Mataura Ensign GORE, TUESDAY, AUGUST 5, 1884. THE SMALL-POX.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 7, Issue 380, 5 August 1884, Page 2

Mataura Ensign GORE, TUESDAY, AUGUST 5, 1884. THE SMALL-POX.

Telegrams to hand which announce the advent of this dreadful scourgt upon our shqrea are not at all re-as-suring. We had b-..en taught to be lieve that Jen_*ter's discovery had ■ 'gi yen ua miiu unity from at least this. >!.';: one -ofthe products ci* disregard ofthe l&waof hygiene, and ie ih somewhat^ jit&^SeriUjg io find tbafc m m*p&

liable to infection from it. Not only is it small-pox, but smallpox of the most virulent type — the confluent, For it should be known that there are two distinct types of the disease, viz., variola confluens and variola discrete. In the former and more dangerous of the two, the pustules run together and form an irregular outline j while in the latter they remain distinct and. of a generally circular form. The most important difference between the two forms is in the secondary fever, which sets in about the eighth, day of the eruption, or just when the maturation of the pustules is complete. This is the period at which death most fr - quently occurs. Small*pox is the effect of specific contagion, communicated by contact or through the air. There is no disease of which the contagion is so sure, and which operates at a greater distance than small-pox ; but it rarely attacks the same individual more than once. The treatment of the disease does not differ particularly from that of ordinary fever. The Government, are in a serious difficulty. To enforce a rigid quarantine against all vessels coming from Australian ports would almost completely paralyse •che trade of this country. They have been advised that not so much danger of contagion exists for the first few days of the course of the disease, and are endeavoring to devise some means wher.by reasonable liberty may be permitted to immigrants pnd the safety of our people yet secured. It would appear, however, that while they have been deliberating the damage has been done ; for a patient has been landed at Napier suffering from the disease in its virulent form, and ; is not expected to live. He, it seems, had not been vaccinated. The case was from , the Waihora. Now, the Waihora passed up this coast last week — indeed, she brought Sir "Wm. Jervois from Melbourne to the Bluff, and it is not at all comfortable to reflect that the dread enemy might have *} been even iiow in our midst. Goods and passengers were landed from her both at Bluff and Dunedin, but probably if any contagion had been conveyed by them we should have heard of it before now- If the news from Melbourne which tells us of the occurrence of a true case there in the heart of tlie city, should turn out to be correct, then at all hazards we must save ourselves by a strict quarantine. In the meantime it should be remembered that strict re- \ gard for the laws of cleanliness and ventilation will do much to retard the progress of contagion should the disease unfortunately be at large in our country. Moreover, in order that not a chance may be thrown away those who have not been vaccinated should have the operation performed as quickly as possible. It may be, as some assert, that the effects of inoculation with the vaccine matter pass out of the system In a few years, and this . perhaps may account for the existence 'of small-pox among those who have undoubtedly been vaccinated in their ' youth. The operation is not a very serious one, and if it will do anything to stay the epidemic by all means let it be done. The great preventive, however, of this and other epidemics is cleanliness and sober living. We have numerous instances of doctors and nurses having walked unscathed through the most dreadful scenes of disease in the Mother Country, and surely if they with a few simple pres cautions of cleanliness could emerge unhurt from the very hot-beds of i disease, we in this country, where j there is plenty of room, plenty of fresh \ air, and plenty of proper food, can*, keep ourselves clear of small-pox. At all events let us try. I