The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-22
PLAGUE CAN'T GET IN HERE
RRECAUTIONS At THIS PORT IGdINBT
THE BUBoSIC sCOURGE
Perfect system of DiSinfcotion-For Years
tho Progress of the Disease Abroad Has
Been watched with n View of Prevent

Perfect system of Diainfcction-For Years
tho Progress OF the Disease Abroad Has
Been watched with n View of Prevent
ing Its Introduction Into This Country.
In view OF the presence Of bubonic plague at
Dporto. Portugal. Dr. Alvah II. Doty. Health
Dficer OF the Port o! Few York. was asked yes
tsrday what precautions. II any. wero being
taken here against the pOss bic introduction OF
the disease. DR.. Doty said:
"Ihaye considered the possibility md prob
kbllity OF the invasion Of bubonic plague for
keve al years past. and believe we are fully
prepared to handle Il should 1t arrive on any
Incoming vessel The present appearance OF
Che plague ut Oporto and other places in Portu-
gal led me to investigate the routes by which
II could approach our port. There are
two regular lines Of steamers plying be-
tween New York ana Portugal both stop
ping at the Azores en- route and both bring
ing emgrants in greater or less numbers.
Other arrivals from Portuguese ports are OF
tnfrequent occurrence. A communication was
Addressed to the agents Of these lines. repre-
bentng the danger OF tho transmission OF the
plague by means Of their steamers md tho
utility OF complying with all precautionary
regulations which II was desirable to put into
force II was shown that from n mercantile
standpoint. the appearance OF suspicious cases
bf disease on their vessels would enforce such
eostrctions. such as detention. disnfection and
Nher expensive possibilities. as would occasion
Them considerable trouble.
These companies this morning acknowledge
ID the communications and the justice OF this
view OF tho matter and promised that in fu-
ture. until all danger is passed. their steamers
would bring no passengers. 1t Is proposed to
treat every vessel from tho infected localities
In the same mannerAs an infected vessel. In
pther words. we will disinfcct the vessel. tho
baggage OF the crew and all other possibly in
tected material by methods known e. o1 ef-
fective. Should any illness appear on vessels
from Portugal. or other places infected
Or suspected TO be infected by bubonic plague.
The patient or patients will be removed from
the vessel and detained until all danger OF in
lection Is past
The bubonic plague Is no new thing to be
considered. from quarantine point OF view,
For the past three and n half to four years We
have been ding Investigations as to its char
acter and methods Of propagation. We have
watched its reported progress in the East. and
hhve taken precautions to prevent it's intro
duetion into the United States through the Port
Of Now York. About three and n half years ago
visited Egypt and made n study OF the spread
OF bubonic plague. While there arrangements
were made with responsible agent at Suez to
keep us posted should the plague appear In
Egypt or pass his station. From this agent
have been received reports every two weeks
since. and much valuable Information has been
obtained from this source. At the same time
arrangements were made to have forwarded
from Bombay. whence authentic reports
OF the plague had been received. cultures OF
the germs OF this disease.
In the meantime a small laboratory was
prepared on Swinburne Island for the culture
OF these and other organisms. with q view Of
testing their tenacity Of life and their capabil-
ity of resisting various disinfectng agents.
The cultures were received and were grown at
6wnburne Island. Our Investigations were
inaugurated and carried out with varying sue
cess until finally we wers able to establish
methods Of disinfecton which we're absolutely
certain to destroy the organism OF bubonic
plague Since the successful termination OF
these tests. these methods OF distinction have
been employed at Quarantine upon all vessels
brriving from ports where the plague has been
reported or is suspected to exist"