The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-20
SUPPOSED PLAGUE PATIENTS.
CAREFUL WATCH KEPT ON THEM
AND THE TAYLOR's CREW.

steamer Has Been Thoroughly Dis
infected and VIII Not BE Allowed
"a Go to New York City From the
Quarantine statiOn-BacterioIOg
cal Examination shows the Men
Evidently Had the Plague, but
They Are Now About Well.
New York, Nov. 19.-The steamer ]. w
Tavlor. which arrived yesterday from
santos. Brazil, with the captain and cook
m with suspected bubonic plague, has
baeu disinfected as far as possible without
decharging cargo.
The cabins, forecastles, decks and engi-
neers' department have been cleansed and
thoroughly disinfected. The crew have
been bathed and their clothes and effects
have been subjected by steam.
The patients are at Swinburne Island
and there is no change in their condition.
Deputy Health officer Sanborn says the
crew viii be kept on board the steamer
until tomorrow, when the agents will sup
ply new crew. The crew will be re-
moved to Hoffman Island and detained
for observation for ten days. There has
After the removal of the crew the cargo,
coffee in sacks, will be discharged into
lighters. The sacks will be emptied into
other receptaeles and then subjected to
steam disnfectlon on board of the James
W. Wadsworth, After the discharge of
cargo the holds of the steamer will be dis
infected.
Dr. Fitzpatrick, the meteorological ex-
pert of the quarantine is making cultures
Of matter taken from the patients.
The result of the examination will deter
mine the question of the discharge of the
cargo,
seems to BE the Plague.
DR.. Herman NJ. Biggs, bacteriologist of
the health department, gave out the fol-
lowing statement to-day regarding DR..
Parks examination of the supposed bu-
bonic plague PATIENTS:
The meteorological examinations thus
far made by DR.. Park show apparently
that the contents of the broken down bu-
bos do not contain any living germs 1t
is possible, however, that some may de-
veop in the cultures.
Microscopic examinations of the pus
are also rather negative. These negative
results are such as might be expected in
the plague at the stage of the disease pre-
sented in these men, and would be very
unusual in other conditions. They there
fore, afford some conirnatory evidence as
to the existence of the plague"
DR.. Riggs said he had little doubt that
the two patients supposed to have the
disease are now almost well. The bacterio-
logical examinations w.ll be continued so
long as the patients of the infected ship
present the opportunity. This is the first
time the physicians of this city have had
an opportunity to study the disease di-
rectly. Up to this lime they have depend
ed upon foreign medical reports, which
are not always authentic.
Health Commissioner Cosby said that he
had no doubt the ship could be thorough
ly dsinfecled. But even so it would not
be permitted to come to the city.
Afraid Rats Would Carry 1t.
In forbdding the docking of the ship OF
her approach to any wharf, the authorl-
ties have been actuated by the fear that
the rats which infest the vessel will get
ashore and carry the germs, if the disease
proves to be the bubonic plague, with
them
Experience with the bubonic plague in
foreign countries shows that the rat is II
potent factor in the spread of the disease.
II being affected by the bubonic bacillus
III similar way to man. In NOthnagle's
laboratory In Vienna several years ago one
OF the assistants developed the plague
from contamination with a rat into which
he had noculated the disease.
The health authorities have not vet de,
clded upon the mode of dsnfection that
snail be employed to rid the vessel of the
Nermin, but the disnfection. whatever
form 1t may assume, wili be of the most
thorough character