The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-23

Surgeon General George NJ. Sternberg
I gave an illustrated lecture last night at
CASTOR Hall. Georgetown College. the sub
ject being The History and Etiology of
the Bubonic Plague" The lecture was the
! first Of the Toner series Many distin-
/ guished guests were present, including Of
hcers Of the Army and Navy. accompanied
! by their wives and daughters. and many
prominent members of the medical fra
ternity.
/ The large hall was completely filled when
I the lecturer commenced. General Stern
berg said that he believed the subject. the
| bubonic plague, merited the attention of
I everyone at this time nor should the study
/ of its history and etiology be confined to
scientific circles.
This dread disease, - he said. has effected
a lodgment in Portugal aud in Brazil dur
ing the past year and at least one vessel
has arrived at the port of New York with
plague cases on board from the last men
toned country The question is. therefore
a very practical one as to whether there
is any real danger Of the introduction and
extension Of this Destilential malady of
Eastern countries into our own territory.
The history OF bubonic plague extends
lar back Greek physicians of the second
and third centuries. before the Christian
era. left a record Of pestilential malady
characterized by the formation of buboes
which prevailed in Libya. in Egypt. and in
Syria and two Alexandrian physicians
DiOscorides and Poserdonios, who were
contemporaries of Christ-have given a
description of the disease which leaves no
doubt as to its identity with the plague of
more recent times. 1t may be well to eX-
plain at this point that the bubOes charac-
teristic of the disease are enlarged and in
famed glands in the groins. in the arm
pits and elsewhere, which in chronic cases
may suppurate and discharge a virulent
pus, by which the disease is prOpagated.
We now know that the germ Of the disease
is found not only in these suppuratlng bu-
boes, but also in the blood OF an infected
individual.
Three forms of the disease" said the
speaker. are recognized by modern au-
thors. mild or abortive form, in which
there is little pain or Fever. and in which
the buboes rarely suppurate. In this form
the enlarged glands IN the groin, armpit
and neck usually disappear in about two
weeks. In its usual form the disease is
ushered in with chilly sensations. fever.
limbs. The buboes art quickly developed
and generally the symptoms soon assume
grave character II the patient lives for
a week or more the buboes usually sup
pirate and carbuncles and boils are often
developed In the third or fulminant form
Of the disease. death may occur within
few hours from the outset OF the attack
and in advance Of the development Of
the characteristic buboes. These cases
could scarcely be recognized were it rot
for the fact that they occur during the
epidemic prevalence Of the disease among
persons who have been exposed to infec-
ton"
General sternberg then reviewed the
history OF the bubonic plague from the
first century Of the Christian era to the
present time. In the sixth century he
said Its ravages were greatly extended.
and il prevailed as a devastating epidemic
in many parts Of the Roman Empire. The
origin OF this extensive epidemic, which
ragged for more than half a century. ap-
pears TO have bsen in lever Egypt in the
year 542: thence it extended ia one di-
rcction along the north coast OF Africa,
and in the other into Palestine and Syria.
The following year it invaded Europe.
which at that time was in a state Of To-
ltical disturbance and warfare and dur
ing this and subsequent years devastated
ing towns and leaving the country, in some
instances. nothing more than desert in
habted by wild beasts.
The accounts Of the pest during the
Middle Ages are meagre and unsatisfactory. |
but It is clearly ascertsined that in 1899
il extended to the interior Of France and
Italy. and also to England Holland. and
the Scandinavian Peninsula. The follow |
ing year il completed the invasion Of Eu- |
rope.
The disease first appeared in London in |
November. 134S, and it continued to prevail |
in various parts of England for a period Of |
eight or nine years. In 1852 the epidemic |
prevailed in the city OF OxfCrd to such an |
extent that the town lest two-thirds Of its |
academic population. The plague again |
invaded England in 1861 and 1888 As a |
result Of these devastating epidemics IN /
England. as well as In other pats Of Eu
rope. large parts Of The country remained
for time uucultivated and owing to the |
lack OF laborers there was a great increase
in wages"
General Sternberg then gave an extend
ed history Of the plague from the Middle
Ages to the present day, reCitHg its period
zeal yisitations in different parts of Eu-
rope and Asia. and showing the frightful
devastation il has wrought in the mortality
of the world.
continued General Sternberg. "a number Of
prominent bscierologists have been en-
Gagged in researches relating to the pre-
veutiCn and cure or bubOnic plague b.
means OF an antitoxic serum. obtained by
the same method and in accordance with
the same fundamental scientific principle
as in the case of the snttOXic serum which
is now so successfully employed in the !
treatment OF diphtheria. The experiments !
Q ,rru far ha kan |
Il is reported from the Pastcur institute.
in Paris. that the serum treatment has
there proved a complete success.
General Sternberg then described he in
meuse influence rats. flies. and, in fact h
yermn and insects Of all descriptions hdy,.
ia fur;heriug the disease. Tie plague In
Honolulu" be said. lis being well guarded
and contagion in this country Is, at the
worst. = remote contingency
In conclusion series OF very interesting
stereopticon pictures were shown upon
the screen, the first set illustrative OF
he manner in which the plague was treat
ed IN the Olden time. when a certain class
were suspected Of spreading the disease
by witchcrdft or poison and executed on
the mere suspicion. with frightful bar
ldrity. The latter set of Views illustrated
The Improvement in treatment which this
age has made especially with regard 10
ilt uiHfoA rs ttf Tie must part Dt III !
Edward Koch. Of Berlin. Of the germs Of
various diseases. Among others was
shown a photograph. enlarged $4,000 times
II the bacilli of typhoid fever General
SternbeTg said that II was somewhat as
-onishiug that people should be taking
fright at the bubonIc plague in Honolulu
with such a terrible disease at their very
IGOR. 1t is. moreover said the lecturer
"a disease which could easily be entirely |
aXterminated by the exercise Of proper
sanitary measures. such as providing pure