New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-27
THE PLAGUE AT ALEXANDRIA.
COMMON Law IN RELATION TO SAM
TARY PRECAUTIONS

II Is generally admitted that the plague now ex
listing at Oporto Portugal. was brought there from
india But Il is not said whether II was imported
direct from there or. what Is somewhat likely, by
way OF Alexandria Egypt II is known indeed that
since last May the Egyptian city has suffered
from q continuance OF the plague II IL true also.
as formerly explained in a special article in The
Tribune that the disease was rather OF mild
character IN Alexandria, and that the principal
danger that It should persist unit! the coming
OF winter when the season is favorable a large
development OF the Egyptian plague.
The exact situation in regard 10 the sanitary con-
ditlon at Alexandria has changed somewhat since
the publication Of the article mentioned above
but II IL not alarming enough 10 cause American
tourists who intend spend the next winter In
Egypt 70 abandon their cherished plans. At the
end OF July there was. between the 10Th and 23d
Of the month. not single new case Of plague al
Alexandria But at the time when people prepared
20 sting the song OF deliverance. four new cases
were signalled. in private houses, and two deaths
Soon after two new cases occurred in the hospital,
one Of which resulted fatally. In all since May
I'd 10 July a. there were only seventy-four cases
OF plague with thirty-two deaths and thrty-two
cures the balance Of the ten other cases were Still
under treatment at the latter date II vas al
legged especially nj the beginning Of the epidemic
that a notable portion OF the cases was hidden
especially on the part Of the natives. But this
was not So for Il IL sufficient 10 observe that NOR
taitv has not increased and that II there are some
cases Of the plague which escape the watchfulness
OF sanitary officers those very light, since
they do not end in death These officers have
often TO perform dangerous missions. In July
Greek grocers formally refused 10 the sanitary off-
GERS the entrance 20 their houses.
The European laboring population Of Alexandra
Is almost exclusively composed of Greeks ana
Italians These people. though not living more
cleanly than the natives. and observing perhaps
less than the latter the precepts Of hygiene nave
the pretension not 10 submit; themselves TO the
common law though the plague has shown that
IL did spare Europeans. priori On the con,
trary UP 10 the present time among the Recognized
cases the European element. whose majority =
Greek. equal 10 the native element, Which y
easily explained by the manner or living or those
stricken By the disease. But IL IS not easy 70 deal
with people who convinced that the plaeue
EXISTS only in the tina gination OF the doctors. OF
even that these physicians are paid BY me naVlHa
ton companies. anxious TO have the number OF
plague Such lnsanties are seriously spread among
the low classes and the first result Is 10 make the
populace Indifferent 70 the most necessary meas
OF sanitation -,
than their Greek and Italian neighbors They are
absolutely sceptical by nature, and. being resigned
TO follow the will OF their masters they accept an
disinfectlng measures and do NOT manifest the
same repuCnanCe as before 10 be taken 10 the nos
pltal which they used 70 consider on account OF
their dread OF the physicians, az being the hHtr-
chamber OF death
The general conviction at Alexandria at the end
Of July the plague will vanish before next
spring. The plague is not so deadly as AZ BOMBAY
and Mauritius, where the proportion Of mortaIity
is FIVE OUT OF SIX while at Alexandria Il has been
one out OF two cases And. finally IL has been I'M
possible 10 detect the least correlation between me
infected individuals, a factl which shows also the
impossibllitv 10 establish peremptOrly the con-
tagfous character OF the present Egyptian plague