The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-20
BUBONIC PLAGUE AND BERI-BER
American Physicians are Studying
These Dreadful scOurges

These Dreadful scourges.
Baltimre, Dec. 19.-Members of the
medical faculty of the Jhons Hopkins
University are now engaged in studying
the germs of the Eastern or boubonic
plague. A commission from the Med
ical School visited the Philippines last
summer, and brought home valuable ma
terial gathered from autopsies made at
Manila and Cavite, in the Philippines,
and at Hong Kong, ChjSa- In this ma
terial are included noNs tagen from
cases of malaria, typhoid fever, leprosy,
beri-beri and other tropical diseases, but
particularly the bubonic plague
The expedition, which was made by
Profs. Barker and Flexner of the teach
ing staff and several students. was sup
ported by a joint bequest from few per-
sons interested in the work of the Medi-
cal School. The material that was gath
cred is now being carefully studied by
members of the pathological staff, and
later will be made available for the stu
dents The doctors will announce later
the results obtained by their investiga-
lions.
At Manila some Of the members Of the
commission made a careful study of the
terrible beri-beri, which particularly at
tacks the natives. Soon after the arrival
of the party in Manila a large outbreak
os beri-beri occurred. Col. Woodruff, sur
geon-in-chief Of the army in the Pilip
pines. requested the doctors to examine
some Filipino prisoners then in the old
Spanish prison at Cavite. OF the 1000 ma
tives. 200 developed the disease. and the
doctors were accordingly afforded a splen-
did opportunity TO study the disease in
its various shapes and phases.
The right side of the heart IS particu-
larry enlarged in one form OF the disease.
This enlargement Is due to diladon, and
is attended by great pain.
Perhaps that part Of the material col
lected by the commission which should
prove Of the most value now is that OBJ
tanned at Hong Kong, where patients had
died Of the bubonic plague The plague
is said to be the most fatal OF all known
diseases which affects a large number OF
people. The duration Of the attack may
be from several hours 10 a month. but
most Of hose who survive the fifth day
recover.
The early symptoms 81 the plague are
something IKE those OF aEAt--ttIN ~ i+i1
and pain in the limbs. combined with dis
turbances OF the na-vtouS system. The
patient becomes confused and restless,
afraid Of something which he cannot des-
cribe. and has dIfHculty n UNDERSTANDING
questions PIT 10 him. Il Is also accom-
panied by intense headache and th.rT--
the ewes become red and the togue E~ol-
len ard dry. Little or NJ fever may be
presented in the most rapidly fatal cases
Buboes or glsnd1iar dwellings occur On
the groin and armo.t. The Arts sign -
these IS a sudden pain Ike stab, whIca
has given rise 20 the superstition that ne
victim was WOUNDED ~ ne shaft - some
invisible demon tbs idea - recorded
By the TURKS. ard also SURVIVES i IS
said among he Hohamuedsrs. The 50
called tokens which were considered Fl
tha e285emic n England durt-E the six
teen.h century as sure signs q death are
ha117-rhazte s1os on the skin.
4 course in tropical diFessas was start
81 IN tse 2fe55ca5 School THIS year. ard
already practical Use IS being made -
til- commissions mste-zf PORT WI
lam Osls-. f7rueriv dean assistsd ~ Dr.
" Tnaver associate professor - med
seine and Dr. y Lazzar assistant 81
chemical rssr-ase3rr- j. couf GcliaE tae
work s. thss ueE department