New-York tribune., 1907-10-04

but they are not complaining. When the his
tory of the plague fight of 1907 is written their
names will deserve a high place in the honor
roll
THIRTY-FIVE CASES. TN ENTY DEATHS.
At the time of the visit to the plague hospital
there had been thirty-fve cases and twenty
deaths. Fourteen patients. the majority of them
women and children, were fighting with the
dread disease or slowly recovering from it's raw
ages. All had been treated with injections Of
Yersim serum which is steadily lowering the
death rate of a disease that not long ago was
considered incurabe.
The patients lay neat cots, two in tent.
with the exception of one large tent, in which
a mother and three small children. The
tents were carefully screened against insects,
and plenty of air is necessary TO successful
treatment they served admirably.
In the first tent visited lay two sisters in the
third day Of their struggle for life. They were
young women from a family in fair crcum-
stances. One of the young women had been
employed as a stenographer in one of the big
railroad offices They lived with their father,
who city empoye.
The source OF infection of the sisters was a
mystery until one Of them happened TO men
tion that her uncle had recently died after
illness Of two days, of what the doctor pro-
nounced quick pneumonia. His widow had
come to the home Of the two young women,
and day or so later both had taken Ill and
plague symptoms speedily manifested them
selves.
Investigation showed that there had been a
mistaken diagnosis in the case of the uncle.
He had died from the plague, and his widow,
in all probability, had carried infected heas to
the other home without being bitten.
FLEAs CARRY THE GERM.
In a neghborng tent lay two youngsters of
eight or nine who were on the road to re-
covery. The temperature charts pinned over
their cots showed how desperate had been their
struggle with the poison There was or
less mystery about the source of infection Of
the brothers There had been no known plague
cases in the vicinity Of their home, a refuge
cabin in the Mission district.
II want you to think over where you were
and what you did the day before you were
taken SICK" said Dr. O'Neill. who is in
charge Of the hospital for the city and who is
an experienced plague fighter.
The oldest boy, thin little chap with fiery
red hair, whose great freckles stood out with
glaring prominence in contrast with his blood
less skin. gave a record Of a usual day OF boy
of his age
did you play around any stable or other
place where there were likely to be rats?'
asked the doctor.
At the mention of rats his little face
lighted up.
I'VE found big dead rat t'other day. he
declared. I'VE played with it while"
Then what did you do with it?" asked the
doctor.
I'VE had funeral and buried it." was the
answer. which told the story of this Infection.
The physicians found just where the rat had
been buried and later dug it up. Examination
showed that it had died from the plague and
made clear that the boys had been bitten by
fieas which left the dead body carrying the
poison. All this was explained to the brothers,
and there are two youngsters who will never
again play with dead rats.
Few of the plague victims in the hospital
when The Tribune correspondent visited it
showed signs of the black eruption which gives
the bubonic pest its popular name Here and
there would be little splotches of the telltale
black marks. Swollen glands which caused
much suffering were in evidence but in nearly
every the liberal administration Of serum
glands, and those who on the road to
recovery will not be disfgured.
PERMANENT CAMP BUILDING.
From the City Hospital, after thorough
carbolic bath. the visitors went to the county
pesthouse at 26th and Army streets, where
the permanent plague camp was IN course OF
construction. This camp will be under the
direct charge Of the government surgeons
The permanent camp occupies a bluff near
the smallpox hospital and is surrounded by a
ratproof fence. Owing to the fondness of
rodents for going where they are not wanted,
It was necessary to sacrifice hedge of tower
ing eucalyptus trees whose branches overhung
the inclosure.
Tents will not be used at this government
hospital With the coming of the rainy season
they would prove unsatisfactory.
In their stead a nunnher NJ sha fra ma oottaaaa