The record-union., 1899-09-07
THE BUBoNIC PLAGUE

plague may cross the ocean and ap-
pear in this country. But all the
probabilities are against such passage.
The virulence of the pest in Oporto and
the amazing antagonism of the Mer-
camille Club Of that city to the sani-
tary and quarantine regulations sought
to be enforced, give some reason for
the fear that the disease may be sent
further westward.
The loss of life in Asia from the dread
plague is appalling. There is, no miti-
eating or hopeful feature about it. The
disease defies medical science and as
yet laughs at theories and experiments
for its extirpation. 1t is a bacterial
disease, infectious and recovery from
it is always extremely doubtful 1t is
as yirulent in Asia in the years of it's
recurrence as in the southern eoun-
most fruitful field. There, unham-
pered by scientific opposition, by sani-
tary precautions and by modern knowl-
edge of medicine, the plague runs it's
course practically unrestrained and
ceases from it's devastation only when
the season most favorable to it has
passed In India it is equally deadly
but it has shorter life there, because
battled with intelligently, and because
of the power of the English Govern
ment to enforce necessary sanitary
regulations upon the people In West
ern India, however. it has been known
TO rage for three years.
It has infected Mediterranean ports
at various times. and always for ex-
tended periods. Oporto may not there
fore hope to be rid of the disease this
year, and that fact means ruin for the
city commercially for a very long pc
I'iod. It's present vicious. course really
began in 1896. when the plague ap-
peared in Bombay. Immediately the
European States took the most radical
steps to prevent the entry of the pest
As these were intelligently directed the
precautions taken We're generally pre-
ventive and so Europe has suffered less
than any other part assailed by the
disease. In fact. this year Europe has
not had more than dozen cases all
told.
Last summer, it will be remembered,
a steamship from Japan came to San
Francisco Bay with two suspected
cases on board. Indeed it was proved
that two deaths of the plague had TAX
en- place on the ship two weeks prior.
The extreme measures taken to prevent
the infection leaving the ship if it still
remained with it. saved California
from actual contact with the most fear
ful of diseases.
It is now agreed among scientists
that the quarantine for the bubonic
plague should never be less than ten
and usually for twenty-one days, since
cases have been known where exposure
was three weeks old. and the disease
developed. But in addition it is also
agreed that disinfection must be Of
the most thorough character. In fact,
some sanitarians and physicians go so
far as to insist that all the clothing of
those exposed should be destroyed by
fire. So close must be the inspection
and disinfection that some claim it
should relate to every part of the body
For instance, there is belief well forti-
fed that the pest was once conveyed in
the dirt beneath q mans finger nails.
The use of Haffkin serum and that
OF Yersins is coming more into favor in
India Il, f0I,+fyor 4Ia ,oloorua E,,+ ,,o+
enough is known as yet Of the effective
ness of these preparations to warrant
placing faith in them as preventives
But it is recorded that in no instance
haslharm resulted from their use at the
same time they have not been tested
with classes most liable to be assailed
by the plague, the experiments having
been made in India with high caste
and very cleanly people.
The health officials of New York,
Philadelphia and Boston say with en-
phasis that should a ship enter those
ports bearing a case Of the plague. or
having buried at sea a victim of the
pest, the arrangements for disinfection,
quarantine and guard are so complete,
that they believe they can insure the
people against any possible introduc-
tion of the disease through those chan
nels. But not so much can be said
for any one of our Southern ports.
There has been considerable talk in
press circles recently, concerning a re-
port of poisoning from lead pipes used
to convey water for domestic uses at
Lowell. Mass. As it is not usual the
matter has had much public attention.
It has, however, been treated extrava-
gantly. The fact is that carbonic acid
in water which has time to react upon
the lead viii produce just such effects
as have been noted in the Lowell case
especially where the pipe line is a long
enc and the water stands for any con-
siderable length of time in the pipes
Similar effects, says Municipal Engiu-
eering," would be observable in pipes
of other material except they are tim
lined, asphalt coated or cement-lined
Lead is however, the only materia.
which makes the water actively poison.
ous. though the zinc in galvanized iror
pipes might be found quite as objection
able. The thing to do is to cease tc
use lead pipes, and to have water test