THE PLAGUE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 96, 27 April 1904, Page 2

THE PLAGUE.

AUCKLAND OUTBREAK, Till? (JI-UEF HEALTH OFFICER'S OPINION, (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Aprll^ST

spoakimg of the case of plague reported from Auckland said there wu no need for, special alarm, for bubonic plague is not 1 a disease the spread of which is 'to be feared so much as that of smallpox. Still it will be wise for people to take pro. cautionary measures. Hs added that ho had confidence in the competence of his staff in Auckland to deal with the matter, They had the result of previous experience and strict in» structions regarding the measure# to be taken to meet a contingency ol the kind, Discussing the cause Dr, Mason thought moat probably the disease lmd been brought by rat®, though when and from where it was impossible to say. Tbo district lieu Ith ofllcers all over the oolony had been accustomed for some tiino post, in fact ever since the last outbreak and tlw trouble they had had with the scourge in Sydney, to make periodical collections of rata and subject them to vivisection and examination. Up till now. however no t"ace of plague 'had been foune* in uny of the rodents caudht and exumined. It was clear that the man whose death was reported had been working j n a warehouse and It was state-.! that 'ho liaid 'handled rats winch had boon caught and kill«<L. All prtvautwns against possible spread of infection would be in Auckland by the complete isolation of all contracts, and fumigation of the promises in which tho mm btallord had worked and lived The number of actual contacts had not been reported to him. As to »hfi>ping cure would bo taken in Auckund. All that was intended with Sif Vi toaßtal dipping was to rtcmire the companies concerned to f" rttt 'guards wore astaia b ought into use when their vessels "°S Tho something would bo insisted upon in ca« nl yt-ssels coming from Sydney in addi! tion to which there would' be the customry inspection on coastal ve£ sols Tho shipping peop]e lie required to at once notify any case of illness which might develop on the voyage. The Minister for Public Health" (Sir J. G. Ward) had ! issued a circular to all local author* Hies urging that proper sanitary precautions should b# taken,

The Wellington corporation has instructed inspectors of the Sanitary Department that they were to male* special efforts with a view of the detection of dirty and Insanitary promises and yards and also to report at once localities which appeared to be infected with rats. STAFFORD'S BODY CREMATE^ ANOTHER CASE REPORTED. AUCKLAND, April 28, The liody of the man supposed to have died from plague has bee* cremated. Another suspected cose Is report* ed. ANOTHER CASE IN SYDNEY. (Received* April 26, 11.64 p.m.) 1 SYDNEY, April 26. Another case of plague has occur* rod at Surrey Hills. The patient worked in the infected area, whors a big fining arc cleansing). OthM precautions are being taken. PLAGUE PRECAUTIONS. CIRCULAR FROM THE MINISTER FOR PUBLIC HEALTH. His Worship the Mayor, Mr IV Cock, has received -tile following me* sage from Sir Joseph Ward, Mintoter for Public Health, -and has liatuP -

Ml it to us for publication To 11. Cock., Esq., Mayor.—Sir,— In viow of the reappearance of pla» gue in ,Sydney ana BrislbMie aod tin occurrence of a death from that disease in the colony, let me again ask you to undertake the precautions by me in 1902. A great deal -of useful' Kim-nary work was dona nt that time, and since, but I would like to ask local 'authorities generally to see that everything which tends to bring rats about bo taken away. A careful 'house to house inspection of all backyard# should he made, and all filth removed. No waste food should be thrown upon the ground. All refuse should be placed in sealed receptacles such as are usually supplied by most local authorities whore there is no regular system of removing garbtarej This should be undertaken, and the •householder should 'burn whatever I may be left. All fowl pens should (be of proper construction, and kept very clean ; and finally every effort shoulf be made both privately and, officially to exterminate rats and mice. Unliko smallpox, plague la spread mainly by means of rodents. It Is Very rarely conveyed f rom humun being to another. The cam whicii has occurred in the colony la an isolated one, and every nrecftiition has been taken to prevent th» spread of the disease, but tho beat way to prevent any outb*eak ) s to remove all insanitary surrounding and destroy the wastes upon which t! ITe ' v'™'' -1 have tho liOTiour J* « WAi ? ) Ur M olWliit ' nt WVWrt. WAKt), Minister for PnKH» Health, Wellington. (