New-York tribune., 1908-01-12
DOESN'T FEAR PLAGUE.
DISCUSSION BY DIR. DOTY.
Too Sanitary Here for Great RdU-
ages, Says Health Officer.

Dr. A II Dotv health officer of this port, in
special article. entitled Plague in the current
Issue OF THE Medical Record" declares that bu-
bonic plague, typhus fever and other eploernlcs
that have caused persons TO die by the tens or
thousands in plague ridden districts could not exist
for such long periods be attended with such
extensive mortality to-day in this country Dr.
Doty contends that while much of the knowledge
of plague transmission IS theoretical enough facts
known OF the disease and its agents to combat
il by modern sanitary regulations. He says the
people OF this country intelligent and not only
observe but aid in the enforcement of these regu-
iations.
He says the unfavOrabie reports from India and
other sections Of the East OF the presence of the
plague have caused much uneasiness in this coun-
This especially so when the disease ap-
peared recently in San Francisco. While he has
doubt that the reports from the Orient are ac-
curate Dr. Doty maintains that the people Of India
greatly handicapped in combating the disease
through ignorance and peculiar religious creed.
which the native population deliberately and
seriously obstruct health officials in the per
foTnance Of their duty.
Dr. Doty takes up the history of the plague from
the time Of the Christian TO the outbreak IN
Western Europe in 1885. Prior TO the revival OF
the disease in India and China, and particularly
fn Hong Kong, in 1894. the writer says there was
practically no scientific knowledge OF the cause OF
the disease OF its transmission. It was then that
kitasato and Yersin. working independently OF
each other, discovered the specific organism OF the
plague
.sS,bseouen+ Investigation says DR.. Doty, has
presented numerous theories as to the means by
which This disease is transmitted the most proIni-
rent one being that il Is the rat hhroueh 'he
medium OF heas.
The Health Officer then cites that came
,r~5e- his own observation in November 1899. when
.a detained the crew Of the steamer James w Y
-zvlor which had come from Rio de Janeiro, where
a nlague EPIDEMIC existed One man died on the
T7sssare and was buried at sea. The captain said
The entire crew were in good health, and they ap-
Sc al amin 3ri0
Or Doty took the crew to SWfnburne Island
where me man whom he believed had the disease
5avelored II in a mild form. The ship was oisln-
f.ol with sulphur dioxide and all dead rats were
nut into metallic receptaces. but examination In
The laboratory showed evidence of plague among
them
Dealing with the history OF outbreaks. DR.. Doty
SAYS in part:
While every sane and practical means should oe
-zL-e1 10 rroreCT against the presence of presun-
shIy infected rats either on shipboard or on land
which are '- unreasonable and which unnecessarily
cripple commerce or the public: nesiees We 5sr as
The historv Of outbreaks Of plague and other in
fectious disease furnishes conclusive evidence that
the results which follow their appearance oepenu
vent tfeir extension Even simple measures Of
protecticn are sometimes &c vel, aTtbenti-
ared Instance OF this occurred in 1866 during the
outbreak Of plague in Italy. particularly IN Nap'es
and Rome. both populous cities -, , ~
II the latter place the measures Wt-.eu - 7,Ia-
me personal supervision of Cardinal Gastaldl VINO VINO
ss exceedingly energetic in his efforts 10 enIorJe
Cleanliness prevent overcrowdng. etc. The result
q his work was very significant Nhile plasaee
caused $4,000 eatfs in Naples. il caused but 140eo
d=aIhs in Rome. There can be no Teasor9 PIE
doubt tlsr he measures taken by Cardinal Gas
rsld were largely responsiblf for THIS result, as
the mortality at Naples CorrsSponded 10 the nnof-
-sfrv which occurred during outbreaks OF TINS os-
szse a. this period in other sections OF Europe
The present outbreak Of plague n san r rarclsco
z-r,ez-ef5 in August Of this year. Thus far mere
80. L,.e., n,71-- 10 Eases The treatment Of this
.-I-hr-aL has been under the supervision OF me
T1.,rf5 air nd
Sz---ce md the results very credItaole 10
rr0sa in charge and show what modern saillIaIy
--r-ho5s ran accomplish even in a community
rfcf has not vet recovered from q recent serious
6isorEauiZarion- g. -. - ;.,+o-,-fo,,
In referring this SUBJECT il IS not my lnJentGn ~
- heT+-Ia in anv way the danger that outbreaks
l~-arr50e 7isease may involve, but 10 elp6aslze
-r-z fact that results which follow their s5-
--az-ar,r. DEPEND principally on the means WnIch
-s[ze7 10 prevent their extension, ana tlat 50
r- as Ma gre Is concerned, the very unTavofa ape
r.ror-e which come 10 US from lnd1a ana oliLet
g.--5ons Of the East must not be accepted Hs dIt
--4f-..4fou IF what would follow an outbreak OF
ms disease tie United states or IN any oLLtei
ra-- 0f the world where modern sanitary feguld-
~Fr-7S ar enforced