The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-03

! the plague create such ravages in Europe
as it did in centuries past Modern san
( itary science has made such giant strides
/ that the plague could not now spread
among Europeans in the way it has
among the hindoos and Chinese. Indeed
through their more healthful ways of life
| Europeans in infected districts in India
and China have been far less liable to an
attack than natives. 1t was the difficulty
of carrying out sanitary and hygienic
regulations during the great plague in
Bombay that seriously hampered the eff
fortsof the European doctors and nurses
in their attempts to stem the plague.
AT first every attempt at sanitation or
segregation in Bombay encountered re-
sistance and aroused a hatred and dis
trust exceeding even the terror of the
plague itself. Street tumults were fire.
quent, the hospital was twice attacked by
riotous nlobs, and crowds constantly col
lected around the ambulance vans, which
were stoned, and the officers of the health
department were often in danger of their
lives. The opposition grew in violence
Until it eliminated in the Poona murders
But the aversion to the absolutely nee
essary measures of isolation was not the
only difficulty which the relieving staff
had to encounter AS is well established,
the plague has strong partially for
small animals, especial rodents Wheth-
err the pague was or was not brought by
ship rats from Chinese ports, medical OBJ
servation Enthusiastically points to the con-
clusion that the rats in Bombay were
widely infected by the disease, and were
spreading it through the city. But the
Indian tenderness for animal life give
rise to an unexpected obstruction. Says
the official report: "All attempts to cap
ture the rats were fiercely opposed, and
picking up a few six pigeons almost
raised riot. The people would
not believe that the hopeless condition
of their own dark, damp, filthy over
crowded houses was their real danger. I"
Every form of obstruction was re-
sc,Ie6 to when the municipality attempt
ed to deal with their dwellings. The ten
ants refused 70 do anything, maintaining
it was the duty of the landlords. The
landlords were not to be found, and when
the municipal authorities attempted to do
the necessary work they had often to
carry It out in the face of hostile and VIC
lent crowds. Throughout the executive
was subjected to a perfect storm of
threats, abuse and protest from persons
who deemed themselves aggrieved from
the measures adopted to protect them.
Why not let US die with the plague
was the common cry, instead of interfer-
ing with our customs :? 1"
Gradually these feelings of opposition to
sanitary restrictions have lessened in
Polnbay and throughout a great portion
of India, for the people have had a
frightful object lesson, and have come to
authorities are really trying to help them,
and they have seen the good results of
that help.
Light and air are in a high degree I'M
favorable TO the development of the pla-
que. In the opel air it dries up and
withers, it loses its power of infection in
six days, and, generally speaking, the ex-
per!ments tend to show that it is short
lived organism except under conditions
specially adapted to its wants.
The disease is contagious, not infect
either directly from the sufferers, or by
their clothing, or by things brought into |
contact with them or polluted by them. |
Certain animals, especially rats, are liza |
bic to the plague, and appear to be az
I've agents in spreading it. But the chief |
sources are contaminated clothes and |
beGdiI g. in which the bacillus preserves |
its yirulence for Il considerable period, |
and f-om which it is not expelled oy o.
binary II migation. The evidence shows
that the sanitary authorities in India |
have upon the whole proceeded upon the |
right lines. and that the segregation of !
patients, the destruction of their apparel |
and bedding, the disinfection of their
houses, the clearing out of densely |
crowded quarters, and an ample supply
Of fresh air and pure water are the con-
ditions most helpful to keep the disease
within control.
That the cause of the plague is a
specific microbe, the plague bacillus, was
clearly shown during the HongKong cpl
1emic of 1894 by Drs. Kilasato and Yersin
anr its presence in the lympahtic glands
Or blood generally, alone affords incon-
-rovertible proof of the nature of the dis
ease. Practically there are two main var
cites of the plague. In the first it af-
,ects the lyphatic glands (this is the bu-
lonic type and in the second variety il
affects the lungs 0hs is the pneumonia
ype.)
There is no absolute specific known for |
he 2 ague, though good results have been
obtained from Professor Haffhine's pre-
rentive serum. The general means so far
adopted of fighting the plague are sani-
airy pIecartion, skillfu nursing, suitable
eeding, and the proper use of antipyre-
les, auodynes and stimulants.
VERY RETAIL TRADE.