SMALL POX IN FIJI.

Kumara Times, Issue 866, 10 July 1879, Page 4

SMALL POX IN FIJI.

The ship Leonidas, Captain M‘Lachlan, which sailed from Calcutta on March 3rd(says the Times), arrived off Levuka on the afternoon of Wednesday, 14th May, but failed to make the harbor that evening. On the next morning communication was made with the ship, and the unfortunate vessel was found to be in a pest-strickeri condition. Eventually, after the ship had sailed for some time up and down outside the port, she was piloted in by means of the pilot boat. The Leonidas passed up the harbor, passed Vagadace and, when off Waitovu, through some stupidity, touched the reef, but with the rising tide fl ated off, and dropped anchor in Waitovu Passage, or as far away from the shore, as she could be conveniently anchored without touching the reef. So soon as communication was made with the ship, it was ascertained that cholera had been on board together with small-pox, and 11 coolies had died of cholera and six of dysentery; cholera seeming to predominate, while little seems to be known as to the small-pox. Every pre« caution, under the unfortunate circumstances of the case, appears to have teen adopted by the Government, and no doubt the vigilance and care will be unceasing until danger shall have ceased to exist. The heaviest of the onerous duties will fall upon the chief medical officer and Police Department. A cordon of four police boats have been arranged at suitable distances round the Leonidas, and the schooner Elizabeth (lately of the Samoan navy) has been sailed down from Nassova, acd anchored off Waitovu, as relieving or guard ship, tnat the boats’ crew may be relieved every four hours. Dr M‘Gregor (the chief medical officer of the Colony) has devised a very ingenious method of effectually presenting the contagion being conveyed to the shore, during the process of sending stores, letters, sc, to the ship. A staging has been erected on the outer reef with a moving platform. Stores necessary , to the ship are placed on this platform at low tide and taken off by the ship’s boat; The whole staging is then demolished ar d allowed to float until next low tide, when it is re-erected. All letters are placed i/, a carbolic acid bottle, and of course fumig ited before delivery. Communication witl? the vessel, under these circumstances, is of course slow, but from what we learn there are 273 wale and 14ft female coolies on boap d, indepndent of children, all of whom ar e under the charge of Dr Welsh.