Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-03
TO COMBAT THE PLAGUE
Taking Steps to Prevent It's Appearance at
Manila,
The Marine Hospital Service to Have
. Charge of the Quarantine
system.

The War Department is taking steps with
promptness to prevent the Introduction of
the plague in the Philippines, and Secre-
tary Root this morning called into consul
tation Surgeon General Wyman of the
marine hospital service to discuss the
adjustment CT quarantine system for the
Philippines. 1t decided that the War
Department should adopt toward the Phil
ippines policy like that pursued toward
Cuba in the matter of the protection of
health. namely, t" confide the maintenance
of quarantine system to the marine hos
pital service.
The reports received by both the State
Department and by Surgeon General Wy
man are stimulating the officials in this
matter. United States Agent Haywood at
Honolulu has reported to the State Depart
ment that there have been three deaths
from plague in the Hawaiian Islands re-
Gently. one each on the I'D, oath and 18th
of December Surgeon General Wyman'S
adVices of this morning came from Surgeon
Carmichael at Honolulu, and were to the
effect that there-had been one death on the
I'D and two on the 18th of December from
plague. The quarantine in the Hawaiian
Islands is not under the control of the
marine hospital service. but is conducted
by the Hawaiian government itself, and
Surgeon Carmichael has been stationed at
Honolulu at the office of Agent Haywood,
more in the capacity of an observer than
as an active agent
The Philippines Exposed.
The plague having existed for some time
in Hong Kong, only four days steaming
time distant from Manila. and having now
broken out in the Hawaiian Islands, where
all of our troopships have been stopping
while crossing the Pacific, the Philippines
are thus exposed to infection from both
sides; hence the activity of the authorities
here.
Surgeon General Wyman says that Sur
geon Carmichael added to his dispatch a
statement that there We're no more sus-
pcious cases since the three deaths from
plague reported at Honolulu. He also says
that as the Hawaiian health authorities are
thoroughly competent men, there is little
danger of an epidemic of plague in Hawaii.
NeVerthe ess the disease is of subtle
nature. and most careful sanitation must
be observed for some time to afford proper
protection.
Facilities in the Philippines.
1t happens, fortunately, that the marine
hospital service has already two quaran-
tine plants in the Philippines. while two
of its surgeons are now on their way to
Manila. so that little delay will be en-
countered in beginning to draw a rigid
quarantine line in the islands. 1t is realized
that. owing to the great numbers of islands
IN the Philippine archipelago. the frequent
visits between the natives and the compare
lively small number of ports as yet occu-
pied by the American troops. there is 60
ing to be much difficulty experienced in
carrying out an adequate scheme of pro-
lection.
No Apprehension as to San Francisco.
Surgeon General Wyman does not feel
apprehensive as to the possibility of the in
lection of San Francisco from Honolulu
He says that the plague is essentially a
filth disease, and the marine hospital SER
vice, having made a thorough study of its
history and treatment. IS confident of its
ability to stamp out the disease at any
stage. The bureau IS about to publish an
extensive review of the history OF the
plague, together with mass of material,
gathered from the most reputable profess
sional sources, touching the proper treat
ment OF the plague. Surgeon General Wy
man says that the bureau has already a
prophyiactic, the discovery of Hafkine.
which can be thoroughly relied upon,
when injected into the system, to confer
immunity from infection by the plague. 1t
has also another combined prophylactic and
remedy. This latter affords not only tenn
porary immunity from contagion, but is a
powerful curative agent as well. Both of
these indictments are now being manu-
featured by the marine hospital service it
self as IA precautionary measure.