UNDER GUARD.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1832, 19 August 1913, Page 5

UNDER GUARD.

EPIDEMIC ON S.S. DELPHIC.

POLICE AT GANGWAY.' SHORE MEN KEPT ON BOARD. A startling caso was reported on tho s.s. Delphic, now lying at tho Jervois Quay Wharf, last evening. It is described by Dr. Henry as real smallpox, and the information that this diagnosis had been arrived at by a medical man was nindo. known about 8.30 p.m. It appears that tho patient, who ib a quartermaster on tho steamer, felt unwell during the day, and his foco showed signs of rash. Dr. Henry saw; him in the i evening, and ordered his immcdiato removal to tho Isolation Hospital. 'Speaking toft reporter, the doctor said: "It's the gonuino article all right;, though it is not a serious Case."

The information was presently passed on to ,tho police, and immediately two special constables were sent to tho ship's sido to prevent any persons on toard leaving hor. Monitors of tho orew who '

happened to lie on slioro last evening were allowed to go on board again; but no ono else was permitted to pass up the gangway.

■ When a reporter visited tho wharf last .ovening,. Dr. Chesson (District Health Ollicer) whs standing at tlio foot of the gangway talking to an officer on board. Two polico constables were also •in attendance. Tho

Ship Jitui finished working cargo at 5 o'olock, but tho hulk Addorloy was alongside coaling her. Dr. Chesson had given instructions, that no ono from tho ship was to bo allowed on shore, and tho•vessel waa placed "in quarantine" alongside the wliairf for tho night, Watersiders Detained. When tho news was passed along to the coal gang on the hulk, and thoso working' on tlio Delphic,, they raised a strong protest against being, kept on board. Ono man was heard to remark that ho would not stay on bonrd, a.nd if lie was detained lie would jump overboard and "swim for it."' Others protested that it was "not a fair tiling" to bo kept on board all ■ night. Their protest l !,' however, passed unheeded. Soma meinbors cf tho crew \ presently oamo down tho wharf, and wanted to know "what \vos up." They wore . told to "go aboard," and, although they did not appear to liko it, they woilt up the gangway with comment. As the cargo workers had left the ship for tho day before tlio caso, was discovered it was not possible to isolato tlicm last night. Had the Health Department known of tho case a little earlier none of these men would havo seen thell homes last night. /• Tha Patient. Speaking to a reporter, tho chief steward of tho steamer stated that lw had noticed a rash on tho patient earlier in tho day, but had thought nothing more of it. He'appeared to bo very much surprised, liowever, when ho was told that tlio caso had boon diagnosed as- ono of gomiino smallpox. . • . Tho Dolnhio arrived from London, via Auckland,"on Sunday morning. While 6he was at tlio northern port two quartermasters and ono seaman wero imprisoned for pillaging cargo, Theeo nion had to bo replaoeu,. ana the quarter•muster who is now in isolation in tho Wellington Hospital was ono of u\o now men wiio joined tho ship. Ho was vaccinated in Auckland prior to tlio stoamor s departure for Wollington, but tho lymph

did not "take." . Tho Port Health. Officer will visit tho Delphic at 8 a.m. to-day, and will mftko an inspection of tho ivholo of tho ships company, as well as of tlio waterside workers who have been detained oil boairu. It is understooil"'t'liat those who hnvo not been vaccinated, and those who do not show signs of successful vaccination, wu. be re-vaecinatcd. Question of Quarantine. Up till a lato horn- lust) evening tho Health Authorities had not decided whother or not the Delphic would be quarantined) in tho stream to-day. but it la probable, that this course mil bo adopt-

od. No cargo will be' put out to-day, and it is reported as likely that those, who were on board last evening will bo required to go into quarantine with, tuo steamer. ~ , n i." Questioned on the subject, tho Fort Health Officer stated that he was not required to examino incoming coastal vessels,' the Health Officer at the port, of departure being responsible for seeing that vessels leaving for southern ports wero examined. For the past _ threeweeks tho •Wellington Port Officer has examined ©very vessel going out of tlio liarbour, and has vaccinated members of tho crews and passengers who had not already .been "done.-" Strict supervision had also been enforced on all vcssols arriving from oversea ports. Ag rognrds restrictions on vessels firriving at Wellington, from northern ports, Dr Chcsson states that it is probable that the case oil board tho Delphic would havo considerable effect. "Tho question, added tho doctor, "will certainly have to W considered." A Recent Incident. When the Port Health Officer visited tho Union Company's steamer Mrana, which arrived at Wellington from Sydney on Friday last, cach member of tho crew and each passenger presented a certificate of vaccination, endorsed fcv "the Sydney Health authorities. It is tho custom for

tho local Port Health. Officer to examino passengers and crows even if certificates can bo shown i and it was wlulo this examination was being carried ,mit that ft rather weird discovery was niado. lho Health Officer jestingly remarked to a passenger who had presented a vaccination, certificate i . . "T suppose your nnn is pretty briar "Oh, no," came .the surprising reply. "I was nover vaccinated in my life. • "Why I havo a certificate hero stating that you aro vaccinated!" said the medh eal man. "llow do you account for tho cat whs out of tho bag. It presently appeared ' that this passenger had a cousin- in Sydney lioaring the samo name, and tho latter had . t' l " steamer ticket and was vaeeinated. \Mien the two cousins met, tho Sydneyite handed over tho certificate and steamer ticket to the passengor, and the Monna sailed for Rah Francisco. So »ar, so gqod, but tronblo dawned at Wellington. Here tho passenger was vaccinated, and afterwards •ho was quarantined at Somes. Island. Tho Moana sa : led on tfriday evening tho vaccinee. and lio was onlv from quarantine yosterdayi T!lc A ac " ]2 had 'taken. He will now have to wait hero till the Willochra passes through, daily bulletin. NORTHERN CASES & SUSPECTS.'" The following bulletin was issued at 5 P The y Dist?id- : lTealtli Offices at Auckland (Dr. Monk) wporjsi No fresh eases hnv rt boon reported in. Auckland. A finular report has been made since Tuesday Inst The susnected cot 1? reported at Birkenhead in the bulletin of Wednesday. AiiKust IH, was removed to the isolation hospital on Saturday. This .ease i* that of a European who was "keeping quiet Jin was not'attended by a doctor and he refused vaccination. Another suspicions easo is reported from Birkenhead to-dov. A suspicious ease was reported frcm Koutu on Saturday. Three fresh cases were rnportcrt from Knikohe on Saturday, and alsn two fresh cases yesterday. Four suspected cases are reported from Oncwhcre. Tho reports of the Chief Health Officer from the Bay of Islands district are more tp' assuring.