The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-02
DIAGNOSED AS THE PLAGUE.
The Scientific ComEmissiOn's Report
on san Franciseo Cases.

Surgeon General Wyman, Of the Marine
Hospital Service. has at last made public
the result Of the recent investigation of
the plague situation at San Francisco It
is TO the effect that since January / of
this year. there have been ten cases OF
plague there, all fatal the deaths occur
ring as follows: One on January 6. two on
January Is, and one each on February 5,
8, :, 10. II, q and March .
As had been previously reported in Secre-
tary Cages last annual report TO Congress
there were thirty-two deaths from plague
in San Francisco during 1900, making in
all forty-two cases since the first one was
discovered. on March 6, 1890. The recent
investigation was made by a scientific
commission appointed By Secretary Gage,
consisting OF Prof Simon FIexneT, 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
The commission was appointed at the
instance of the California State author
tiles and the business men of San Fran
cisco. who were not satisfied with the
findings of DR. Kinyoun, representative
of the Marine Hospital Service at San
Francisco. Many were Of the opinion
that Kinyoun had erred in his diagnosis
u LIE cases III AltSLAJs4 anu LA4t- w.
opposed to the methods re had employed
to prevent the spread of the malady- Sew
eral times DR.. Kinyoun had quarantined
the city, resulting in considerable loss to
the commercial interests. Feeling ran
at high pitch against him and great pres
sure was brought 10 bear upon the Treas
ury Department to remove him The
Secretary declined to do this, bat after
much persuasion he did agree to have
the matter investigated b. an independ-
ent scientific commission composed of
men Of high professional standing not
connected with the Marine Hospital Sery-
ice or the Treasury Department il any
way. Discussing the report of the COM
mission the Surgeon General says:
While the correctness of the diagnosis
has never been doubted 10y the Bureau of
the Department. it was deemed advisable
to summon an independent board Of eX-
pcrts. On completioI OF their labors the
results OF their investigation were imme-
diately communicated by them TO the
Governor of California aud the mayor and
representatives, Of the business interests
of San Francisco. Coincidently with the
receipt Of the report OF the commission
ar the bureau. q committee representing
the business interests of San Francisco
fornia arrived in Washir gton. and a con
ference was held between This committee
and the Secretary of the Treasury and the
Surgeon General OF the Marine Hospital
Service, in which conference all the facts
were discussed and a written agreement
made for harmonious action in suppress
sive measures under the advice Of Sur
geou J, II. White, who IL on the grounds
"On the return of this committee to
San Francisco, Surgeon White wired, on
March 2, that they had agreed 10 raise
funds for immediate work as follows:
'Disinfect all infected houses, provide hos
p:taI for suspects, detention houses. and
morgUe. The general dfsinfectio1 of China
town, with betternent OF light and air
space Subsequent teleeTsaz.s- show that
the work is being organised
THE disease has been confined almost
exclusively to the Chinese and an exami-
nation Of the mortuaTy records of the
latter for the last four years shows that
there has been no time during that pc
riOd when it has increased 10 such an ex-
tent as 10 in itself cause alarm
The prevailing type 80 far as known
is of the bubonic form which. according
TO N. de Brun, is of a mildly conta gious
character, but it is undetermined how
soon these cases may give rise to cases
OF graver and more contagious form.
which emphasizes the necessity of prompt
ard thorough measures TO eradicate every
for 10.