The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-07
The Plague situation.

, head until he has been caught
3 The Plague Situation.
! 1t is an excellent thing TO be as cheerful
as possible under depressing circumstances
, 1t is also good thing not 10 be too OPP
/ timistic under conditions that may develop
a physical menace and which, careful
thoughts may show, to be most serious
| ly and thoughtfully considered. These re-
marks are made apropos Of the persistent
spread of the bubonic plague, which,
though it has not assumed an epidemic
form in any of its new centres of action,
has nevertheless managed to survive the
process of transportation and manifest it,
self in places that have been comparatively
free from this style of contagion.
Health officers in Manila have discov-
cred cases that appear 10 be genuine sam
piles of the contagion. There is no doubt
about its having broken out in Hawaii In
fact, the situation in Honolulu is dis
couraging one, because il is way station
between America and the Philippines, and
because il is comparatively near source of
danger TO this country. A despatch from
Rio Janeiro conveys the information that
the contagion has appeared in the city and
neighborhood of Sac Paulo, an indication
that the hope of annihilating the disease at
Santos was a vain one. and fact calcu-
lated TO excite fears that the contagion
may spread through the South and Central
American countries, even to the borders of
the United States.
As usual, the national health authorities
are not particularly concerned over the sit
uation, and do not entertain any fear of an
epidemic in this country They profess to
be of the opinion that the cases are of
sporadic character and will soon be cured,
thus crushing out the ravaging germ that
at intervals during past centuries has terri
fed and depopulated the countries OF the
Old World.
In one way. this cheerful attitude on the
part OF the guardians of nations welfare
is commendable. for it would be unwise 10
create a popular feeling OF trepidation. as
fear is said TO be a contributory agent in
aiding the spread of the pestilence. How
ever, there is another extreme, the Guilt |
walton of an impression that America is |
invulnerable and has no need TO pay any |
attention TO the fact that the plague is |
making progress in other parts of the |
world. tendency to be too optimistic |
breeds carelessness on the part of the
masses. who, in the event of the sudden |
and unexpected Importation of the malady |
would certainly fall early victims to it,
The contented feeling of the health au-
tborities. no doubt, arises principally from
the belief that the general habit OF cleanli-
ness and the readiness to establish quar-
antine would in any emergency work to-
ward a speedy elimination of the bubonie
plague. OF course cleanliness is the high
est form of sanitation. but IL is not to be
forgotten that, even in the very centres Of
civilization, there are spots where
humanity is herded together and where the
use Of soap and water is not regarded as a
matter of prime importance. San Fran
cisco, with its herd of 0rientals, Chicago
and New York with their cosmopolitan ag-
gregations in the slum sections, and some
Of the cities of the South, as well as smaller
places. can always furnish exhibits OF sod
den humanity which are the constant men
ace to the health of the communities re-
Ierred to- II the plague should manage to
enement and hovel sections of the munich
lalities that style themselves metropolitan, ,
here is no telling where 1t would stop.
The bubonic plague is not to be trlfed
With. 1t is a malady beside which most OF ,
he physical affections known to the Amer
can are mere nothings. 1t is presumed TO
be the descendant of the terrible disease
centuries depopulated almost every section
,f the Eastern Hemisphere. Northern q
LINES are not immune from IT, as is shown !
~ the story of its appalling activity in Nor
way where it is said to have reduced a :
population of two millions TO three hundred a
'eople. In the seventeenth century IL Q
Tiled off LondoDers by tens OF thousands I
While it is more OF less peculiar TO the \
orient, where cleanliness is regarded as
OF consideration having gained
omission, II creates as much havoc in
hose parts of the world where some atten- i,
ion is paid TO sanitary laws. Il
There is no immediate cause for trem- n
ling over the possible appearance of this /,
pectre, but there is always occasion for c.
such matters with the keenest II
and resolving that no cheerful "a
liocy will postpone realization of the =.
latter until 1t is too late. There is hope q
nat Luzon, Hawaii, and the other infected
oints will soon be able TO submit clean
III Of health SO far as the peetilence is
1ncerned. Sanitary science has made such u
rides within the past century that there s.
re good grounds to believe that the malady &c
i'll never be permitted TO enter our por- IL
liz. But, while there is even the re- ca
otest danger of such an invasion, there is !,
nple reason for taking every precaution &,
I'd not dismissing the matter as unworthy Ut
sober consideration.
MnxxIed Watch nans