The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1900-03-09
Japan's Ports Clean.


plague having appeared in Kobe or
Osaka, the authorities have now re-
scinded the regulation requiring the
medical inspection of passengers trav-
cling by foreign steamers and on the
railway lines.
This withdrawal of the last of the
special regulations connected with the
suppression of the disease may be TAX
en- as showing that all danger of in
lection has now disappeared. 1t is true
that a return of milder weather may
lead to temperance of the epidemic,
but that is point which must be left
to the future to decide The fact re-
mains that in no other Far Eastern
country where the plague has appear
ed has it so quickly been subdued,
and, as we have before stated, the au-
thorities deserve the highest praise for
their success. Conditions of climate
and habits of life have no doubt had
something to do with the relatively
mild character of the outbreak, but
its prompt suppression is undoubtedly
due to the active measures taken. One
point to which attention may be drawn
is the readiness with which doctors
have volunteered their services, al
though at great risk of becoming them
selves infected. The Osaka Plague In
spection Office has now secured the
services of the 300 doctors which it
was thought would be required for the
operation of stamping out the plague in
Osaka. Happily, however, their serv-
ices for the most part will not be re-
quired.
Governor Ohmori issued on the LIST
inst. a proclamation with regard to
the precautionary measures for pre-
venting recrudescence of plague. The
proclamation is to the effect that as no
fresh cases of plague have taken place
since the 22d of December last, and no
bacilli have recently been found
among the rats caught, it is now con-
sidered by the authorities that the mall
ady has totally disappeared from Kobe.
The disease, however, is still raging in
India as we'll as in Hongkong and 9TH
er Chinese ports, and in Formosa;
therefore, in case precautions to pre-
vent it's recurrence are neglected, the
plague may reappear as milder weather
approaches. In view of this, the au-
thorities concerned are still maintain
ing strict vigilance, and individuals are
urged to diligently carry out the cleans
ing of premises and houses and to
continue the clearing out of rats so as
to give no possible opportunity for the
temperance of the disease.
The plague is now considered to
have disappeared in Osaka, no fresh
cases having occurred since the 18th
ult. The first case was reported on the
18th of November last, young girl
being the victim. The total number
of patients amounted to AZ, of whom
40 (22 males and 10 females) died, and
2 (males) are under treatment. Di-
vided according to the ages, three were
under 10 years, fourteen under 20
years, seven under 80 years, six under
40 years, seven under 80 years, and
five between so and 10 years. The cost
of the operations for stamping out the
disease up to the present amount to
some 100000 yen, including 100000 yen
for the Osaka-fu expenditure, 100000
yen as State subsidy, and some 10000
yen for salaries to doctors, the expense
of which was shared by the State and
Osaka-fu.
A telegram of the LIST inst. from the
Governor General of Formosa states
that cases and deaths from plague
were reported on the Goth ult., l case
and deaths on the Goth, and l case on
the 31st in Taipeh prefecture, and 2
cases on the Both ult. in Tainan pref
ecture. This has brought the total
number of cases from January LIST to
81, and the deaths to 38.
Call and see the Rugs and Cur.