Smallpox in Launccston.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 224, 15 October 1887, Page 2

Smallpox in Launccston.

The outbreak of smallpox at Launceston is now supposed to have originated from the clothes of a Chinaman who died some time ago at Scott&dale from chicken-pox. His clothes were sent to Latin cest on to be transmitted to China. Wateon, 'the man who died of the disease, handled the box, and he appears to have communicated the disease to the others. There aye floid now to be eight cases of the epidemic. News received to-night states that only tx\vo of the cases are dangerous. Nearly all those who have been attacked have not been vaccinated. Tho four houses where bhe patients live have been isolated. A hospital has been promptly established on the Mowbray racecourse, where the buildings have been turned to account. Water Oaas been laid on to the course, and a doctor has been provided. The patients and .all suspected persons were removed there to-night. One doctor seems to think that the eases are bad attacks of chicken-pox, b<ut the other doctors are quite clear that they are smallpox. The arrangements for isolation are excellent. The Central Bbard of Health, Melbourne, held a special meeting for the purpose of devising precautionary measures to prevent the introduction of smallpox from Tasmania. It was resolved to request the Governor in Council to issue a proclamation rendering all vessels from Tasmanian ports liable to detention in quarantine on arrival at the Heads. The Central Board of Health also decided that instructions should be given to the water police to secure the addresses of all passengers from Tasmanian ports, in order tha^t they may be visited by the health officers of the districts to which they go to reside, with a view of the prompt ■isolation of any of their numbers who may develop symptoms of incipient smallpox. The want of lymph in Tasmania for vaccination'purposes having been notified to the Central Board, a supply of 500 points of calf and 100 jppints of humanised lymph was forwarded,