Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 1902. Small-Pox.

Manawatu Herald, 28 August 1902, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 1902. Small-Pox.

The danger that would be run by everyone in this colony should an undoubted case of small-pox occur in the vicinity of population is one that is unappreciated by the majority of the inhabitants. Fortunately, for years, we have been exempt from this dread disease, and owing to, what was thought, our isolation from the world, many worked for the abolition of vaccination, the only safeguard from the scourge. We need not now enter into the many reasons, some at one time good, given for non-vaccination, but which are now of no effect as the Government give free pure lymph. Last year the opponents of vaccination succeeded in allowing the vaccination of children to be optional, and so much advantage has been taken of tbat part of the Act that Dr Mason, in his report writes, “ The non-observ-ance for the last few years of vaccination is this colony is a condition of

things which must ’cause every one int rested in public health the deepest regret. Speaking r only some 25 per cent of oar child pop' ’ation are protected against small-pox. As compared with a case of plague, the danger which would arise from the int oduction of a case of small-pox into this country is so great as to be almost inconceivable.’'

To make the case plainer the report has two photographs of “ smallpox in an an vaccinated child ” and a companion one of “ muall-pox as modified by vaccination,” and if these likenesses could be only distributed they would do more good in urging parents to have their children vaccinated than all reports can possibly do. In one case the face is covered thick with eruptions as well as the arms and bands; whilst in the other, the face retains its usual appearance with hardly discernible eruptions here and there upon it, and none noticeable on the arm and hand. To further impress the cases there are two more photographs given, one a man being a case of confluent smallpox in an unvaednated parson, and the other a child, a terribly sight, suffering from the- disea,so, who was not vaccinated, and one, standing alongside who had been vaccinated and had only a few spots.

A Bill is now before Parliament entitled “ The Public Health Amendment ” having as a clause, amongst others, that it shall be lawful for the Governor, on the occurrence of any ease of small-pox in Now Zealand, or on board any ship arriving at any port or place in New Zealand, by Proclamation to suspend the operation of section eleven of “ The Public Health Amendment Act 1901 (No. 2)” far a specified time, and either to the whole of New Zealand or any part thereof, and to order that all persons who have come in contact with, or are likely to come in contact with, any person suffering from small-pox shall be vaccinated or revaccinated within a specified time,” and we feel sure parents who have grasped the loathsomeness of the disease will be only too thankful if such Bill becomes law.