New-York tribune., 1901-01-28
WAS 1T TIE PLAGUFy

1t is reported that Professor Frederick G.
Novy, who occupies the chair of hygiene in the
University Of Michigan, has been sent TO San
Francisco by the Federal authorities to make
special study of the bubonic plague. This act
may or may not have been suggested by the
resolution Of the California Legislature request
ing the President TO remove DR. J. J. KinyOun
from the Marine Hospital Service at the Golden
Gate But in either case the desirabiIIty of
obtaining expert and disinterested testimony
should any fresh emergency arise this winter is
beyond question
The controversy over the nature OF the dis
ease which broke out In the Chinese suburb of
San Francisco last spring was both bitter and
unfortunate That city sustains close CONNER
cial relations with Honolulu, Yokohama, Manila
and certain Australian ports, in all of which
the real plague had then recently prevailed In
consequence the health authorities of San Fran
cisco were on the alert for its appearance at
their own doors. In March several cases of
mysterious Illness resembling the dreaded NAL
ady developed in Chinatown, and others oc-
CURED within the next few weeks Almost
from the beginning there was friction between
the local Health Board and DR. KinyOun ON
the one hand and on the other the Six Comma
MES which represented the business interests
of the Chinese population. The latter alleged
that the disease was not the true plague and
that the Marine Hospital surgeon had been hasty
in accepting the verdict of the municipal bac-
teriologist, instead of making his own exami-
nation. The health authorities replied by ac-
cusing the Six Companies of failure to keen
promises of cooperation in suppressing the
trouble and of trying surreptitiously to remove
evidence by mutilating the bodies of dead vic
Tins before an official examination could be
made. Matters were in this shape late i'm Nav
when DR.. KinyOun issued an order establishing
a rigid quarantine between Chinatown and the
rest OF the city. This act evoked violent criti-
cism. The Chinese COnsul-General sent COM
plants to the State Department at Washington.
and alleged that from ten thousand to fifteen
lhousahd OF his fellow countrymen We're penned
up without chance to buy food and were in
danger of starvation. Vigorous protests were
sent by prominent officials in California TO
other branches OF the Federal Government
Finally, about the middle of June Judge Nor
row, OF the United States Court, enjoned DR.
KinyOun to stop all quarantine measures. At
the same time the Treasury Department, under
whose auspices the Marine Hospital Service Is
conducted instructed the doctor TO withdraw
his order. OF course. this double mandate was
complied with
either because the disease In question was
not of so virulent a character as had been sus
pected, or else because of the other sanitary
measures which had been adopted there was
no well defined epidemic. Nevertheless, q few
additional cases were reported from time 10
time. IL is alleged that one victim was hos
pital nurse living outside of Chinatown, and ex-
hibiting symptoms of the most unmistakable
kind. DR.. Kinyoun expressed the opinion last
October that the area of infection had spread so
as 10 include all of Chinatown except three
blocks. He entertained fears of n fresh ont
break when winter should arrive. because nj
that season thousands of coolies return 70 San
Francisco from the California fruit orchards
and the Alaska salmon fisheries It is to be
hoped that these anticipations will not be real
lzed. But the situation is one demanding special
vigilance and discretion.
Inc problem which the action of the Califor
nia Legislature presents to the Federal authori-