Evening star., 1903-07-21
RAVAGES OF PLAGUE
OVER 81 900 CASES SINCE THE BE-
GINNING OF MAY.
In the United States There Have Been
Ninety Deaths From the Disease
Since March, 1900.

Of bubonic plague not only in the world at
large but in the United States domain. are
disclosed in the latest statistical reports OF
the marine hospital service. These statis-
tics Just made public show upwards of b.
600 known cases in the world since the be-
ginning of May and there are many more
than that number not reported. In the
United States alone there have been ninety
four cases and ninety deaths from the
plague since March, 1900. when the first case
was officially reported All of these have been
at San Francisco There were twenty two
cases at San Francisco and twenty-five
deaths during the calendar year 1900. Dur
ing the year 1901 there were twenty-nine
cases. and only four of them survived. Dur
ing the calendar year 1902 forty-one cases,
all fatal, were reported at San Francisco.
So far the calendar year 1903 has scored
only two plague victims at San Francisco.
One Of these cases developed on March II
and the other on June 8. Both OF them
proved fatal.
In the Philippines
In the Philippine Islands, during the pc
ried from April II to May 16. there were
G. cases reported. and Of these IS proved
to be fatal. The disease increased rapidly
from January, but SO cases reported during
April are expected to be the maximum
reports show that all of the cases reported
were introduced from the outside of per-
sons resident in Manila for fifteen days or
longer no new cases being introduced there
from the outside so far as the officials have
been able to ascertain. The latest report
from Assistant Surgeon Heiser. chief quar-
antine officer for the Philippine Islands,
says that only three Americans have con-
tracted the dread disease this year, and
they were of questionable habits.
A new policy of dealing with what are
known as plague contacts has been in
augurated at the Philippine capital. Con-
facts are now taken to the detention sta
ton, injected with what is called "Shega
anti-plague virus their clothing disnfect-
ed and they are then released. Expert rat
catchers are sent to the house from which
the case was taken with instructions to de-
stroy all the rats in the immediate vicinity.
The house is then disinfected with bichlor-
ide, and sometimes even burned. An ar
raugement has been made whereby the
10000 Chinese residents shall be injected
with the Shega virus
Precautionary Measures.
Letters have been written to United
States officers on duty In China suggesting
that unless they could certify that pas
sengers embarkfng for the Philippines
would not convey plague such passengers
be detained until the incubation period of
the disease be passed. The medical officer
on duty at Annoy China, has made arrange
ments to detain steerage passengers before
embarkation. Upon the arrival at Manila
of Chinese passengers the board OF health
injects them with the Shega virus.
All vessels plying between Chinese and
Philippine ports and Philippine and United
States ports are fumigated with sulphur tor
the purpose of destroying rats and other
vermin. All vessels arriving from Chinese
ports are carefully inspected, articles OF
cargo which are likely to convey infection
are prohibited. as also are animals. The
steerage passengers from Hong Kong are
disinfected and inspected previous to sail
ing. Cholera cases continue to occur on
vessels lying on the shallow side of the
Pasig river at Manila, and the reports in
dicate that the river Is infected An in
vestigation of the matter is in progress by
United States officials at Manila.
The report Of cholera occurring in the
provincial towns in the Philippines for the
week ended May 16 last the latest report
received here. shows total of 1853 cases and
245 deaths. In Manila alone the cases that
week aggregated 66 deaths and the deaths
from that disease SO. The nationality of
all these victims was Filipino.
The Plague in the Orient.
The plague is epidemic at Annoy and is
Increasing near Canton. Hongkong, Ho-
nam. Sgun TAX. Yeung Kong and Heung
Shan. In India the cases In May are num-
bered by the thousands
From May 2 to May %. in the Punjab
alone. there were 4O.469 cases and %, 100
deaths reported. There were over $500
deaths in the Bombay presidency, 675
deaths in the Madras presidency and e14
in the united provinces. kashmir, Central
India. Assam. Myso state. Hyderabad, Be
rar and Rajputana contributed over $50 to
the death list.
There were four plague deaths in Japan
and one in Mauritius In the neighborhood
OF Canton the plague seems to be more
virulent this year than at any time within
the past three years. 1t has played havoc
with the population at Kong Moon, Shut
Hing City, Lok Lo, To Sing and other
small towns and villages along the banks
of the West river there.
Four floating hospitals have been equip
ped by the charitable guilds of Canton and
are now moored in that river between Kom
Chuk and Kong Moon. Between April 10
and May 26 last there were registered 272
cases of plague with 24O deaths at Hong
Kong all except six being Chinese.
In British South Africa In six days in
May, there were six fresh cases Of plague
and In Egypt between May 80 and June 6
there were q cases of plague with 8 deaths.