The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1900-12-02
OCCIDENTAL MEDICAL TIMES on THE
EXISTENCE OF PLAGUE IN SIN Francisco


Pacific Medical Journal. in which it
defends its position and attacks the
position taken by the latter journal.
which is edited By Dr. winslow An
derson in the interest, so far Is
plague matters are concerned, Of me
commercial view Of the situation tax
en- by Governor Gage and the Saa
FRANCISCO newspapers. The article
says in part.
II has always been the aim and en-
deavor Of the Medical Times TO AVOID
personalities and therefore personal
criticism. which could be construed
As such. This rule would remain IN
violate in the present case were the
matter one Of mere personal concern
but the question IS Of far greater
magnitude and OF such far-reaching
consequences that we have no alter
native but 20 reopen il We would
have avoided the course. despite our
contemporary scurriious abuse Of
this journal and its persistent and
mcndacious calumny Of many reput-
able physicians. had not the occur
renee of FIVE fresh cases of plagJe.
on the 5th. 10th. 1+th Of October and
November I'd. rendered 1t imperative
TO again point the great danger that
threatens our city and its manifold
interests. In discussirg this matter
with the Pacific Medical Journal &
will be impossible 10 separate there
from the personality ~ its respond.
BILE editor and proprietor. DR.. Win
slow Anderson. as that gentleman has
made himself mainly responsible for
the present situation.
The situation in brief is this. the
Governor OF the State Of California
urged by the business and mouicd
interests Of San Francisco and also
by the politicians. upon whom similar
pressure had been brought to bear.
has Undertaken, with the assistance
OF the State Board of Health. to sup
press every fact in connection with
the existence OF plague in San Fran
cisco. This. then. Is no longer a mu-
nicipal or n State question. II is a
national and an international ques-
ton. Il is a crime against civiliz1-
ton. II is an outrageous piece of self
fishuess on the part of our metropo-
lis. in which the interests of the
state and Of the Nation are wholly
disreGarded.
We had hoped that our issue of
July was sufficient To convince any
national being that bubonic plague
existed in our midst In support of
this view we refer our readers.
amongst other communications, to
editorials in the following journals:
Journal American Medical Associa-
ton. Philadelphia Medical Journal.
Colorado Medical Journal, Modern
Medical Science. Medicine, The SAM
tarium, Cleveland Medical Journal,
British Medical Journal. These jour
nails had access TO both sides OF the
controversy and formed ther judg'
mcnt accordingly.
The reference to the epidemic III
Glasgow is poorly taken. Our con
temporary must know that majority
of the cases in that epidemic have
been OF The pneumonia form, which
as we have insisted is highly conta
rious and deadly. All the San Fral
cisco cases have been of the buhonl'
variety: that the number has CORES
pondingly decreased; that they haze
occurred at longer intervals and the
source of contagion is more diihcuF
TO trace. The history of the initia
outbreak of that epidemic is remark
ably similar TO the case of the "A
mented DIR. Muller. Our contempci
airy should also remember that evei
with the pneumonia form at work
only twenty-nine cases have died.
II would not be possible to furnish
n more caustic comment upon on
contemporaries argument than tn
following. which is taken from al
article on"The Bubonic Plague from
Sanitary Standpoint. by Charlie
F. Craig. NJ. n. Acting Assistant SUI
geon. L. $. A.. and Pathologist AM
Racteriologist 10 the L. s. Genera
Hosptal. Presidio. San Francisco pa
cific Medical Journal. August, l90ol
With strange inconsistency this artici
has been permitted 10 appear in tn
very issue wherein our contemporar
I'm unmeasured language has emptie
the Walls of its wrath upon MS 70
supporting those who have SO ca,
nestly labored 20 establish San Fran
sisco as plague-ridden city. d
Craig says:
1T may be said here that commit
mites are slow to admit the presenc
OF any epidemic disease. and this
most apt 10 be the case with plague
Time and again the authorities
infected sites have been criminal
dilatory in admitting the presence {
the plague. and hundreds Of iiv'
have been sacrificed 70 their crimia'
ignorance Of the disease. The "a
lowing statistics prove that plague en-
denies. are slow in development
In Hubli. as quoted by Montenegn
only eight cases occurred durir
three months. In the great epidem
In London in 1865. the first case Q
Cured on December Goth OF the pr
vious wear, the second on Fehruai
9th. and the third and fourth
April ed chat is. only four cases
five monthsl. but the mortality OF u
London epidemic. though. II hegan
quietly. was one of the most awf
known 10 history. In the recent 81
aenic in Rosario, South America. on