The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-04-19
THE PLAGUE IN,
SAN FRANCISCO.

WASHINGTON. April Am explicit
statement giving the exact conditions re-
gard!ng bubonic plague in San Francis
co has been prepared for the Official
Public Health Bulletin. A table is given
showing that there were ten deaths from
bubonic plague in San Francisco between
January l and March 10
Continuing, the statement SAYS: "Of
the cases, those reported in February,
six cases and deaths between February S
and II Were reported by special COM
mission appointed by the Secretary or
the Treasury to examine into the plague
situation in San Francisco. This COM
mission consisted of Prof Simon Flex-
ner. of the University of Pennsylvania,
chairman; Prof. +. G.. Novy. of the Uni
versity of Michigan. and Prof l.. S. Bar
kcr Of the University of Chicago, record
er.
Plague has been reported in San
Francisco officially in the public health
reports since March 6, 1900. thirty-two
cases (all fataD having been reported
and published in previous numbers Of
the public health reports, and the facts
We're reported in the annual report to
Congress of the Secretary of the Treas
ury, dated December 4, 1890
While the correctness of the diagnosis
has never been doubted by the Bureau or
the Department it was deemed advisable
to summon an independent board of ex-
perts, composed as above mentioned. On
the completion of their labors, the re-
suits of their Investigations, as outlined
above, We're Immediately communicated
by them to the Governor of California
and the Mayor and representatives of
the business interests Of San Francisco,
and full copies of the report subsequent
ly furnished. Coincident with the re-
ceipt of the report of the commission at
the Bureau, n committee representing the
business interests of San Francisco and
the Mayor and the Governor of Califor-
mia arrived in Washington, and con-
ference was held between this committee
and the Secretary of the Treasury and
Surgeon General of the Marine Hospital
Service, in which conference all the facts
We're discussed and n written agreement
made for harmonious action in suppress
sive measures under the advice of Sur
geon j II, White. who is on the ground.
"oa the return of this committee to
San Francisco, Surgeon White wired, on
March %. that they had agreed to raise
funds for Immediate work as follows:
Disinfect all affected houses, provide nos
pitfalls for suspects, detention houses
and morEue; the general dsinfecto1 Of
Chinatown, with bCtterment OF light and
air space. Subsequent kilograms sIow
that the work Is being organized.
The disease has been confined almost
exclusively to the Chinese and an cXarui-
nation of the mortuary records OF the
latter for the past four years shows that
there has been no time during taat PEI
ROO when II has increased to sucn an ex-
teI.t as to. in itself cause alarm.
The prevailing type, so far as Rno~r.
H. OF the bubonic form, which. acco ling
to NJ. de Brun, is of IA mildly contagious
character, but II is undetermined now
soon these cases may give rise % cases
of a graver and more contagious form
of the sease, which emphasizes The
necessity OF prompt and thorough meas
ures to eradicate every form of the dis
ease"
The steady onward march OF bubonio
plague into ports of the world where II
never existed before and where experts
believed II could not thrive has been not
ed In nearly every weekly issue of the
Public Health Bulletin for the last two
years. News has come within the last
day or two that the plague has at last
invaded Australia. 1t was introduced
there from South Africa, according TO
an official report to the German Govern
ment. one fatal case OF the disease APP
pearcd al Sydney, New South wales, on
a ship that went there TO embark ifesh
Australian troops for the British army
in South Africa. Two cases also occur
re. near Brisbane. The plague continues
to spread In Cape Colony, South Africa