The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-19
THE BUBONIC BACILLUS
Surgeon General Wyman Talks
Abeut the Plague.
The Disease of Bacterial oriEin-Mi-
crobe May Be Taken Into the HUI
man system by InocuIRtion. ReSpi-
ration, or Introduction Into the
Stomacb-WHy to Check NaIad.-

Speaking of the buboEic plague bacillus
aud its rayages, Surgeon General Wy
man. of he Marine Hospital Service,
said yesterday
II somewhat resembles that of chick
IN cholera. a small sbcrt rod, with
rounded ends. Of the non-spore- bearing
variety characterized Is its property o.
extremely rapid multiplication and tie
facility with which it enters the human
organism. It is found in large numbers
in The pus from the buboes occasionally
in the interior organs, in grave cases IN
the blood Il is also found in the dust
of infected houses and in the soil While
so viruIent. its resisting powers to chem
zeal dIsiufectants is feeble. succumbins
shortly in q / per cent solution Of car
bolic acid or Of Hmewater-
The malady is pre-eminentIy of bac-
teriaI origin. and wherever the microbe
is found, there the plague is likely TO de-
yelop. The length Of its life when ex-
posed to favorable conditions outside of
the human body has an important bear
ing upon the quarantine measures neces-
sary 10 be enforced, particularly with re
gard 20 merchandise from an infected
port. The methods by which the baciIH
enter the human body are three in num-
ber-by incubation by respiration, and
by introduction into the stomach. The
individual may contract the disease by
inhaling the dust from infected houses
which contain the germ; furthermore. by
imbibing fluids or eating infected food.
The conditions favoring plague are sim
liar to those faYoring typhus fever
namely. crowd poisoning, bad ventilation,
and drainage, impure water supply, fam
inc, or imperfect nouFiSEment. and in
attention 10 sanitary requirements. 1t IS
probable Of this disease, as Of yellow fe-
yer. that human hsbiLatiOns and the
ground may become SO thoroughly in
fected as TO establish endemicity- The
bacillus may infect food and water,
though how long il viii retain its Tirility
in water is as yet undetermined
Modern science. in lis development Of
the serum therapy OF disease appears 70
have found in efIiceciOus remedy in the
prophylaxis and treatment Of this disease,
which hitherto has maintained an average
mortality OF 50 per cent In the preyen-
tion Of the spread Of the disease in Civ
en- house all hygieEIc measures are neces-
sary. such as proper sewerage. purity of
water supply, isolation Of the sick, diSin-
fectian Of clothing and bedding. Of the
excavations and spUtuIn and disjnfeetion
of the room; all unnecessary contact with
the sick 70 be avoided great care 10 be
exercised with regard tC food and drink
and according 10 the Japanese scientist.
Kitasato. after recovery the patient 10 be
kept in isolation for = least one month
It is believed that We have a valuable aid
in disiufection of rooms and houses in for
Tnaldehyde gas, which has now been es-
tablished as reliable agent. and which
~ IN mead without injury 70 metals OF
disadvantage, hover
ermin while sulphur
he latter therefore
sirabIe
The general and weIl-kr0wn admins
tratioR precautions in the prevention oi
the spread of malipox-isolation. guard
ing OF premises. Ste. are applicable TO The
plague. As a means II preventing the
spread Of the disease mention shocld rot
be omitted OF the Hafkine propheylactir
the efficacy of which has bean deElonstrat-
ed The means 10 be adopted when the
disease becomes epidemic in a city con
sists. first. of house house inspection
There should b. prohibition Of the use OF
dwellings unfit for habitajioa, and abate-
rneu- Of overcrowding should be required
buildings and premises. II infected or sns-
pected should De vacated for cleaning ana
tisinfecting The sick should De removed
10 hospitals or treated in their Owl homes
and the well who have been exposed
should be removed 10 refuge camps In
fected bedding. clothing, etc, should b.
DESTROYED. unless there are proper faciH
ties for disinfection by steam OF boiling
An active campaign should be wage
against rats and yernin-'