Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-19
FRISCO HAS PLAGUE
Not a Shadow of Doubt" Say
Health Officers.
IN CONFERENCE TODAY
CALIFORNIA AUTHORITIES MUST
TAKE ACTION AT ONCE.
Nineteen States Represented at Meet
ing Held at Surgeon General
Wyman's Office.
IN CONFERENCE TODAY

At conference of representatives Of the
| health departments of nineteen states, In
dian territory and the District of Column
' bia. held today at the office of Surgeon
General Wyman of the public health and
marine hospital service. this resolution, in
troduced by DR.. John S. Fulton of the
Maryland state board of health. was adopt
ed:
Whereas this conference believes with
out a shadow of division of opinion that
plague exists and has existed in San Fran
cisco, the representative from California.
DIR. Gardner. is requested to present to this
conference within as short time possi-
Bile definite signed assurances from the
governor of the state and the mayor of San
Francisco which will bind the city boar Of
health and the state board of health. SO far
as those two men can control those offices,
to assume each their several and joint re-
SponSibility in the suppression of plague
and to pursue them to the utmost in har-
mony with each other and in fun co-opera-
ton with the United States public health
and marine hospital service
The conference was called by Surgeon
General Wyman to consider the subject OF
bubonic plague in the United States. Those
| in attendance were: California, Dr. Mathew
Gardner; Connecticut. DIR. c. a. Lindsey;
Colorado, DR.. H r. Bull; Delaware. Dr. c.
w. Cooper, DIR. Alex. Lowber: District of
Columbia, DR.. VIM. c. Woodward Indian
territory. DR.. NJ. r. Thompson. Iowa. DIR.
7. l.. Kennedy; Indiana. DR.. j. y. Hurry:
Louisiana. DR.. Arthur Nolte; Maine. DIR.
Charles D. Smith; Maryland. DIR. John S.
Fulton; Minnesota, Dr. II. Nj. Bracken: New
Jersey, DR.. Henry Mitchell; North Carolina.
DR.. r. NJ Lewis; PENNSYLVANIA. DR. Benz
Lee; Rhode Island. DIR. G.. T. Swarts; South
Carolina, Dr. I. G.. Smons: Vermont. DIR.
H. D. Holton; Virginia, DIR. p. y. Irving;
New York, DR.. Daniel Lewis; Tennessee
DR.. j. A Albright
The question of admitting reporters to the
conference provoked considerable discus
sion. Dr. Fulton said that ii was eninently
proper that the press should be represented
at the conference, and the members voted to
sustain him in the motion that reporters not
be excluded
Gen. Wyman's Statement
Surgeon General Wyman addressed the
conference at length
The object Of this conference" he said,
'is well set forth in the second of the two
resolutions which were passed by the
ference of State and Provincial Boards of
Health of North America at their meeting
in New Haven October % and -. 1gU2 BE-
ing a joint conference for the purpose Of
eradicating plague from the Emitted States.
and the requests which have been received
from certain boards of health in accord
ance with those resolutions are properly
represented by the language of the request
from the state board of health of Maine,
under date of November 12. 1902. suggest
ing that 1T Is desirable that a conference
be held between you (meanine the public
health and marine hospital service) and the
various state boards of health in regard to
the present danger from bubonic plague,
and how the danger may best be obviated.
THE subject of the recent. outbreak of
plague in Mexico will be presently con-
sidered. but it is deemed best to consider
first the situation as 1t exists in San Fran
cisco.
'At the date of the meeting CT the con-
ference in New Haven, October 2S. 1902,
an inspection under the auspices of this
service was being made of places outside of
San Francisco, to ascertain, if possible.
whether any such places were infected with
bubonic plague. 1 had received a report
from but one locality at that time. and was.
therefore. unable to make any statement
to the conference"
The surgeon general read a letter ad-
dressed to Surgeon Glennan, who until
short time ago was chief sanitary officer of
the public health and marine hospital serv-
ice In Cuba, having been the chief quaran-
tine officer of that island and detailed on
Gen. Woods staff during the American DC
cupation, det ailing Glennan Inspector of
quarantine and marine hospital station or
the Pacific coast. An arrangement was
effected by which DR.. Gardner. chief sur
geon of the Southern Pacific railroad. who,
so far as could be ascertained by the bu-
reau, had taken no attitude agonistic to
the recognition of plague and its eradica
tion, together with Surgeon Giennan. should
inspect the places named. Reports, he
said. were received of the Investigations
made at Oakland. Berkeley. Alameda. San
Jose, Sacramento. Davisville, Stockton,
Fresno and Bakersfield.
Inspections to Be Renewed
''These inspections are to be renewed
from time to time practicable the sur
geon general continued. "They had not yet
been completed when left Washington for
New Orleans to attend the meeting of the
American Public Health Association ard
while there determined to personally Visit
San Francisco to become acquainted. from
personal observation, with the state Of
affairs
Gen. Wyman described his visit to Gov
Gage, health and other officials. Cont l.
uing, he said:
Gov. Gage announced his intention of
standing by his statement, but offered to
assist in any way possible in the elimination
of the disease which prevailed in China
town. A more important assurance was
that given by DR.. Pardee, who seemed to
fully realize the gravity of the situation
and expressed his determination to leave
nothing undone in the matter of giving aid
and support to the necessary measures.
Mayor Schmitz admitted to me in the
presence of witness that the disease was
plague, and though he pointed out that he
was not in harmony with his city beard Of
health he would nevertheless do everything
possible to rid Chinatown Of the disease
and would give his best efforts in that di-
rection.
1.-The city board of health, who deserve a
great deal Of credit for the work which
they have done under trying circumstances,
were informed that in all possible ways the
service would assist them. that it was
understood that the work going on in
Chinatown was practically their (the city
board's) work, and that while Gov. Gage
had offered, in illustration of his desire to
assist in the elimination Of the disease from
Chinatown, the servicse of two inspectors to
aid in that work. they were declined, mas
much as 1t was deemed unnecessary In view
Of the inspectors already employed by the
city board and the public health and marine
hospital service, and also informed the
city board that In case of difficulty being
experienced in obtaining means or persons
for the prosecution of the work in China
town assistance would be rendered them by
this service.
The Amount Of Plague.
.I asked DIR. Williamson. the then presf-
dent Of the city board. hts opinion as to the
amount of plague which night be existing
in Chinatown. and he expressed the opin-
ion that it was not great. OF course, We