The evening times., 1900-01-04

The continued unfayorable reports from
India and China, in which it is shown that
the bubonic plague is still raging as fl srce!y
as ever. has caused the War Dspa tment
10 take prompt steps to prevent its gaming
a foothold in this country's new losses-
stems The Marine Hospital Service has al
ready established two quarantine plants in
! the Philippines, and there are now TWO of
| its surgeons on the way to Manila to re-
enforce those already there The fact that
| the plague has existed in Hongkong for
some time, where our ships have been stop
ping en- route to the Philippines, has had a
stimulating effect upon the War Depart
ment officials, and it is now believed tat
the archipelago will receive projection as
adequate as that applied to the ports of tie
United States.
Il is appreciated by the officials that the
comparatively few ports occupied by the
Unfted States in the Philippines is great
drawback in establishing q thorough quar-
antine system. There are hundreds of ISL
ands In the archipelago, and 1t is stated
that there viii be great difficulty in con-
fining the disease to one point should 1t
gain a foothold, owing to the constant COM
munication which is carried on by the ma
tives from island to island. Another phase
of the plague situation came to light with
the reception by Surgeon General Wyman
yesterday of a telegram from Quarantine
Agent Haywood stationed at Honolulu, II
which he announces the death OF three
persons from the plague. O1e occurred on
tha C3tI OF December and two On the 18th.
Miss Ethel johnson is said to be one of
the victims. the other two being Chinese.
All ff the hodieS were cremated,
Surgeon Carmichael who has been sta
toned in the Office of Agent Haywood at
Honolulu. in the capacity of plague spe-
cialist, reported to General Wyman that
there are no more suspicious cases in the
CITY The health authorities there are said
10 be competent men and no unnecessary
alarm is felt by the citizens that the
plague will not be effectually kept within
hounds The Hawaiian Government re-
Gently appropriated S250.000 for the pur-
pose OF protecting the islands against the
scourgc and this money is now being used
in establishing extra quarantine stations
and in buying new apparatus where it is
found necessary.
The possibility of this country becom-
ing infected through the traffic from Hon
oluiu is not considered seriously by Gen
cral Wyman. He says that the plague is
essentially disease bred by hlth and that
il is as easily checked as scarlet fever OF
any oil the other contagious diseases. the
bureau, he says. has made a thorough
study of The history of the disease and
is confident that his staff has the ability
10 stamp il out at any stage.
Surgeon general Wyman said TO a Times
reporter today that the quarantine officials
al San Francisco had pecn notified Of the
appearance OF the plague in Hawaii and
that he precautions which they were ak
ing would prevent the disease taking root
in this country. The bureau is at present
manufacturing a curative and preventive
agent which ii is said can be thoroughly
relied upon TO prevent a spread OF the dis
ease should a chance case make its 6p-
Dcsrance in this country. The officials are
not at all apprehensive. however. that the
disease viii ever gain foothold here, but
are making the preparations as measure
OF precaution.