SMALLPOX SCARE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 48, 2 July 1913, Page 5

SMALLPOX SCARE.

MANY GASES IH SYDNEY. THE DISEASE IN MEED FORM. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press Association.| Sydney, July 1. A sensation lias been caused by the, announcement of a serious outbreak of smallpox in Sydney. Since Anril 12, numerous cases pf what were described a.i chicken pox have been under treatment. ihe Government Medical Officer set to work quietly and conducted inquiries. Some cases were removed to the hospital, and alter a careful diagnosis were declared to be smallpox of a very mild form. The source of infection is stated to be a, clothing factory in Redfern. So far, sixty cases have been traced. All the necessary precautions for quarantining actual cases and contacts have been taken. Mr Holman has made an official statement with a view to allaying public alarm. lie states that the Government medical officers are adopting every possible step to meet the situation. The disease is in a mild form. MEDICAL MEN BAFFLED. FORCED TO THE CONCLUSION. SMALL FOX J\ MILD FORM. (Received 9.00 a.in.) Sydney, Julv 2.

lii connection with the outbreak ot si n nil pox, it appears that the last case occurred about April I2tli, and was brought lie re by one of the crew or a steamer from Vancouver, whore there,is a mild outbreak. Its infective power is very low, seeing that though the epidemic has prevailed so long, only sixty cast's couM he traced, of which the majority arc only slight attacks. Mr Holman (Premier) states that it is nob too much to say that it is only smallpox technically. The majority of those attacked haw returned to work. Many did so without even having medical advice. There is, however, evidence that an epidemic is also prevalent in Sydney at present. Oh May 30th, the proprietor of a clothing factory at Redfern reported that a number of female employees were absenting themselves owing to a rash. On the same day a patient from the same factory was admitted to the hospital. The case was first diagnosed as cliickenpox, and it was discovered that, about fifteen female employees had been suffering from the same.' After an exhaustive investigation, the authorities decided that the outbreak was cliickenpox, though they did so with some hesitation owing to the unusual nature of the cases. Several patients were then vaccinated. If the vaccination had been successful, it would have satisfied tin' doctors that it was cliickenpox, but the results’ forced them to the conclusion that it was smallpox, though of an extremely mild typo.