The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-03
Thirty-Two Cases OmciaIIy Reported
in the Past Year, and All
Terminated Fatally.
ALL WERE IN CHINATOWN
DISEASE is SAID TO BE OF A MILDLY
CONTAGIOUS CHARACTER.
No Cause for Alarm il Prompt and
Thorough Measures he Taken
to Eradicate the Pest.

WASHINGTON, April 2-The plague
situation at San Francisco is summarized
in statement published in this weeks
issue of the public health reports of the
Marine Hospital Service. which is just out.
The statement is brief and the facts given
in it are taken from the long awaited re-
port of the commission of experts, which
made a special investigation. This state
ment shows there have been ten cases of
plague in San Francisco officially reported
since the beginning of the year, all of them
being fatal The number of cases and
deaths Of each date mentioned are identical.
They comprise two on Jan. 10 and one each
on Jan 6, Feb. 5, s, Z, 10, IL and II and March
2.
The six cases and deaths in February
were reported by a special commission APP
pointed by the secretary of the treasury
to examine into the plague situation in San
Francisco This commission consisted of
Prof. Simon Flexner. of the University of
Pennsylvania, chairman; Prof. f. G. Novy,
of the University of Michigan. and Prof.
l.. S. Barker, OF the University of Chicago,
recorder. Continuing. the statement says:
Plague has been reported in San Fran
cisco officially in the public health reports
fatal. having been reported and published
in previous numbers of the public health
reports. and the facts were reported in the
last annual report to Congress of the secre-
tary of the treasury.
while the correctness of the diagnosis
has never been doubted by the bureau of
the department, il was deemed advisable TO
summon an independent board of experts.
Of hair "a. a.
lined above, were Immediately communicate
ed 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 subsequently furnished.
Coincidentally with the report of the COM
mission at the bureau, committee, repre-
senting the business interests of San Fran
cisco, and tie mayor and the Governor of
California, arrived in Washington and
conference was held between this commit
tee and the secretary of the treasury and
the surgeon general of the Hospital Service
in which conference all the facts were dis
cussed and a written agreement made for
harmonious action in suppressive meas
ures under the advice OF Surgeon j. H.
White, who is on the ground
ION the return of this committee to San
Francisco, Surgeon White wired on March
p that they had agreed TO raise funds for
immediate work follows: To disinfect all
infected houses, provide hospital for sus-
poets, detention houses and morgue; the dis
infection of Chinatown with betterment of
light and air space Subsequent kilograms
show that the work is being organized.
The disease has been confined almost
exclusively to the Chinese. and an exami-
nation OF the mortuary records of the latter
for the last four years shows that there
has been no time during that period when
1t has Increased TO such an extent as to in
itself cause alarm.
The prevailing type, so far as known, is
of the bubonic form, which, according TO
Nj. DE Brun, is of d mildly contagious char
acter, but it is undetermined how soon these
cases may give rise to cases of a graver
and more contagious form of the disease.
which emphasizes the necessity OF PROMPT
and thorough measures to eradicate every
form OF the disease"