SMALL-POX.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 124, 27 May 1903, Page 2

SMALL-POX.

ANOTHER SUSPECTED CASE. PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. CiißiSTOiiufioii, M'>y 25. This afternoon it was reported that a cue of small-pox bad been discovered at Lyttelton. Inquiry proved tint there was some fur the rumou-, inasmuch as John Cousins, a railway platelayer, living on Q jeen-street lioarf, had developed symptoms which were , considered suspiciou?. He was att( ndeo •ry Dr. Pa«rm\n, who, as a precau:ionary measure, vaccinated the inm >tes of his house during the afternoon. The d : Btrics health officer, Dr. Finch, went to Lyttelton in the afternoon and made an inspection of tha case. It wae understood that ho decided to sand the patient and all who had b?en in contict >vith him to Botth L:tko, but la'.er on it was ascertained that ihe au'.horitiep had decided to isolate the ho us) and keep it and its occupan'.s under observation.

At a late hour to-night the medical men had not made any definita decision is to whether the case is one of small pox.

Neither Cousins nor the inmates of his house had been on board the Gracchus. His work lies partly about the whirf, but it do:s not appear that he was specially exposed to inf<c ion. The borough authorities of Lyttelton la6t week, in order to be prepared for a possible outbreak, mide arrangements for the isolation of houses and for the transportation of any casa to the inf< c ious diseases hospital at Bottle Lake, and it was understood k> town this afternoon that these arrangements would he carried out. It wis fi ;ally decided however to defer action till to morrow.

Wellington, May 26. Ia vie? of thi cass of smill-pox diecover.d in Diinedio, the Publiol Seal h Department hts issued circular letters to the Mayois of the various towns in the colony direo'.ing that everything should be in readiness to meet anv possible danger in c.ee the disease spreads furth- r.

Dune din, May 26. The owner and occupier of the house qu rani.ined owing to a lady pies'nger by the Or cob us suffering from alleged .-mill-pox, vigorously protests that the case is not one of small-pox. He siys the lady, on hnding, develop-d symptoms of mahml fever from wbich she had previously suffered in India. Two dcotors attonded her, and Dr Ogaton also saw her, but there I was no suf picion of small p >x. The rash was no more thin the ordinary 3p)ts dave'oped in malarial fever. The lady h id also been treated for a p etnature birth, and whan Dr Valiotioe saw her she was almost in perfect health considering the illnesj she hid under 301)9. Her high temperature had disappeared, and her oppetite was good. I Alt this happened in a few day*, Dr Valiatine, in r.iply, says he has 'no doubt whatever thai: the case was one if emill pox in a modifiad form, and thit when the possibilities are so s;ricuj <he Department could not take | the i isk of acting in any other way than it has done.

I An inspection of those of the contacts with the Gracchus who were vaccinated was carefully made to-day, as the period of Itcubition of the disease is about expiring, and so far non 9 chow signs of si knesi.

Too lidy passenger by the Qr.cohus is regaining her health rapidly, but it will be ten days yet bsfo e the quarantine on the house is removed.

Step) are being taken to prepare the quarantine island for any cas*, if one occurs.

OniiiSTcnußCH, May 26. Ball, thi saull-pox parent at (jnail Isktd, ij B'ill improving, and the health of the other persons on the I htd is good. With reference to the suppoied ctse, that of a railway platelayer, Dr. Fioch saw Oou tins this afternoon. He says there is absolutely no chaDge in the; pitient's condition and expresses to opinion a3 to what he is from. No arrangements have been m vda for the p.atieot/s removal to the hospital, and this evening thera was no change in hi* condition. Hopes are entertained tint his cue may prove not to be small-p >x. This morning a Larcir seamin on the Graoohua, one of thos9 Itfi on board the ves-:el, was ill, but hi* symptoms were not tush as to enable a decision as to the nature of the ctse to be arrived a 1:. In the evening it was reported the Lisoxr hid nit developei a- y distinctiva symptoms of small-pox. [f necessiry be will bi landed on Q nil Island and kept under obaerva tun.

la order ta facilita'e the loading of tha Gracchus, she was taken about a mi a lurcher up the harbour this afternoon.

The Department of Health has issued a circular drawing attention to the need fur being ready to meet tmirgetcies in re- p :ct of email-pax. Thi ciicular invites each local body to confer with the dis'.iiot heilth oifioar atid mike arrangemjnts for the following in ease the diseise should unfortunately appear; (1) a suitable eite and tents or o her accommodation for temporary hospital for patients and contacts; (2) for transport of patients and contacts to hospital; (3) for s'affof direotorsi and nurses to attend; (4) maintenance. Suggestion? as to isolation and vaccination are al-:o giv<>n. It is pointed out that it is noi the eeiport towns alone where an outbretk can be expected, and that it ia tberi fore imperative that all should bo in readiness to m:et any emergency.