UNUSUAL CASE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 167, 8 March 1932, Page 7

UNUSUAL CASE

MAORI FINED FOR BREAKING FROM HOSPITAL ISOLATION INFECTED BY TYPHOID An unusual case eame under the Health Act regulations, carne before Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M., in the Rotorua Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon, when a Maori, Rangikaheka Kahu, was charged with being at large in a public place knowing himself to be infected by typhoid fever. The police stated that Kahu had three times broken isolation and the third time had not returned. Medical evidence was called to show tjiat at the time, defendant was still in the infection stage of typhoid. Senior-Sergeant Carroll, for the police, said that on December 7, Kahu had been admitted to King Geqrge V. Hospital suffering from typhoid fever. On January 13, while in isolation, he had left the hospital without the knowledge of the medical . officers, and had not returned until next day when he was taksn charge of by the police. Kahu ha! said at the time, that he considered he was better and should be allowed to go home. On January 20 again, Kahu jh.ad broken isolation a second time and this time did not return for two days, when he had again to be sought by the police.- A third time, he again broke out' without the kndwledge of the medical officers, and this time did not return. He was finally located at Murupara where his wife and family resided. On the first two occasions when Kahu had disappeared, he had been found in the streets about the town. Dr. Brian Thompson, of the medical staff of King George Y. Hospital, corroborated the sergeant's outline. He' said that Kahu was still in the infectious stage as a result of the fever, but that he was quite conscious of what he was doing. Constable Brown, in evidence, said that he had twice returned Kahu to the isolation ward. He knew that the man had once escaped from the Rotorua police lock-up and he appeared to regard the whole thing as a joke. - Kahu was' fined £5 and costs.