The Orient Troopers.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 33, 14 August 1902, Page 18

The Orient Troopers.

The 'boys' who returned from South Afrioa by the Orient have been compelled to undergo the unpleasant experience of being recalled into camp and quarantined because of a case of suspected smallpox discovered after the South Island men had been landed. At the time of writing the oase ia still only • suspected ' to be one of smallpox. Yet while a doubt existed the authorities, it seems to us, oould follow no other course than to recall the men. And we observe with pleasure that the men obeyed the summons with general and soldier-like alacrity, recognising no doubt their moral obligation to the oommunity. To the uninitiated it may at first «ght seem ridiculous to recall the men at all, seeing that having turned them loose to mix with the community the damage, if any, had been done. But it is not generally known that smallpox does not become contagious until the eruption begins to appear, so that there was still time to arrest the evil should any of the troopers, unhappily, oarry in their systems the germs of the disease. In any community a visitation of smallpox is a disaster ; in New Zealand it would be a dire calamity, because of the general unpreparednesß to meet it. If there is one scientific fact established beyond the possibility of a doubt, it is that vaccination minimises almost to the point of disappearance the severity of smallpox. Yet vaccination has been permitted to fall praotioally into desuetude in this Colony. It has been affirmed without contradiction that only 17 per cent, of the juvenile population have been vaccinated. This negleot of a wise precaution has arisen from several causes, among which are (I) the immunity of the colonies from smallpox ; (2) a well-founded repugnance to arm to arm vaccination ; and (3) conscientious objeotionß on the part of a small number to the practice.

At least two of these reasons are untenable. Past immunity gives no security for the future. The trade of the colonies is rapidly spreading to the East, which is the cradle of plagues, and any vessel which comes from an Asiatio port may bear among her passengers or merchandise the germs of disease, as la grippe waa brought to the Colony some years ago in drapery goods, and has never since been eradicated. Arm to arm vaccination is not only discouraged, but absolutely forbidden by law. A vaccinator who employs any but the pure lymph direct from the heifer is liable to severe punishment, and, in the event of any communicable disease arising from the practice, would be so much discredited aB to be professionally ruined. In the old days innumerable diseases were oommunicated by means of vaccination. With pure lymph the risk is bo small as to be negligible. As for the stubborn few who profess to entertain conecientions objections, they are probably influenced by gruesome stories of bygone calamities, or, it may be, are personally aware of some case or cases where injury has arisen Yet even for such the law makes provision, by enabling them to escape the dreaded operation by making a declaration, which absolves them from the obligation. The general result of the present scare will no doubt be a general awakening to the need for vaccination, and the legal obligation to undergo it. A few convictions here and there will remind parents that they cannot defy the law with impunity, and the punishment which may be inflicted will not be resented by the public, who have to bear the risk caused by negleot. But there will not be much boisterous hilarity in the various quarantine camps during the next week or 10 days. The vaccination of an adult is not always a trifling matter. It is not helpful to the temper, and the slightest contact with the scarified spot produces Buch inconvenience as to cause irritation Some of the later contingents never smelt hostile powder in the late war. At least they will now be able to point to honorable soars aa souvenirs of their expedition to South Africa. Let us hope that the present scare may have consequences no more serious.