New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-04
NO ALARM OVER PLAGUE,
MEASURES TAKEN TO FIGHT THE
DISEASE IN san FRANCISCO.

Washington. Nov. 5 (SpeciaD.-Attenpt, to draw
any alarming conclusions from the action Of tn.
annual conference of State boards OF health. at
->eW-HaVen. last week, in cOndemning the Cali
torna State Board for its attitude toward bubonio
plague In San Francisco seem unwarrauted No
great development of the disease has been reuort-
ca nut there has been. il is true, steady ap-
pearance OF the disease ever since last May From,
december to May the Marine Hospital Servf,. su-
thorities reported only three cases; there were
three more in May FIVE in July ten in August
nine IN September and six last month the decrease
oeins coincident with the coming Of cool weather.
me action of the Board of Health criticism OF
past rather than present methods.
NJ the present time the local authorities OF san
Francisco are cooperating with the Marine IIC s.
Pi'aI service in dealing with the matter There is
no evidence ObtainabIe in Washington which sIa,-
sests mat the State Board is either interfering tn
stop tne activity of the Marine Hospital Service
aS IL did IN the past. vet there any sign or
Increased activity on the part Of the state BoarI
to tight the disease
Ihe story OF the former dim culties experfsn ed
oy the Marine Hospital Service out Of which has
probably srOwn the recent action OF the cOne.r
ehee Is OF unusual interest. In March 1900 the
local Board OF Health of San Francisco reported a
case OF buoonic plague, which was confirmed BY
d meteorological test made by a surgeon OF the
'i"'ine hospital Service The local board. with
the approval of the Mayor. was disposed TO tak,
Idolcai measures for the suppression OF the epi-
Genie but the Governor. backed by the local press
TOOK an opposite view. in fact denying the exist
ehce OF the disease. The opposition to the work or
the Iocai board. which made By the State
board was attributed the pressure OF the Gov
ernor- So strong the feeling that the local
Board of Health came to be known and ridiculed
as the Bubontc Board So sharp was the critf-
elsrn OF the attitude Of the officers OF the Narfns
IioSpital Service-an opposition which was carried
10 the Treasury Department where the denials OF
the state authorities were repeated-that special
commission appointed BY the Treasury Departp,eut
ana composed of Eastern psychologists. was sent
to San Francisco. This commission in its reuorts
confirmed the earlier Investigations Of the Marius
Hospital Service
AS result Of this commissions Investigation an,
arrangement was made between the local author.
lties the State Board and the Marine HospitaI
service oy which Chinatown. to which the disease
hao peen restricted. was thoroughly cleaned I'D.
over 1900 rooms being cleaned. In this work NOT
a single case of bubonic plague was discovered a
circumstance which was the source OF general
satlstdction to the LOCAL press and the Governor
Whole scheme and denied the existence OF the dis
tSst the a b me etner hand It was freely suggested
tne result OF scheme OF the opponents Of the
charge was never proved
For some time thereafter there was no case OF
country repeatedly declared that the n1nbsr OF
sbses had been much greater than the statistics
oIIerent from what might have been expected in
considerable period however the disease was onc
more detected ard has persisted TO the present
but have been hampered by lack Of funds RE
Sss b bis s mas 0een quiet the Governor having
Inc approach OF an election has also been a rea-
son for avoiding the subject.
At no time has the disease been OF any serious
HlSnace: ana confined as il is to Chinatown with
medical officials Of the Marine Hospital Service I.e
+bt p5esehI oseI or ths Washington authorities is
gether with the election of a new man as Gov
change IN conditions.