The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-06-13

Hong Kong is the last place to be visited.
and that the deaths there are over a hum
dred day-a great mortality in CITY of
something less than 250,000 people, and
Whlcn IS better built and severed than
any Of the great Chinese cities.
The steamer Belgc Is the next vessel to
arrive from Hong Kong. and is due here
on the 18Th. Size left Hong-Kong when
me plague was beginning there, but the
"Trip TO okohama is eight DAYS, ana as
that is also the period of incubation given
Dy medical scientists for the "black death"
Is very probable that any case of the
pestilence would have been discovered at
that port
However. in view of the dangerous ma
lure OF the disease the sirictest kind of
watch Will be kept on all steamers coming
10 TINS port from China. 1t is an open
question whether the plague infection can
De carried in clothing or on the person.
medical men are not yet agreed upon
that question. but in the absence of proof
that 1t cannot be spread in such a manner
tue same steps will be taken as during the
SMALLPOX scare. Should any case of sick
ness Of suspicious character manifest it,
self during the voyage the steamer or
vessel will at once on arrival here be
aced in the strictest quarantine. This
duty devolves Oh the quarantine officer of
the port without any action of the Board
OF Health. This body will probably
devote their attentions 20 the city with
view to clearing away any chance for the
germs Of the disease TO develop here.
DIR. Seely +. Long of the Board OF
Health said last night that he vas not
aware the scourge had attained such pro-
portions in China. cit is a very serious
matter" said be. especially as Hong
King is now subjected to the plague. The
steamers coming from that port will be in
Specled with extra care. L shall call my
POfllaDneS tnCAth6r time f0-In
as the next regular meeting is a week
away. ana we will try and discuss the mat
ter. l think the sewers should be flushed
at once. and l think the other members
will coincide with me in that view.
81 don't sppreheDd any visitation of the
plague. the conditions not being il nv es-
timation favorable to its development. But
IL is better to be on the safe side. The
course of epidemics is often eccentric and
10 a great extent arbitrary. Cleanliness
has much to do with the prevention of the
plague. The Chinese cities are crowded
their streets close and there is no sewerage
TO speak of, what there is being done
mainly by hand, that is, the sewage is car
Tled away in pals by scavepgers. Of
course such conditions are most favOra BILE
TO the plague.
Here we are fairly well prepared for
anything Of tue kind and besides cpl
denies are not common here even when
raging elsewhere. But precautions ought
and, as far as l am concerned, shall be
taken 10 prevent any chance of danger"
Quarantine Officer Lawlor said that he
is paying close attention TO the ships arriy-
ing from China. but he does not consider
there is anything to fear.
The period of incubation is short
enough TO make il pretty certain that any
! case of the disease would be discovered in
\ Yokohama. Yet l will take the mos;
stringent precautions on this side. When
the Belgic arrives she will be most care
fully inspected.
iii any case of sickness has developed
! on the passage that is at all suspicious the
steamer viii be placed in strict quarantine.
That is my duty. There is no reason for a
scare of any kind. The climate here is
not favorable for the plague. The tenn
perature is too low here and the sewerage
of the city is fairly good. 1t is hard 10 tell
whether there is any risk of infection bv
! clothing, and it is disputed. but ! shall
keep a most careful lookout. 1t is not
necessary for the Board of Health to
| authorize me 10 do anything, for nv posi-
ton as quarantine officer and United
States inspector of quarantine gives me
the authority, and indeed Obliges me to
take all necessary steps. That this will be
done the public need have no fear. As far
L am personally concerned, don't think
there is any ground for alarm"