The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-21
BUBoN1c PLAQUES MARCH.
Advent of the Disense on the PA
cific Coast Not Unexpected.

Advent of the Disensc on the Pa
cifc Coast Not Unexpected.
The Marine Hospital Service admits
that cases of the bubonic plague exist in
San Franciscos Chinatown and that meas
ures have been taken to stamp out the
disease. Quarantine regulations, carried
out by Federal officers. have been
adopted and the Marine Hos
pital Service expresses itself as
confident that there will be no epi-
demic and that the scourge will be con-
fined to the few cases now on hand. The
Chinese Six Companies, more potent in
such matters than even the Federal au-
thority, are cooperating in the work OF
determination, and promise that all Of the
Chinese in their employ, and that means
the majority Of those residing in China
town, shall submit to incubation with the
anti-plague serum.
Hospital Service says that with
the precautions his department has
adopted he is hopeful that the
plague will not spread Inspectors
are making house to house
search for suspects. and as fast as any of
these may be found they will be watched
carefully. Until their work is completed
it will be impossible to state just how
far the disease has spread. Meanwhile
it will be almost impossible for the dis
ease to be carried out of California. for in
spectors in the Marine Hospital Service
are stationed at all exits from the State
and will arrest or stop anyone suspected
of being affected by the plague. or who
has been seriously exposed to it. Surgeon
General Wyman gives it as his opinion
that there is no occasion to be alarmed.
The history of the disease shows that
Europeans are not so likely to be attack
ed as Asiaties. That is shown by the
statistics gathered at Honolulu, Manila,
and in India, and in fact at all points
where the plague has run its course"
The appearance CT the plague in this
particularly on the Pacific Coast,
has been dreaded for several years With
its prevalence in the South Seas and at
Asiatic and Indian Ocean ports, 1t seemed
inevitable that sooner or later it would
cross the water, particularly when every
ship and every rat on that ship was a
means for its conveyance. 1t has broken |
out In Hongkong and Japan. in Egypt and |
Arabian Africa. in Australia and New
South Wales. Only by the most vigorous
has it been subdued in the Ha- |
waiian Islands. and even there the danger |
Is not over.
The disease germs are carried on cloth
ing and by every sort OF animal. More |
than that. the germs may lie dormant for |
a century only TO find at last fayoring |
and start death dealing |
scourt.e. This Inter fact has been demon
strated in England. The Black Plague
visited London just prior to the great fire
Of 1856. The fire was supposed to have
wiped out every possible germ. yet about
'ne hundred years later it reappeared The
scourge OF the pestilence was found to
have been some refuse pits in which the
clothing of patients had been formerly |
buried. These were dug into the germs
we're liberated. and the pestilence again
aged.
The disease was believed to have been
at Honolulu over a month ago.
rhe same condition is reported from Alex
.ndria. Egypt. But at Port Said sixteen
leaths are reported; four have been cured.
and there are eleven cases still in the
hospital.
One death is reported from Brisbane.
Australia, and other cases have been dis
overed. New South Wales has adopted
compulsory incubation with preventive
erum.