The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-22
HISTORY OF THE PLAGUE.
Surgeon General wymnn Emphasizes
the Necessity of Vigilance.

the NtcessIy
An interesting and valuable brochure.
giving complete history OF the bubonic
plague. together with means which have
been adopted for its prevention. has been
prepared and made public by Surgeon
General Wyman. OF the Marine Hospital
Service. IL Is partial reproduction OF
somewhat similar work issued by DIR. Wy
man several years ago, when the plague
made its appearance in some OF the East
ern countries, supplemented by data gath
cred since then. 1t is shown that the
plague. under various names, is disease
which has ravaged the countries OF Africa,
Asia, and Europe almost from time imme-
mortal. Pestllence supposed to have been
the plague prevailed in Athens 4S242s
d. c. One historian calculates that one
fourth the population OF Europe, or $780,
600 persons. died In all the epi6emics In
the fourteenth century.
An interesting account Is given OF the
origin and spread Of the present epidemic,
the first recorded Instance of its occur
renee In the Western Hemisphere being a;
Santos. Brazil In October last The opin-
ion is expressed that In the light of ex-
perieuce in other parts of the world II
seems reasonable to believe that even were
the. disease introduced here its spread
tary conditions are good, and where pre-
cautions as to the isolation OF patients
and the segregation OF those exposed TO
infection could and would be p-acticed.
The death rate varies in different ep-
denies and Is estimated at from 80 to 90
per cent. There Is a variation also ac
cordlng to nationalities. Chinese seeming
ly being the most susceptible.
The spread OF the plague from one
country TO another presents many curious
features in marked dissimilarity to other
epidemic contagious and infectious dis
eases. Contiguity of territory. while the
most general avenue. does not seem to be
essential but the disease proceeds from
place to place by leaps and bounds. often
skipping large intermediate tracts, but
usually following the beaten tracks of
commerce.
DR.. Wyman expresses the opinien that
the quarantine methods of the United
States are well adapted to meet emergen-
cies though the national laws should be
strengthened. In a letter, submitting the
matter to the Secretary Of the Treasury
he says:
From the facts set forth in the article
1t Is obvious that the greatest care must
be exercised in the inspection at quaran-
tine of vessels, even though they hail
from non-infected ports, for they may
carry passengers, crew, stowaways. or
merchandise from plague infected dis
tricts
with great care in inspection and en-
forcement of other regulations at domestic
ports. supplemented by the information
conveyed by medical officers OF the service
in foreign ports and their surveillance
over vessels. it is hoped that no case Of
plague will be admitted. But should this
misfortune occur, the observations detailed
in the article show that energetic sanitary
measures may be made to avail, while
We have In the curative serum and the
Hafikine prophylactic additional and effee-
tive weapons in preventing the spread Of
the disease.
While these facts are encouraging in
character 1t should not be forgotten that
the epidemic is surely though slowly, ex-
tending, and that for the first time in his
tory it has invaded the Western Hemis-
phere The necessity, therefore. of especial
vigilance has been and is still being i'm
pressed upon quarantine officers by the
bureau and OF equal importance is the
provision which should be made by
municipalities, especially those on the sea-
board, to correct Immediately unsanitary
conditions which are now so well known to
favor the propagation Of infectious dis
aae