New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-20
THOUGHT TO BE PLAGUE.
THOROUGH PRECAUTIONS TAKEN
AGAINST LETTING IT REACH HERE.
EXAMINATION INDICATES THAT TWO PA
TENTS ARE NOW WELL-SHIP TO BE
KEPT FROM WHARF BECAUSE
OF RATS ABOARD.
OF RATS ABOARD

According to physicians who have investigated
the case It is likely that the Lamport & Holt
steamer J. w Taylor, which arrived here on
Saturday from Santos Brazil. actually did bring
into port two cases OF the bubonic plague Such
thorough precautions have been taken In the
way Of dslnfection and isolation, however that
New Workers. need not entertain the slightest
fear that the plague will strike this city. Few
ships have received such close and energetic
attention from the Health officers Of this port
as has the J. ". Taylor, since she dropped
anchor in the Lower Bay Saturday. The
captain and cook OF the ship, who were I'll with
the disease and were taken to Swinburne ISL
and. have been as thoroughly isolated as they
have been we'll cared for. Deputy Health Or
fcer Sanborn spent several hours with them
yesterday and reported that both patients were
improving and would probably recover
DIsINFECTION OF STEAMER.
The steamer has been disinfected as far as
possible without discharge OF cargo The cab
ms forecastles, decks and engineers department
have been cleansed and thoroughly disinfected,
the members Of the crew have been bathed ana
their clothes and effects have been subjected to
steam Dr. Sanborn says the crew will be Kept
on board the steamer until to-day when the
| agents will supply a new crew. and the old crew
| will be removed to Hoffman Island, where they
| will be detained for observation for ten days
| There has been no further development OF the
| disease among them. After the removal or the
! crew the cargo. coffee in sacks. Will he dls-
charged into lighters The sacks Will he emptied
! into other receptacles and then subjected TO
steam disinfection on board the James w.
! Wadsworth After the discharge of the cargo
the holds of the steamer will be dsinfected
DR. Fitzpatrick. the meteorological expert or
| tho Quarantine station. Is making cultures Of
| matter taken from the patients. and the result
| Of his examinations will determine the quesuoh
| OF the discharge Of the cargo. IL Is SAID lhat
the coffee will surely be saved. as the germs OF
the disease cannot possibly be transmitted
through IT,
As a result Of the analysis by Dr. Park OF the
Health Department. Of the supposed ouoonlc
plague cases Dr. Hermann NJ. Bsgs, bacterioio-
| gist of the Health Department. gave out the Ioi-
lowing statement yesterday afternoon:
The meteorological examinations thus far MADE M de
bv Dr park show apparently that the contents OF
! the brokendown bubos DO not now contain any any
living germs It Is possible WWiccr6scopcal ex
asminations Of the pus are also rather negatve
negative results are he s1Gs stsre as oq Pqft hs Hs
Presented in these men, and would be unusual % oor IN
9rmatopv evidence as to the existence OF the
plague,
THE PATIENTS NOW WELL.
Dr Biegs added that ne had little doubt that
tho two patients supposed TO have the disease
were now we'll. The meteorological examina-
tions will be continued az long as the patients
of the infected ship present the opportunity
This ia the first time the physicians OF this city
bave had tho chance to study the disease
directly.
The problem Of disinfecting the ship ls new
one to the physicians at Quarantine and the
Health Department because Of the rats whlcn
| irfast the ship. DR.. Biggs said yesterday that
Il vould he tried without any doubt, and Dr.
Cosby. Health Commissioner. said that he had
no doubt the ship could he thoroughly dlslh-
| fected She will not be permitted to come to the
! city however as some OF the rats. who are pos
sibly still alive. might leave the ship for the
! wharf and scatter over the CITY
RATS SPREAD INFECTION
| The history Of such epidemics as the bubonic
plague has convinced the authorities that there
is no more potent means of spreading infection
than rats.
Their organism s sufficiently similar to that
I Of human being to receive the germs into
the system and their haunts, in sewers and
similar places. where filth and disease reign
make them especially formidable In TINS re-
| Having This in mind the authorities Of the
Health Department are united in their deter
mination not to allow the ship to come TO her
wharf
The attention Of scientific men was first turned
/ 10 the danger Of propagation OF plague germs
bv rats when in a scourge some years ago n
I celebrated physician was bitten by a rat and
died from the plague within a few hours. having
| been infected by the bite. 1t is asserted that
one rat would be enough to infect the whole
/ city of New-York
CIVIL WAR N NEW-GJINEA.