SMALL-POX IMPORTATIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 896, 20 May 1903, Page 3

SMALL-POX IMPORTATIONS.

THE PRECAUTIONS,

B Tolccraph—Press Association

Timaru, last night, As a result of the cases of small pox on the steamer Gracchus, 110 persons who were on board while the boat was at this port were vaccinated by tho port health ofiicer at noon to-day. Some who did not appear, arc being looked up by the police. Infected cargo is also being dealt with This lias boon unpacked and burned on tho beach.

Christchurch, last night. At tlio Lyttelton Borough Council Jus night the inspector reported that tin

clothes of those, with the exception of two, who hid boon working on the Gracchus had been burnt. Tno Government had to pay the market value of the articles destroyed. Cr Garrard gave a resume of what had taken place m regard to the Gracchus. He considered it a scandalou.-, state of all'aiis. Tiic health nlliciais bad blundered terribly in trie matter. die moved that the Council most strongly protest against the very lux murmur in which the health authorities at Port Chalmers, Timaru, and Lyttelton carried out their duties in allowing thu Gracchus to proceed from Port Cualmers to Timaru and thence to Lyttelton, thereby rendering liable not only each of the places hut the whole of New Zealand to an attack of small-pox, and urge upon the Minister of Health to institute a most searching on-

[juicy. Councillor!) animadverted in severe terms on tlio conduct of tlie health officers, especially at Ttmuru. Too Mayor said ho liad not been notified by tho hcal'.ii ofiicer that tho caso was ono of smallpox at Dunedin. 110 supposed it to bo Gorman measles. Timaru had been communicated with, and the authorities there allowed tho Gracchus to come on. Tlio motion was agreed to, and it was resolved to send a copy to the Minister of Health. Lyttelton, last night. Dr McDougali arrived this morning. Tho men from tho Gracchus will he put on Quail ’lslaud in tho afternoon. Full arraugomouts have been made for the provisioning of tho island during their stay.

Dunedin, Inst night,

Somo kapoc, which was landed from tho Gracchus at Dunedin, was sealed aud destroyed. Dr Ogstou, local hoalth ofiicer, thinks tho disease was contracted from kapoc, a quantity of which was discharged at Melbourne under tlio supervision of tinthird officer. The period between leaving Melbourne aud the appearance of the rash, 11 days, corresponds with tiio period of incubation. The third engineer was in • the habit oi' having his meals with tin third ofiicer, and this would explain liicoutracting the disease. Medical students aro assisting m the supervision and inspection of contacts with the Gracchus whih at I hun-d-n wharf. Later.—This aflenim.n Dell, flic Mnull-pox patient nu I lie Gracchus, was transferred to the quarantine station on (junil Island. lie is re-

ported to he much hcUcr. Fifteen Europe.ms and scvcnl y-l wo laisca.rs, nicuilicrs of Ihe crew, were also taken lo the island, leaving only the cap l.airi a nil six men on I lie ship. Ml Hu- men Liken lo (lie quarantine islan : were given a complete outfit, flic ohi chillies being ilesl royeil on landing. Sal islaclory arrangements jn regard to food have been made. This afternoon. Dr Valentine, Acting Chief Health Ofiicer, inspected tho cargo landed from the Graqrhus Lighten.i railway trucks, loaded with bales of kapoc, gunny hags, and similar si.iifl, were isolated on the breakwater ill the seaward side of the Gl.ul.sfnus pier. A tier inspection, hr, Valentine- decided that tile gunny hags amt kapoc must, he destroyed ; that tlie tapioca, rice, and nutmegs in the. cargo must lie put, into new nags, and llie old hags burned ; and lh.it, the rest of the cargo must; lie fumigated.

The City Council authorities have received a message from Dr. Finch, stating that the names and addresses of the men living in Christchurch amt district who had hoarded the Gracchus had been obtained. Instruction.; have I,ecu given to the. Inspector to hum the laborers’ clothes on their premises, and to disinicct, the houses thoroughly. Another message from Dr. Valentine slated that alt persons engaged in tlie_work of disinfection must he vaccinated immediately.