The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-12
THE PLAGUE IN VIENNA.
CURIOUS RATHER THAN An
ALARMING INCIDENT.
European Fear of Epidemic-Rarfty
Of Such Occurrences in Danger
Gus investixattons-Antt

The death OF an attendant in labor
asory IN Vienna from the oubonic plague
Is more curious one OF tne rare in
stances OF Infection among those con-
cerEed in experiments with dangerous
naciili than alarming as likely 10 spread
the disease in the Austrian capital. and
thence 10 other parts of Europe. There
Is vague belief, that. in spite of the
stringent safeguards III the East. so far
as Europeans control such matters. the
plague viii sooner OF later. if only spas
medically. make its way westward. In
the spring the Moharnmedan piigrimages
from ASIA and Africa II Mecca We're
dreaded as a probable sHIrce or Infection,
and few eases did appear AT Fedda,
the port of TIE Holy City on the Red sea.
Happily they brought no serious Conse-
qusnees. and no signs of the plague have
Yet been discovered in Egypt. Turkey.
Russia or Asia Minor. whether il
hkeiy nfst 10 spread from the Orient.
Ihefe Is likewise a vague horror OF iniec-
ton an Europe. in spite OF the faet that
cieaniy-llNing CaucasianS have generally
escaped ii in Asia. in part because To
most men II seems II mysterious and hide
Gus disease, Tor which. in some OF its
forms, medicine has yet found no remedy
Epidemics have often sprans from
comparatively trivial beginnings that the
Erss teiegrams from Vienna As 10 the case
made some stir in other cities: while in
Vienna itself there appears to have been
much excitement. In part fonented BY
anu-Semites, ready TO use any means 10
-
subsequent kilograms To the newspapers
here give very full account of all the
circumstances. and agree that there is no
just cause for apprehension OF the spread
OF the disease
For some time past, 1t appears, the
pathological laboratory attached 10 the
central hospital AT Vienna has been ex-
ptflnt ntlhs With the bdcilE Of the plague.
Several members of its staff visited Bonn
bay twhere one of them made chemical
observations of the disease. rare ex-
mar
brought back the usual tubes of cultures
OF the hacill. Thus provided. three doe
tors at the laboratory under the direction
OF It's chief have been testing the effect
OF the paciili upon guinea pigs, rabbits
ana other small animals. These were
the care of Barisch. the attendant that
dled OF the plague. and ne was assigned
TO the work as exceptionally intelligent
cautious and heedful OF Instructions HI,
only shortcom.ng Was an occasional
nights dissipation. and as one or two OF
fore he fell sick, they may account for
some neglect on his part. For a year he
mad fed the animals. cleaned their cages
wached the floor and. If they succumbe1
scrutiny went OF the physicians under
whom he worked, familiarity with his
task made him In no way relax the pre-
scribed precautions against infection
fortnight ago. however. they virtually
finished their Investigations, and since
Barisch was left more To himself When
ne became sick he and his household
thought the disease influenza: but the
doctors quickly recognized IL as the bu-
bonic plague IN very malignant form
1t assailed the lungs rather than the
giands-and in spite of their efforts and
their experience in India he soon died
Needless TO say. the physicians Of the
hospital have taken every precaution that
knowledge can suggest and resolution
enforce 10 check any Infection The
doctors that attended Barisch have OBJ
served every safeguard for themselves.
his body was buried wrapped in anti
septic muslin in Theoretically sealed cof-
fins; the nurses that cared for him are as
nearly isolated as may be and show no
more signs of sickness than nervous ap-
prehenston might cause. The only peril
lies in the chance communication of the
disease IN the time between the begin
ming of Barisch's sickness and the physi-
clans suspicion of the plague and the
consequent isolation OF the patient. Once
suspicious they waited not a moment TO
take far-reaching measures against the
spread OF infection, and even the subse-
quent death of one OF the doctors and the
SICKNESS OF one more do not prove them
Ineffective.
In all probability the death of Barisch
Will prove To be merely one OF those acei-
dents that have occurred at long inter-
walls IN laboratories in Vienna and In 9TH
er cities where the staff has been busy
with the investigation of infectious dis
ease and their bacilli and that no pre-
caution can avert. The anti-Semites OF
Vienna. who are at the beginning of a
new agitation. will. however. accept no
reasonable view. None of the three.
physicians that pursued the investiga-
ton of the plague happens to be a Jew.
but one OF their colleagues, likewise n
gentle, is the president of a society iii
rected against the anti-Semites There
they loudly charge him with the cult
walton of the bacilli OF the plague in his
own clinical ward and the exposure of IFS
inmates 10 chance infection. In fact. the
bacill, the animals and all the apparatus
OF the investigation were kept in rooms
10 which none but the three physicians
concerned and the dead attendant had
access. But there are many Jewish
physicians. and the vague popular no
lions OF peril In the bringing OF infections
baciiii to European laboratories was TOO
opportune weapon on such an orcasion
a ffrfv Naarr- L. q.