SMALL-POX.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 116, 18 May 1903, Page 2

SMALL-POX.

TWO CABB3 ON BTKAMBR AT LYTTELTON. OMB END 3 FATALLY. STRINGENT MEASURES TAKEN. FEB PBEBS ASSOCIATION. Lyttelton, May 17. Two oases of small-pox, one of which proved fatal this morning, were dis covered on the sterner Gracchus at Lyttelton on Saturday. The steamei came from - Ca'cutta via Melbourne, Port Chalmers, and Timaru. The patien'e we e Johnson tl'e third officer, and Bell-the third engineer. Toey were ill on arrival at Pure Chalmers on May 12, and were medically tx mined thdre and at Timaru. It was not thought necessary to quirantioe the ves?el there, and it is stated the opinion was that the di ease was German measles. At Lyttelton, the Port Heal oh Officer, Di\ Vpbam, apparently considered the cases were small-pox. Dr. Finch, District Health Officer, examined all on baard with Dr. Upham, and the vessel was ordered into quarantine. The crew of Lascars were vaccinated just before leaving Calcutta, but the patients have not been recently vaccinated, The.steamer went out to the quarantine ground at 8 p.m. on Saturday, and on Sunday morning was fumigated with fotmtliu. Johnson died at 3 a.m. on Sunday, ' and was buried out at sea in the afternoon, The JReV, A, H. Tread well, Pr-sbyterian Minister of Lyttelton, re id the burial service on boirJ a tug. | Dr Finch, chairmin of the Harbour Bond, and th i Mayor had a conference in the morning concerning measures to betaken. Under the direction of the Health Officer No. 7 Wharf, at which the Gracohus lay, was washed with sei water and disinfected. The cargo, mostly gunny bag* and the like, which had been ltndei from the vessel was isolated, and soma 24 lumpers who had wo.ked on and others who had handled the cargo were assembled and given the op'.iou i f being vaccinated o; quarantined. It is in'ended to didnteofc their hous baud burn the clothes in which tlwy worked. Out of 27 men all' c cd, only t*o consented to be vaccinated.