The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-07-23
HUNDREDS NOW
DAILY PERISH
Progress Of the Fri6htful Black Plague in
China Is TAGnOmenal
IT MAY Reach this COUNTRY
Americans Are Advised by Japanese
Expert to Be Very Cautions in Their
Treatment of Rugs, Rags, EN-.
broideries and Similar Fabrics Re-
ceived from the Orient, Lest the
Contagion Should Be Conveyed
Across the Pacific.
WAsuINGTON Inlv 90


~ URGEON GENERAL WYMAN,
" Of the Marine hospital service,
nm has received report regarding
W the "plngue" in China from Dr.
Stuart Eldridge, a member Of the I'm.
perial board Of health of Toxic and
health officer Of the port Of Yokohoma.
The plague, he says, has been known
to be present In the Yunnan district OF
Southern China for at least fifteen
years past. in form generally sporadic,
ut times epidemic in malignant form
At the end of February last the dis
ease broke out in Canton and almost
simultaneously was epidemic in PAX
hoi, port at the head OF the Gulf of
Tongkip. not often visited by Euro
pean trade. During March and April
the epidemic in Canton steadily in
creased until the latter month it had
assumed gigantic proportions The
authorities of Hong Kong, the center
Of trade in the far east. half days
journey from Canton, and in constant
and very frequent communication
Herewith, utterly ignored the exist
ence of danger even as concerned their
own city until in the first ten days Of
May, plague broke ont violently and
extensively in Hong Kong.
DAILY, HUNDREDS ARE DYING
Since its appearance in Kong Kong
the epidemic, which is unqusstionabl oily
genuine bubonic plague of most ma
lignant type, has steadily increased, uu-
til, by the latest reliable advices, the
mortality is certainly over 100 per diem,
and this despite the fact that at least
100, 900 Chinese and many Europeans
have evacuated the place-the former,
in many cases, leaving on feeling the
| first symptoms of the disease In the
hope Of dying in their native villages.
| At least dozen Europeans have been
attacked. most of them succumbing.
From Canton and Hong Kong the
disease is spreading throughout the
neighboring country and will probably
in short time appear in the coast
towns of China to the rorthward OF
Hong Kong. Several cases have al
ready occurred on steamers trading
from Hong Kong to the Chinese ports,
but 80 far without serious conse =
qusncss.
A quarantine system has been put in
operation in Japan imposing on all
ships from the infected district mini
mum detention of nine days when all
is we'll on board. As all the steamship
lines between Hong Kong and japan
are themselves taking every precau-
tion, so far but one infected vessel has
reached Japanese port. This was tn,
Pacific Mail Steamship company,
Peru on board of which, while at sea
one of the Chinese firemen died of un
mistakable and malignant plague OF
June 4, after twenty-four hours ill
ness.
MAY REACH THIS COUNTRY.
The most stringent measures may b.
needed to protect the United States
particularly ne regards certain classe
of goods from China likely to conve,
infection, such as rags. old cotton, etc
and also such manufactured article
as are made in the little native work
shops with perhaps case Of plague
dying in the same room; such thing
are straw mating, embroideries ant