The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-06-25

spection stations on the railway lines. The
diseasA ~ was anticipated. eventually
reached Calcutta. but IL has 50 far been
kept within very moderate limits Tho
prooaem II hew 70 rsUvent its spread fro0
the capital 10 tbs rural districts. a. in
Western India. Sir John WOODBURY., the
lieutenant governor. deals with the Ques-
ton in a sagacious and statesmanlike
proclamation He refuses to dislocate
trade and loeomotion by tho wholesale de-
teufious and inspections which have pro-
duced panic In Other parts Of India and
led to the sufkerfngS AM nostaAty o.
The railway plague campA
Sone Of the Measures.
But he makes effective arrangements to
prevent persons actually suffering from
the plague from leaving Calcutta by any
public mode Of conveyance. such as the
railways or steamers mo enc will be
detained at the places OF inspection un-
less there Is distinct evidence that he Is
infected with the plague" The second
precaution Is that when any person from
an infected area arrives in a district In
timation must be at once given to the To-
cal authorities. who are empowered to ex-
ercise q certain degree OF observation in
regard to him. II seems unlikely that
Bengal will enjoy immunity from vista
ton which r. spreading over the rest Of
India, and il il possible that the anaemic
state OF the overcrowded population Of
the lower GangeS may supply conditions
favorable to its development. But, as in
Calcutta. So now throughout Bengal there
has been quiet and deliberate prepara-
ton which merits high praise.
Mr.. Hankin, the bacteriologist to the
governments Of the northwest and the
central provinces, furnishes remarkable
proofs OF the futility of the cruel meas
ures taken In medieval times against the
plague. The mistaken belief that the dis
ease was communicated even by speaking
to q person suffering from 1t 'cost hum
dreds Of thousands Of lives. Doctors re-
fused even to look at patients for tee
OF all that they possessed. and millions
were abandoned by their nearest relatives
to die Of the plague or by starvation and
thirst. Mr.. Hankin contrasts this honai-
cidal ignorance with the courage and safe
ty with which English ladies and officials
visited the plague hospitals In Bombay;
nor was there q single case OF British
doctor Sinking his duty.
The Root Of Control.
On the other hand, In medieval out
breaks II was not known that an infected
place could communicate the disease apart
from contact with the piague-stricken
person This was quickly ascertained In
the Bombay visitation. and. while English
men and women tended the sick without
fear, they did not live In houses where
men or rats had been attacked. A knowl-
edge of the laws which regulate the spread
Of the disease, not necessarily OF the dis
ease itsek, which Is a mora recondite
questions. lies at the root OF its controi.
That is the result OF Mr.. Hankin's wide
experience, and he points out that such
knowledge, especially In regard to open
air. 10 OF old standing in India The NOM
ent saws Sanscrit text, "that rats fall
from the roof, jump about and die. the
wise will ct once leave their houses. with
their friends and relatives. and VIII go to
a pmin'' This doctrine OF open spaces
is now being carried into effect on an
enormous scale. and at vast expenditure
Of money. in Bombay. In Calcutta the ne
cessity for opening up the overcrowded
quarters by some great artery OF traffic Is
even greater. How to move the denseiy
packed population by cheap means OF
transit to the outskirts Of the city and to
drive a shaft Of air and light and whole
some atmosphere through It's midst are
the permanent health problems Of the Ben
cal yuetropo1ia