two days, tho offico has only been open for revisits. It will remain open to-morrow for tho gamo purpose, but after that all persons wishing to havo their arms inspected will have to go to the Health Department, old Parliament Buildings.

•The Government Bacteriologist (Mr. Hurloy) stated to a reporter yesterday that the demand for vaccine was falling off in Wellington, but in oilier parts it was as keen i.s ever; in fa:t, tho appetites of some of the districts "6eemcd to bo only whetted." During tho past month 300,000 doses had been sent out, and most of it had been sent within tha past Ihreo weeks. Auckland has had 33,000 doses within tho Inst six days. On Holiday last 10,£00 doses wero dispatchcd. Tho Department could not meet any demands made on it, and thero had been but few complaints. Of course, when tho "rush" was at its height tho Department had to "cut their cloth according to their coat."

Alarmist reports havo been circulated in Wellington and other districts regarding bad arms causcd by vaccination. Officers of the Health Department do not credit statements that there are any serious cases in tho city, and einphasiso tho fact that all that is needed is to leavo tho arms alone. In this respect it is interesting to noto that Dr. Palmer, New South Wales Government Medical Officer, inspected tho arms of 250 police in Sydney recently, and reported that he did not consider that two per cent, had what might bo called very bad arms. Dr. Palmer mentioned that his experience of vaccinations in Edinburgh during a smallpox outbreak, when they were dealing with a vaccinated community, was that there wero far more bad arms than wero io be found in Sydney at tho present time.

ASSISTANTS' HOES-DE-COMBAT. Although little has been said by large employers of labour, there has been considerable inconvenience through wholesale vaccination, especially by 'those firms employing largo numbers of feinalo assistants. In conversation with a reporter tho manager of one largo drapery firm said that all the assistants in tho show-room had undergone tlio ordoal as it was considered necessary that the pul>lic should bo safeguarded by this means, During tho week a considerable number showed evidence of tlio effects of tho vaccine, and some had to talco several days off. Others bore up well, but they appeared as if _ they would break into tears 011 tho slightest provocation. Tho great trouble has been that a number of treated had "doctored" their arms, and in some instances applied poultices. This had had the effect of making the arms much worse than they would otherwise bavp been.

RUSH TO BE VACCINATED. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Masterton, August 1. A little excitement was occasioned in Masterton this morning when it became known that a man who liad recently been employed 011 the railway lino as a painter, and who lived in a hut at the Masterton Railway Station, had developed symptoms which looked like smallpox, and liad been admitted to the isolatjon hospital at Auckland. It appears that lie left liero 011 Tuesday, spent a night in a hotel at Woodville, and proceeded to Auckland 011 tho following day by tho Main Trunk express from Palmcrston North. Inspector Cairns, the district health inspector, lias traced one or two of the local "contacts," and lias had them isolated. One of tlio "contacts," it appears, has gone to Fotono. Tho hut occupied by tlio man at tM local railway ptatjon fcajj boon

thoroughly disinfected. Inspector Cairns proceeds to Woodvillo this evening to isolate tho hotel "contacts." In view of tho case, tlieio lias been a rush for vaccination in tho town, and u fresli supply of lymph has boon forwarded from Wellington.

(By TolojfrßDh.—Press Association.). Auckland, August 1. A fresli caso of Mi© epidemic was reported at Arch Ilill late this afternoon. Tho patient was a male European, who had recently returned from "Whungaroi. His casa was diagnosed a<s being one of smallpox, and he was removed to Point Chevalier. Tho Health Offico was informed that a further outbreak had occurred at Kairaru, near Davßaville. Three deaths are said to have occurred at this -place, but information to tliiis effect has not yet been received. During tho afternoon an intimation was mado to tho Health Department that a woman at "Waiheke Island had developed tho disease. Tho Health Department slates that tho latest accounts by telophono and telegraph) certainly point to tho fact that some of tho cases are assuming tho regular symptoms of smallpox.

Auckland, August I. In reference to tho European who came to Auckland from Palmerston North on Thursday and was found to bo suffering from tho dif.oo.se, it transpires that ho had been travelling about tho country a good deal. As to how ho contracted pustular rash is a mystery. •

"KAFFIR MILK-POX." Molbourne, August 1. The Federal Government has received a wireless messago froih Port Moresby, stating thrft Judgo Murray, LieutenantGovernor of Papua, is suffering from Kaffir milk-pox, as tho result of vaccination, and that liis indisposition is probably only temporary.

(Rec. August 1, 9.30 p.m.) Sydney, August 1. A feature of tho smallpox epidemic hero is that the great bulk, of tho patients a.ro under thirty years of age.' Tho doctors at Broken Hill liavo refused to accept the Government's terms for vaccinating, declaring that tho sum offered works out at 2£d. per head.

(Rec. August 2, 0.5 a.m.) Sydnoy, August I. Tho Maheno's mails wero landed on arrival, but her passengers were detained on board till the morning. ,

Ten smallpox cases wero reported to-day in the Metropolitan area, including a prisoner at Dnrlingluirst Gaol. There was some demur about his removal to the quarantine station, which was eventually allowed. The gaol was fumigated. Most of the gaol staff and some of tlie prisoners had previously been vaccinated,

Two cases have also been reported from Orange.