A Mysterious Disease.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 160, 9 January 1896, Page 2

A Mysterious Disease.

IT BAFFLES THE DOCTORS. (Per Press Association.) Nelson, Jan. 8. Regarding the strange fstal disease on the barque Lothair, conversation with the,; captain leads to the belieHhat it was not dengue fever at all which was causing the mortality. A kind of paralysis seized the , feet and legs, and crept upward to the stomach till it reached a vital part, then death ensued. There was no pain or swelling, no loss of appetite or spirits, no vomiting, in fact all ate heartily throughout, and seven men, including the captain, who are now still suffering, have excellent appetites. Thn captain has plenty of medicine on board, but he does not know the disease, hence he cannot use it. Tbe medical authorities here state that from the description it cannot be dengue fever. They are diagnosing the symptoms as far as possible by referring to standard works, bnt they hold that in any case tbe disease is dangerous, infectious or contagious, unless due purely to local causes, such as poisonous ship food or water or poisonous exhalation from tbe cargo. Later. The barque Lothair signalled this afternoon that a male passenger was ill, and that a surgeon was wanted. Up till 10 o'clock the Health officer has not gone out. It is blowing from the south-west, with a choppy sea. Dr Leggatt expects to be able to go out at 7 o'clock in the morning.