Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-23
A PLAGUt|:.; !! DISEASE
Likely of Being Imported
Here From Italy.
FREQUENT OUTBREAKS
ARE NOT UNUSUAL IN MANY
CITIES THERE.
Only Steerage Passengers Are Subject
to Medical Examination-Some
Contagious Diseases Mentioned.
FREQUENT OUTBREAKS

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
NAPLES Italy. April IL, 1904.
The appearance In the United States of
a great plague of disease imported from
southern Europe would surprise no medical
man familiar with European conditions and
In touch with the increasing human tide of
emigration flowing toward the North Amer
lean continent. In fact, such a calamity Is
already forecasted as one Of the probable
ties of the near future.
To postpone, or possibly to entirely pre-
vent the catastrophe will require constant
vigilance made more effective by the adop-
ton of new methods and the application of
the highest intelligence to a threatening
situation.
The people Of Europe are accustomed to
disease. They do not fear it as do Ameri-
cans. for among them at all times are nu-
merous cases of what are considered dan
gerous contagious diseases. 1t is not usual
for instance, to regard Europe as a source
OF yellow fever, and yet In the history of the
events of past centuries are recorded cpl
denies as J., beside SID, which those already expert
enced IN the western hemisphere appear
insignificant. A hundred years ago 25COO
people died In the city of Barcelona, Spain
alone, and as late as 1857 there were 200
cases in the city of Lisbon. The city Of
Leghorn. Italy, has had yellow fever cpl
denies, during one of which there were as
many as 1000 deaths There have been no
recent outbreaks of notable virulency, but
there Is more or less yellow fever in south
ern Europe at ell times. Nothing is heard
Of 1t for the reason that the people accept
such occurrences rather as a matter of
course.
Outbreaks With Alarming Frequency.
Outbreaks of cholera and bubonic plague
occur with alarming frequency in localities
SO Isolated from the world as to cause little
concern. Hardly month passes, however,
In which evidences of these diseases are not
discovered at some of the great seaports,
and they are taken as a matter of course
by the medical authorities. Every precau-
ton of quarantine and treatment is used to
prevent the spread but the mere fact of
their existence is threat to the communi-
ties In which they appear and to all other
communities IN touch with them through
Trachoma, disease of the eyes. prevails
extensively from Spain to the Levant, and
is the principal disease looked for by those
charged with the inspection of immigrants
1t is said that 10 per cent Of the cases
treated by the public hospital institutions
of Naples are trachoma. About per cent
of the people who arrive at the ports of de-
parture with the intention of sailing for
the new world are rejected by the ship
companies as being SO evidently addicted
with traehoma that # would be useless to
attempt to pass them through the mmi-
grafton barriers OF the United States.
The disease in itself is highly dangerous,
and one to be kept out of the country if
such thing is possible. and no effort which
can be made by the United States govern
ment 10 prevent 1t from securing a foothold
In America would be considered as extreme
by those familiar with the bad physical and
mental results to the peoples already af-
hicted
One Of the strongest arguments made in
favor of great vigilance in this matter is
the possible effect such a disease might
have upon the public school system of the
United States. In no country in the world
are people so democratic in sending their
children to the public schools as in Ameri-
ca. This is due to the high physical condi-
ton of the children of the nation No fami-
ly which can afford to pay for tuition will
send Its children to the public schools In
southern Europe because of the danger of
contagion. This has direct effect in low
ertng the tone of the entire educa tional
system. and should trachoma. or ."sore
eyes,. as 1t is popularity known, become
general among the children, of our large
cities, the bad effect upon the educational
system would become Immediately appar-
emit
authorities who have studied this question,
and that is that the climate of the United
States Is peculiarly favorable to the rapid
Development and spread of this disease of
the eyes. The climate being changea bic,
and presenting within the course of twelve
months all the extremes of moisture and
temperature, there Is certain to occur in
some month Of the year climatic condition
especially favorable to the spread of ira
choma, and 1t would thus more easily be-
come violently epidemic than In country
where climatic conditions varied compare
lively little.
Only Storage Passengers Examined.
During the past year 10000 emigrants
embaEking for the United States have been
examined by the medical officers represent
ing that country and stationed at italian
ports. AS stated, about per cent of these
people have been rejected by the steamship
companies at the advice of the medical
men. Some of these people have imme
diately taken passage in the second and
often even in the first cabins of outgoing
steamers, with the expectation of thus
being able to pass the medical examina-
ton in New York. Under the present reg
ulations of the United States government
the American representatives are only al
lowed to inspect the Storage passengers
at points of embarkation A like eXamina-
ton of both first and second-class passen-
gers is recommended by those familiar with
the situation The steamship companies
arc averse, however, to this being DONE as
a