The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-11-20
.|SIT BUBON|C PLAGUE?
Fear the Disease Has Reached New
York.
SUSPECTS in QUARANTINE
CREW WILL BE KEPT SECLUDED
FOR TEN DAYS.
meteorological Experts Make Gull
lures and Render Negative Re
ports So That Doubt Still Re-
Inains-First Reported Case of the
Disease In the United States.

| New York, Nov. 19.-The steamer ].
w. Taylor which arrived yesterday
from Santos. Brazil, with the captain
and cook ill with suspected bubonic
plague, has been disinfected as far as
possible without discharge of cargo.
The patients are at Swinburne island
and there is no change in their condi-
ton.
Deputy Health Officer Sanborn says
the crew viii be kept on board the
steamer until tomorrow, when the
agents will supply new crew. The
crew willtbe removed to Hoffman is
land and retained for observation for
I ten days. There has been no further
development among them. After the
removal of the crew the cargo-coffee
in sacks-wIill be discharged into light
ers. The sacks win be emptied into old
receptacles and then subjected to steam
disinfection on board the James w.
Wadsworth. After the discharge OF
the cargo, the holds will be disinfected.
Dr. Fitzpatrick the meteorological
expert of the quarantine service, is
making cultures of matter taken from
the patients. The results of his ex-
aminations will determine the question
of the discharge of the cargo
DR.. Hermann NJ. Biggs, bacteriologist
of the health department, gave out
this statement today regarding Dr.
Parks examination of the supposed
bubonic plague patients:
The meteorological examinations
thus far made by DIR. Park show APP
parently that the contents of the Drok-
en- down bubos do not contain any liv-
ing germs. 1t is possible. however, that
some may develop in the cultures.
: 'Microscopical examinations of the
pus are rather negative. These mega
tive results are such as might be ex-
pected in the plague at the stage of
the disease presented in these men and
would be very unusual in other condi-
tions. They. therefore, afford some
.confirmatory evidence as to the exist
ence of the plague.
DIR. Biggs said he had little doubt
that the two patients supposed to have
the disease are now almost We'll. The
archaeological examinations will be
continued SO long as the patients of the
infected ship present the opportunity.
This is the first time the physicians Of
this city have had an opportunity to-
study the disease directly. Up to this
time they have depended upon foreign
medical reports. which are not always
authentic. Health Commissioner Cos
by said that he had no doubt the ship
is thoroughly disinfected. But even so.
it would not be permitted TO come to
the CITY. Inc nedltn uSpdr pfiltHt Will
take no chances, he said.
In forbidding the docking of the ship,
or her approach to any wharf. the au-
thorities have been actuated by the
fear that the rats which infest the
vessel will get ashore and carry the
germs. if the disease proves to be the
bubonic plague, with them 4
Experience with the bubonic plague
in foreign countries shows that the rat
;e- 70 in M
disease. it being affected by the bu-
bonic bacillus in a similar way to man.
In Nothnagle's laboratory in Vienna
several years ago one of the assistants
developed the plague from contamina-
ton from a rat into which he had in
oculated the disease.
The health authorities have not yet
decided upon the mode of -diSinfection
that shall be employed to rid the yes
sci of the vermin, but the disinfection,
whatever form it may assume, will be
of the most thorough character.