Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-24

seis are salllng every Gay Tor America. In the
districts OF Lorient and vannes the plague is
widespread. Meanwhile it is raging in Gslicia
(Austro-Huugary) and in several provinces OF
southwest Russia. However, it is well-nigh
impossible to get any definite information as to
the progress of the complaint in the cars
dominions, owing to a secretive official policy.
Complaining of this our minister at st. Peters,
burg asks that a physician under the marine
hospital service be attached to his legation for
the purpose of gathering medical news.
The plague has just broken out at Mecca with
alarming virulence. The holy city is only two
days journey by caravan from the nearest Red
sea port. At the same time the United States
minister at Constantinople reports that the dis
ease is spreading rapidly westward from Bag
dad across Mesopotamia toward the Mediter-
| ranean. following the lines OF travel. When it
is considered that there is much commerce di-
rectly between this country and the ports OF
the Mediterranean and the Red sea, it will be
seen that such news is far from reassurlng. 1t
is some comfort to know that there is no cholera
in Germany. At Hamburg, which no longer
gets its water supply from the infected River
Elbe, only one case has appeared since March L.
DIR. wYMAN's OPINION.
There is still more encouragement in quoting
DR.. Walter Wyman, surgeon general Of the
marine hospital service, on the situation. Said
he yesterday: eve have an even chance Of es-
Gaping the cholera altogether this year. Should
1t arrive it will certainly not become epidemic.
Its non appearance thus far proves that no germs
have lived over the winter In this country, as
| it was feared might happen. The prospect now
| is much better than expected it would be at
| this time. However. it should not be forgotten
that the disease did not reach the United States
last year until August. There is plenty of time
! for trouble yet"
For defense against the plague the marine
hospital service has drawn all around the United
States line which the cholera will find ii hard
to pass. One Of the most important things
newly accomplished is q means for protecting
the northern frontier from invasion. The Cam
| ada authorities have promised to disinfect all
baggage that comes through Quebec. Further
more they will not permit any immigrants to
be landed except at Quebec. Halifax has been
closed against them, because the quarantine
plant at that point is defective. At Quebec. on
the other hand, there is a frst-rate quarantine
plant. The Canadian government also permits
the United States to place two of its own medi-
cal experts at Quebec. They will witness the
processes Of disinfection and will pass immi-
grants by giving a special card to each one,
labelling their baggage with stickers guarantee
ing 1t to have been disinfected.
Every time a ship with immigrants on board
arrives at Quebec the United States inspectors
will give notice by telegraph to Washington.
In this matter. through courtesy. Canada goes
further than she could reasonably be expected
matter whether there is cholera in the pert
they came from or not, and whether or not the
vessel is supposed to be infected. Officers of
the marine hospital service will be stationed at
every point along the frontier where immi-
grants are likely to cross over-Suspension
Bridge, Detroit, Fort Huron and Neeche. \. d.
Immigrants passing through Canada frequently
go to Winnipeg. scatter and come over the
border into Dakota
GUARDING THE SOUTHERN FRONTIER
The frontier on the south is guarded with
equal vigilance. Though there is no cholera in
Mexico, inspectors are regularly stationed at
Brownsville, Eagle Pass. Ell Paso and Nogales to
keep out yellow fever and other Diseases These
places, except Brownsville, are points where
railways enter the United States. The officers
inspect every train, and il any contagious COM
plant is found on board the passengers are
promptly taken off and turned back. The rail-
ways are obliged to take care of them. ANY
people who might come from cholera-infected
districts on the other side of the line would not
be permitted to enter this country.
On tine Pacific coast there are three ouaran-
tine stations-Port Townsend, San Francisco
| and San Diego. No invasion of cholera is ex-
pected from that side at present. The Atlantic
shore line is protected by complete series of
establishments for keeping out disease, each of
them provided with small feet of tugs and
other water craft Further means of defense
| is given by the new law, passed February Is,
1898, which enables the President to forbid the
entry into the United States Of persons or mer-
| chandise from any port that is supposed to be
infected. Thus it will be seen that the country
has been surrounded by a Gordon through
| which the plague can hardly make Its way
Congress gave 100000 this year as an cpl
demic fund for the prevention of cholera OF
this sum S34, 900 is being spent in setting UP
new federal quarantine station on Reedy Island
! at the month Of the Delaware river where ships
xrrll ho cd A cir ,x-,n L.
| established on Hogg Island in Chesapeake bay,
which the government has bought for the pur-
| pose The Camp Low station near New York
| where cholera-stricken immigrants were de-
| tanned last summer. is being enlarged by the
| addition OF disinfecting apparatus and an
| commodate 1000 persons If required other
| stations will be promptly organized. At New
York all sick with the plague Will be treated on
n hospital ship anchored near Swinburne Island
Vessels arriving with cases on board at any
port Will be detained from five to twenty DAYS
| Individuals dying of the disease on ships bound
for the United States will not be kept for burial
The new regulations require that their bodies
| shall be saturated with disiniectlug solutions
| and Immediately buried at sea.
II cholera should get a foothold in this
country DR.. Wyman thinks that it would be
quickly stamped out. Thirty-seven of the
states have boards of health. All of them are
on the alert and would take active measures
to prevent the disease from spreading. At the
same time the new law will enable the general
government to step in and enforce the proper
regulations if the states do not. Isolation and
disinfection would be the means resorted &c for
the suppression of the complaint. If it became
epidemic trains and steamers would not be al
lowed to leave the infected locality. Suppos-
ing that the water supply in any instance were
deemed responsible for the trouble it would be
promptly cut off and arrangements would be
made for getting water from some other source
ONE CODE OF MARITIME QUARANTINE.
Never until now has there been one code of
maritime quarantine for all United States ports,
because the states could not agree. But such
arrangement has been reached under pressure
of the law passed at the last session OF Congress-
| which authorized the Secretary of the Treasury
! to make such regulations might seem good
to him and to enforce them if local authorities
| failed. code was drawn up by Surgeon Gen.
eral Nyman and the quarantine officers from
all the Atlantic and gulf states met recently in
Washington, by the governments invitation,
for the purpose of discussing it. The rules
which 1t embodied were read to them, and
! they voted approval or disapprovnl on each
| one. Certain amendments having been adopted
the code was promulgated, and it has already
been formally accepted by nearly all Of the
ports as the standard.
Should cholera appear in the United States.
| trial will be made of certain new methods of
| treatment, the value OF which has not yet been