The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-07-23
THE ORIENTAL SCOURGE
Words of Warning from Yokosa-
mas Health Officer.
THE PLAGUE STEADILY INCREASES
The Mortality In Hong Kong from the Ms
ease Now Averages Hundred Cases a
Day-How tho United states Should be
PFniectsd.


ease Now Averages Hundred Cases n
Day-How tho United states Should be
Protected.
WASHINGTON, July % 23-Recognlzing the
difficulties in the way of obtaining ac-
curate information upon sanitary mat
ters from Oriental countries DR.. Stuart
Eldridge the health officer of the port of
Yokohama and member of the imperial
board of health of Toxic, has sent to the
Marine hospital bureau a semi-of1icial
statement of the epidemic of plague in
southern China 1t appears from his re-
port that this scourge, of which only frag-
mentary news has been received, is one OF
the most fearful on record, having its
greatest hold Mt the port of Hong Kong,
where most of tho foreign commerce
touches.
Tho disease broke out In Canton late
last February, and at about the same time
was epidemic at Pakhoi port not often
visited by Europeans. During March aud
April 1t steadily increased until it as
sumed gigantic proportions. According
so the letter of DR.. Eldridge the eastern
authorities treated the disease with their
customary indifference. Although Hong
Kong is the center of trade in the east, he
says. but half Il days journey from Can
ton and in constant communication there
with, the existence of danger was ignored.
Several cases appeared in Hong Kong dur
ing the first days of May, but not until
the 10th of that month was any official ac-
ton taken. 1t has steadily increased in
that place until the mortality has reached
100 day, despite the exodus of 100000
Chinese and many Europeans. The ma
tives in most cases have left on feeling tbe
first symptoms Of the disease, in the hope
OF dying in their native villages while a
dozen Europeans have been attacked and
most of them have died.
From Canton and Hong Kong the dis
ease is speading through the neigh boring
country, and will probably soon appear in
the coast towns of China north of Hong
Kong, because from the carelessness in
these ports no effective quarantine is
likely to be established. Several cases
have already occurred on steamers trad
ing from Hong Kong to Chinese ports,
but without serious consequences on ac-
count of prompt action by the ships sur
geons.
quarantine system has been put in
operation in Japan. holding ships from
the infected district nine days after arri-
val or after the last case was abated, and
but one infected ship has reached Japan.
II may presume to advise" says DR..
Eldridge. II would say that the most
stringent measures may need to be taken
to protect the United States, particularly
as regards certain classes of goods from
China likely to carry infection-rags, old
cotton, etc, and also such manufactured
articles as are made in the native work
shops, with perhaps case of plague dy-
ing in the same room-such things are
staw mating, embroderies, and every
sort of textile fabric. So long ms the dis
ease is kept out of Japan, so long will this
country be the best bulwark for the
United States against the importation of
the disease"