The Southland Times. MONDAY, APEIL 19, 1869.

Southland Times, Issue 1144, 19 April 1869, Page 2

The Southland Times. MONDAY, APEIL 19, 1869.

No greater calamity can befall a community than the visitation of a virulent epidemic. Small-pox ranks among the most sudden and rapid of all infectious diseases, and therefore the evidence we hare that small-pox is spreading rapidly in Victoria, in spite of the efforts of the G-overnment and the medical fraternity, supplies matter for serious thought as to what precautionary measures should be adopted to prevent the spread of this insiduous and deadly enemy of mankind. The colonists of New Zealand are as deeply interested in the solution of this momentous problem as those of Victoria or New South Wales. This disease has already been imported into one province, Wellington, and we know not at what hour it may make its appearance in any other. It is therefore of paramount importance that the authorities and the people throughout the whole of the Australiaa should, without delay, adopt precautionary measures to mitigate or prevent the dire calamity of its spreading, should it by unforseen accident make its appearance. The Government of New Zealand has to some extent recognised the momentous import involved, by notifying that <# the provisions of the ' Vaccination Act ' will be strictly enforced," but we cannot look upon this aa a sufficient measure — more than this is undoubtedly required. It is now almost generally acknowledged by the faculty, that Dr Jewneb's wonderful discovery of the preventive virtue of vaccination is limited in its operation — that when performed in youth it is gradually weakened as year succeeds year — and " although it has not been determined at what period it ceases to hare power, it is generally conceded that in the event of this disease making its appearance in a community, it is most desirable, as a safe- guard, all above the age of fourteen years should be revaccinated: The faculty in, Victoria advocate this course. The whole of the medical men, nurses, and attendants of the small-pox hospital of Melbourne, underwent this operation when this terrible disease first made its appearance, and from information received by the last mail we learn that the members of the police force have been ordered to present themselves to the government medical officers without delay for vaccination. We also learn that the thinking portion of the people are voluntarily adopting the sug gestion, to an extent that has led to a scarcity of the lymph necessary for the operation, as will be seen from the followiug, published in the ' Victorian Government Gazette, viz. : — " Medical Department, Melbourne, 19th March, 1869. — In, consequence of the spread of small-pox about Melbourne, there is a. great scarcity of vaccine lymph. I have, therefore, to request that the public vaccinator will not permit any persons to neglect or refuse to bring back their children on the j eighth day after vaccination ; that they will report to the police for prosecution every instance of such neglect or refusal ; that they will, when the children are brought back, secure and preserve as much vaccine lymph from them as possible,; and that they will, for the present, transmit all available lymph to this office. — -William M'Cbea., Chief Medical Officer." This we may consider as preliminary to ' the adoption of compulsory adult vaccination. The question in, which we are more immediately concerned is, whether it .is, not necessary that similar preventive measures should be adopted by the r Go^eynment ,of Zealand. "VCe are 'itujjuestionably of opinion ateps^ ought ijp nhfo taken to this ; .end without delay. It may be argued that the towns in this colony being but sparsely populated, and

the climate cold and healthy, but little uneasiness need be felt as to the Spread of this terrible disease among our communities. Such is a delusive and dangerous security. For the chief parfc the towns are ill- drained and the accumulation of decayed vegetable -matter and excretions create a malaria which must render the inhabitants susceptible of the influence of any epidemic with which we may be, visited. Again, it is a known fact that in many localities the vaccine matter has frequently been scarce, and from this cause children have' been left unvaccinated, or the operation but imperfectly performed. We doubt not the Government will ultimately give the matter consideration, and adopt sbringent preventive measures, but in ' the meantime the people are called upon from the duty of self-preservation to move in the matter themselves.^ We hope therefore the medical men of this and other towns will offer every facility to the public for re-vaccination, and that the public will freely embrace the opportunity. The operation is neither painful nor dangerous, while its general * adoption may be the means of preventing a terrible calamity.