Second Edition SMALLPOX EPIDEMIC.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 99, 30 August 1913, Page 6

Second Edition SMALLPOX EPIDEMIC.

ATTACK ON PUBLIC HEALTH

DEPARTMENT

COMIC OPERA ATTITUDE

[Per Press Association.]

Hamilton, August 30. Strong comments were made at the Hamilton Borough Council's meeting on the attitude of the Health Depart: meht in regard to smallpox. The Mayor stated that a deputation of natives waited on' him yesterday, appealing for medical assistance to be sent to pa's where there is much illness apart from smallpox, medical men refusing to visit the camps. The natives also sorely want sustenance in some kaingas, being on the verge of

starvation, the natives having no food

\and no money, and being prohibited to leave the camps, and having no mean!} of earning any. The Health Department, said the Mayor, had taken the administration of the health lawn out of tho hands of local bodies, but immediately they struck trouble they shirked their responsibilities. It was impossible for the local inspector to supervise all the camp*, in the Waikatc* which' are very scattered and stretched over a wide • area. The consequence was that the natives wandered, and the' deputation which called at his office wrs from a badlyinfectfecr Miflp. The attitude of the Department all through, he said, rivalled a Gilbert and Sullivan opera. It was decided to liehd k strong protest to the Minister, demanding more stringent measures' to Wipe out the disease in the''"VVaikato ) with more atrie^'supervision 1 of the movements of datives and attention to their wants.

NECESSITY FOR VACCINATION

Wellington) 1 August 29

A statement' issued by the Minister for Public Health impresses on the travelling public the necessity of vacoination, especially in the case of those leaving Auckland. 'He warns' yaccineos to secure certificates' to save themselves inconvenience. He declares it may be necessary for the Government at arty moment to take further precautions to prevent the spread of the.epidemic. , This official warning is generally; stated as hinting at the possibility of the isolation of Auckland to the extent of allowing no one to leave who is not vaccinated, or who cannot produce a certificate of vaccination. A UUJk which, was alongside the Delphic,, whose quartermaster developed smallpox, has been isolated. The Delphic leaves for the Bluff this afternoon, completing the isolation period at sea/*"'

DIFFICULTY WITH, MAORIS. Taurauga, August 29. Two additional cases of small-pox w«r« discovered at Matapilii' on Tuesday, and three yV&te'fday./ One i 3 reported from OtuMao'tai'. ' The' Matapihi cases were hidden by the natives until a search was made by the Health Officer add the poH6e\' '■'■•

N.Z. OFFICIAL BULLETIN. Wellington, August 20 The following smallpox bulletin was issued to-night:— The district health officer at Auckland (Dr. Monk) reports that one case i« reported from Orakei. Six are suspected at Matapihi. One is reported from Mangamuka (in the Hokianga County) and' 'two- from Eaukataoa (near K!aikdhe).

STATEMENTS IN PARLIAMENT

Wellington, August 29. In the House of Representatives today, in reply to Sir Joseph Ward, the Minister said that the disease had "been treated as smallpox, though medical men were not agreed as to the true natiire of the epidemic. Personally, he was of opinion that the disease was not smallpox. He thought 2000 was an exaggerated estimate of the number of cases. There was no doubt that a portion of the lymph had failed, but this was now remedied, and the'Government had arranged for the services of several students from Otago University to assist in vaccinating the natives. They had gone Borth to-day.

A PITIABLE CASE. |Bl Electric Telegraph—Copyright ; [Unitbd Press Association. 1 Sydney, August 29. Six smallpox cases were reported to-day. One patient who was removed to quarantine three days ago died in childbirth. The disease was not primarily responsible for death. The child is living. Fifty-four patients and 213 Contacts are irt quarantine.