The evening times., 1900-03-13
THE PLAGUE SITUATION
San FIR neiscO'S Suspected Case
Proves TO Be Genuine.
Precautions Taken by the Marine
Hospital Service to Prevent an
Epidemic-Dr. Wymnn Not Ainrm-
cd over the Appearance of the
Disease - Reports From Hawaii.

The first case Of bubonic plague in this
country resulted fatally week ago in
San Francisco when a Cinnamon sue
cumbed to the disease. The fact that the
man died Of genuine plague was only made
known yesterday after a careful diagnosis
Of the case by expert psychologists Of the
Marine Hospital Service stationed at san
Francisco. The frst report, made imme-
diately after the Chinaman died. stated
that there was 4 strong suspicion OF plague
apparent in the superficial examination
that had been made.
This was subsequently denied. the report
declaring that the victim had died from
other causes.
The more recent report, indicating con-
cusively that the plague existed, was
made after a guinea pig and rat had died
upon being inoculated with virus taken
from ,be glands Of the dead Chinaman.
The Federal quarantine officers. station
ed at San Francisco are acting under or
ders from Surgeon General Wymln and
are taking the precautions necessary to
ensure complete protection TO the resi-
dents Of san Francisco. No fear is enter
tained that their efforts will be anything
but successful. Il has been decided not TO
quarantine Chinatown as the case in ques-
ton is supposed 10 be sporadic, but a sys-
tematic inspection Of the quarter has been
started. Cinnamon who may be sick will
only be attended by white physicians aud
all dead will be promptly examined.
It has not been definitely settled how
the Chinaman contracted the disease, but
it is thought that il came through the use
Of cheap food products from infected dis
tricts.
The alarm expressed in some quarters
that Americas shores would be visited by
the scourge has not been felt by Surgeon
General Wymaa. Of the Marine Hospital
Service and his staff. The first inti-
nation that such a calamity was possible
came with the announcement that the
captain OF an English vessel sailing from
Brazil was in with the disease. His YES
sci at the time was quarantined in New
York harbor.
A long discussion between the New York
State and Federal quarantine authorities
relating to the advsability Of permitting
the owners to land their cargo OF coffee
from the infected vessel followed With
the exception Of an infected ship which
was under strict quarantine at Port Town
send no other cases Of the plague have
been reported nearer our shores than Hon
olulu.
One reason given for the absence Of
alarm among the Marine Hospital officials
is the well known rlgiditv Of the quaraU-
tine regulations Of the United States and
the excellent results obtained I'm plagTe
cases by using the 0uti-serum. a discovery
Of Dr. T~staur. of the Pasteur Institute in
Paris II is said that In no instance has
10 failed 20 cure when used in the carly
stages Ct the disease and iE sufficient Quau-
titles
Iu Honolulu United states Marine Hospi-
tai Surgeon Carmichael has used the serum
iu six cases Of genuine plague. Five re-
covered and the other resulted fatally.
Dr. Wyman. in q letter 20 Surgeon Car
michael. explains that the r, ard of Healta
I'm Honolulu should have used the serum
10 larger quantities in the cSse which
proved fatal Dr. Wyman is OF the opiu-
iJu tHat this NOUid have saved life. He
also says tEat much larger GOses of lhe
serum -AuUld De- used than hereto toscre
especially during the first fo.ty-e ght
hours cf the disease.
The plague situation throughout tas
world. and. especially I'm Honolulu. i.
greJtly improved. according TO reports re-
ceived at the Marine Hospital Ia let.
ter % Surgeon General ,Yymsu under tie
date Of February a. Surgeon Carmichael
says that no new cases OF the plague Ia
Honolulu have been reported since March
-. One case or pneumonia type. ne
says. was discovered IN the dereu ion
camp 20 Eahuln. on February L.. and was
fatal ON February T.. There are no ne y
cases in the town. and none Is reported
'-om Hiio. Hawaii.
new rat-pTOOf quarantine wharf has
been constructed on the eastern side Of
Honolulu HarbOr II is built on copper
sheathed piling surrounded by water and
is well isolated. Surgeon Carmichael is OF
the opinion that it should prove a valuable
addition to the harbor in landing and dis
tributng island freight
The official record Of plague cases and
deaths recorded by the Hawaiian Board of
Health from December T. 1899 TO Febru-
airy p. 1900. show a total of 81 cases. OF
which - were fatal. OF those who died
% were Cinnamon, Z japanese, l. Hawaii
ans. and . whites.