Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-08-10

In a previous letter (Which appeared
in the Eagle, June 81, the writer, deal
ing with the appearance Of the buDonlc
plague in Chinatown, San Francisco
its origin, and the shameful unsanitary
conditions, long existent In this indes-
cribably foul breeding place Of disease
endeavored to present an array OF IN
structlye facts, which might serve as
a warning to the health authorities or
Greater New York. For We too, have
black spots-danger points-upO our
CITY man. which should be cleaned UP
az thoroughly as possible, ana that
without delay. There Is no occasion Tor
alarm but even those who are not
medical experts will recognize the nced
for precautions on the part OF oul
health authorities as they note the
slow. but steady progress OF the plague
around the world. Under date OF Jahu-
airy 9. 1901, Supervising surgeon Cen
eral Wyman, of the United states Ma
rlne hospital service, telegraphed TO
Or. j. " white. at San Francisco:
"Slr-Regardlng plague In san fran
cisco you might say situation not acute
Experience Oporto, Santos and Gas
gov. and climatic conditions In san
Francisco make Il more a matter OF
future menace as instanced In British
Journal. December 1, page 1914. Pres
cnt in Calcutta two years before ac-
knowledged Therefore more to pre-
vent future catastrophe than fiom
present alarm, measures should be
taken as necessarily arises. Nor need
-. 4. L.,
alarm. but should include inspection
isolation and dlsir lection, Just as IN
smallpox. Assured of this, publication
would be unnecessary
That telegram hg y been publicly con-
strued as meaning that 80 long as cases
Of bubonic plague are subjected 10
'1nspection, isolation and distinction,
the public need not be Informed as TO
the number OF cases discovered since
Secretary Gags commission Of inYes"
tlgation made its report. Whether that
II correct Interpretation or not there
still remains the more impressive fact
stated In the telegram as follows
present in Calcutta two years before
Acknowledged. Therefore more to pre-
vent future catastrophe than from
present alarm, measures should be
taken as necessity arises
Dr. ]. c. Perry. chief quarantine Of
fcer for the Philippine Islands, report
ed to the United States surgeon gem
eral. under date Of March q. 1901
plague, % cases and 10 Deaths
Chinese, IS; Flliplnos, {"
Under date Of March 2S, Dr. Perry
notes the important fact that dislnfec-
ton alone does not stay the progress OF
the plague The doctors letter In part
reads as follows:
slr--Referrlng still further TO the In
crease OF plague I'm Manila ] have the
honor to state that most Of the cases
have occurred among the Chinese, and
that the Infection Is more virulent than
I'm the preceding year many cases dy-
Ing during the first twenty-fOur hours
of the disease. before any external
glandular engagements are manifest.
In some the duration Of sickness has
been only q few hours before death
results.
Another point Of practical Importance
IL the fact that nearly all cases are
traced 10 the houses infected last year.
All these houses were dlsinfected as
thoroughly as possible in buildings OF
their character, and had been occupied
several months without any cases Of
plague occurring among the inmates.
II is evident that the cases now occur
ring are not the result Of fresh infec-
ton Of the house, but In all probability
an increase OF the vlrulence of the
previous Infection.
In April last the Y. s. surgeon gen
eral received a report from Surgeon
Golfer, stationed at Honolulu, on the
case OF a japanese woman named
1wami Yei. aged II years who died OF
bubonic plague on March a. The de-
ceased had been employed as a nurse
and Dr. Carmichael OF the u. S. marine
hospital service said In his report.
THE woman had been resident Of