STRANGE EDPDEMIC AT PARIHAKA

Manawatu Times, Volume X, Issue 1329, 24 October 1884, Page 2

STRANGE EDP DEMIC AT PAR IHAKA

We mentioned 'yesterday that there was SBTere sUknoii. at Parihuka amongst the Natives. We aro now m receipt of m«: formation which is of a most startling character, and is to the effect that a strange epidemic i 3 at present raging amongst the NatiFts - there. Our informant, who! arrived yesterday at neon from that district states that the epidemic has created' a grtat ;deal of uneasiness ijx that - locality -of Paribaka. and it is pep.uikrly infectious m .'its naiure, and the Natives are quite helpr less'J_ The form of the disease is a great swelling m the , head and limbs, with' ex* erutiating paift, and it has m several ease^i proTcd fatal; Until meaigal advice arrivisi howerer, nothing definite as : ' to' the char-' acter of the disease will be known, Taking all thing* into consideration, the appearance of an: epidemic at Parihaka is not at all to )io wondered at i indeed, the wonder is m Uivi oiber direction-r-that it. has noti made its ap^amunce before... Persons who hare not seen the settlement can hare -no con* ception of its general state .of filthiness^ Th( re is no drainage of any kind and the horrible stenches that are created by pigs wallowing m slima and filth, which the natives make no attempt to clear away ii simple abominable. It is high time some sanitary law was framed which would have special reference to native settldmeatsHat any. rate settlements near European towns. . It would be a blessing to the natives themselves, and be a protection ' against the development of infectious diseases such as that now engendered at F^rihaka. We learn that .the Government have taken action m the matter, and Dr. O'Carroll left town yesterday, wej- presume^ for the purpose of rendering medical assistance to th« natives, and ascertaining the exact nature of the disease.. Immediate, action should be taken, we think, to prevent the natives, who went to Parihaka to the : tbbnthly meeting from returning to their homes, 1 oi otherwise the dise»se may be spread far and wide.— Taranaki News, October 21. . :