The times., 1899-08-22
HEADING OFF THE PLAGUE
Health Officer DOty Takes Timely
Steps at New York.
Fully Prepared to Handle the Dread
Disease should it Appear ON In
coming Sesseis-Precautfons to
Prevent Its Encroaehment-Rou
by which II Can Reach That Port.

New York. Aug. 21.-In view OF the
presence OF bubonic plague at Oporto.
Portugal. Dr. Doty. health officer OF the
port OF New York. was asked today what
precautions. il any. were being taken here
against the possible Introduction Of the
disease DIR. Doty said: II have con-
sidered the possibility and probability OF
the invasion OF bubonic plague for several
years past, and believe we are fully pre-
pared to handle Ii should IL arrive on any
incoming vessel The present appearance
OF the plague at Oporto and other places in
Portugal led me to investigate the routes
BY which It could approach our port
There are two regular lines OF steamers
plying between New York and Portugal.
both stopping at the Azores en- route and
both bringing emigrants In greater OF less
numbers.
Other arrivals from Portuguese ports
are of infreqaent occurrence. communi-
cation was addressed to the agents Of the
lines representing the danger OF the trans
mission of the plague by means OF their
steamers and the utility Of complying with
all precautionary regulations which il was
desirable 10 put into force. IL was shown
that from mercantile standpoint the
appearance OF suspicious eases Of disease
on their vessels would enforce such re-
strictionS as detention. disinfectfOn, and
other expensive possibilities as would oc-
casion them considerable trouble
These companies this morning ackrowI-
edged the communications, and the justice
OF this view OF the matter, and promised
that in future, until all danger is passed
their steamers would bring no passengers
1t is proposed to treat every vessel from
the injected localities IA the same manner
as an infected vessel IN other words, We
will disinfect the vessel the baggage OF
the crew. and all other possibly infected
material by methods known 10 be effective.
Should any Illness appear on vessels from
Portugal or other places infected or sus-
pected to be infected by bub0nic plague
the patient or patients will be removed from
the vessel and detained until ali danger
OF infection is passed
THE bubonic plague Is no new thing
to be considered from quarantine point
of view. For the past three and half
to four years We have been making investi-
cations as TO its character and methods
Of propagation. We have watched It's rapid
progress IN the East. and have taken pre-
cautions TO prevent its Introduction into
the United States through the port Of New
York About three and a half years ago l
visited Egypt. and made a study Of the
spread Of bubonie plague While there ar
rangsmsnts were made with responsible
agent at Suez to keep Us posted should the
plague appear in Egypt OF pass his station.
From this agent have been received re-
ports every two weeks since, and much
valuable information has been obtained
from this source. AT the same time ar
rangements were made 10 have forwarded
from Bombay whence authentic reports OF
the plague had been received cultures OF
the germs of this disease.
10 the mean time a small laboratory
was prepared on Swinburne Island for the
culture of these and other organisms with
a view Of testing their tenacity OF life and
their capability of resisting various dis
injecting agents. The cultures were
ceived and were grown at Swinburne ISL
and Our investigations were inaugufated
and carried out with varying success Until
finally we were able TO establish methods
of disinfeetion which We're absolutely GER
tain to destroy the organism of bubonic
plague Since the successful termination
of these tests these methods of disinfec-
tion have been employed at quarantine
upon all vessels arriving from ports where
the plague has been reported OF was sus-
pected 10 exist.
London Aug. 21.-Despatehes received
from Antwerp. Havre. Dunkirk. and Rot
terdam say that a strict quarantine has
been established at those places against
all vessels hailing from Portuguese ports
Oporto. Aug 21.-Three new cases OF the
hubonic plague were reported here t1day.
Dr. Jorge, who first discovered the pres
ence of the disease, has become very IN
popular on account of the loss causef BY
the panic and the exodus OF the people. n
mob surrounded his house last night and
acted in a riotouS manner The police
charged the crowd, several Of whom we're
wouEded. \ number Of arrests weTe made.