SMALLPOX SCARE.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 901, 27 May 1903, Page 2

SMALLPOX SCARE.

VIGOROUS PROTEST PROM HOUSEOWNER. DECLARES A GRACCHUS CASE IS NOT ONE OF SMALLPOX. (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, last night. The owner and occupier of the liou.se quarantined owing to a lady passenger by the Gracchus suffering from alleged smallpox vigorously protests that the case is noL one of smallpox. He says the lady on landing developed symptoms of malarial fever, from which she had previously suffered in India. He had attended her, and Dr. Ogston also saw her, and there was no suspicion of small pox. The rash was no more than the ordinary spots developed in malarial fever. Tile, lady had been treated also for premature birth. When Dr. Valentine saw her, she was almost in perfect health, considering the illness she had undergone. Her high temperature had disappeared, and her appetite was good. All 111 is happened in a few days. Dr. Valentine, in reply, says lie lias mi doubt whatever that the ease was one of smallpox in a modified form, and where the possibilities are so serious the Department could not take the risk of acting in any other way than it has done.

OTHER CASES

(Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, last night. Bell, the smallpox patient at Quail Island, is still improving, and the health of I lie other persons on tuc island is good. With reference to the supposed case, of a railway platelayer, Dr. Finch saw Cousens this afternoon. He says that there is absolutely no change in the patient’s condition, and expresses no opinion as to wiiat lie is sufferin.tj from. No arrangements have been made for tile patient’s removal to the hospital. This evening there was no change in Cousens’ condition, and iiopes are entertained in Lyttelton that his case may prove not to

he smallpox. This morning a Lascar seaman on t hi* Gracchus, one of lho.se left on board to take care, of the vessel, was ill. but his symptoms were not. sufficiently pronounced to enable a decision as to the nature of the case to be arrived at. in the evening, it was reported that the sick Lascar hud not developed any distinctive symptoms of smallpox. •Should it he necessary to isolate him, he will lie landed at fjuaii Island. and placed in a tent, and kept under observation. A couple of tents have been procured in readiness for this course. in order to facilitate the loadin'; of the Gracchus. she was taken in low by the mg at Lyttelton, and shifted about a mile further up the harbor this afternoon.