The San Francisco call., 1898-11-28
NO SIGNS OF
 BUBON|C PLAGUE
 ARE FOUND HERE Bacteriological Examl-
 nation Made. NO BACILLI ARE DISCOVERED MYSTERIOUS DISEASE WAS ACUTE PNEUMONIA. Chinese Did Not Recognize the A1l- ment in Time to Enable Them
 to Obtain Proper Medical
 Attendance.
NO BACILLI ARE DISCOVERED
MYSTERIOUS DISEASE WAS
 ACUTE PNEUMONIA.

The thorough investigation made by the Board of Health to settle once and for all the scare over the bubonic plague mas resulted as members of the board eA- pected. There is not now nor mas there been a sign of the disease in Chlnato"h' The sanitary conditions Of that secllolI of the city are better than they have been in years.
 The following statement, made yester- day by the executive officer of the Board of Health recites the exhaustive lnVes- tigation made by that body and Its eX- perts and the conclusion reached:
 ''The Board of Health has always nam tained a watchful eye over the district known as Chinatown" said he. It IS no new thing to receive reports or the existence of epidemics in this dlstrlct On investigation, however, these fumors have invariably been proven untrue The recent scare as to the existence or pupoh- ic plague commenced about ten days ago and eliminated on Friday with com
 nunicatton from the Chinese Consul through Chief of Police Lees, who in turn conveyed the information to the Health Department that 1t was the pelle1 of the Chinese Consul that the plague existed in Chinatown.
 "In addition, the death Of Leong Chun Chew was reported by the physlclah III attendance as presenting suspicious symp-
 
 his demise.
 For ten days prior to this time com munications were received from Dr. Wor- ley. of the Chinese mission, and from a number of Chinese of the higher class, stating that they were fearful of the ex- istence of some mysterious disease, pre- sumably the plague. As it was causing rapid death to those stricken the Board of Health quietly set about making thorough investigation of all cases of sickness in the district. The City Physi- cian Assistant City Physician and Pub lie Vaccinator, with two health inspec- tors. thereupon were detailed to make systematic house to house search TOT sus- pected cases.
 'The instructions were carried out to the letter A final report of the City Physician showed that there were ab- solutely no cases of the bubonic plague in Chinatown. The increased death rate was largely due to cases or acute pneu-
 ''The rapidity with which death occurred In these cases Is easily account ed for by the fact that the affection was not recognized sufficiently early by the Chinese to enable them to obtain proper medical attendance. Upon the death Of Leong Chun Chew and the notification of the Health Department of the symptoms attendant on his sickness. the Board of Health decided as a result of a special meeting held to consider the matter, to make a further thorough investigation in order to effectually settle the question Of the existence of the plague i'll tms city.
 ''rThe city bacteriologist was ordered to make a bacteriological examination and autopsy in order to ascertain the exact cause of death. The premises occupied by the deceased Chinaman and the imme- diate neighborhood were placed under pro visfonal quarantine until the result Of the bacteriological examination was made known. The examination was made ana on Saturday at noon the bacteriologist presented pr t his report No bacilh of the bubonic disease were found. No glan- dular enargements, which are peculiar 10 that disease were present. The cause or death was ascertained to be acute, diffuse inflammation of the kidneys, with oedema of the lungs.
 .'The Health officials visited the Chinese Consul on Sunday for the purpose of ob- taining such information as he possessed upon the subject. The secretary or the Consul stated that as far as the Consul was concerned he had no positive knoWl- edge of the existence of the plague Tn Chinatown. Only rumors had reached him of the many cases or illness ana death, and he reported the same to the Chief of Police
 "The Board of Health deprecates the fact that any publicity was given the matter pending the completion or us ln- vestigations The Health Department has been ready at all times to take effective measures to stamp out epidemics Of con- tagious disease, and the action taken on Friday and Saturday was pureIy pre- daily work of the department looking to the conservation of the public health and the prevention of disease
 "Under the present administration much has been done to improve the sanitary condition of Chinatown, but great deal remains to be accomplished, and no eff originally outlined by the Board of Health.
 their fears: