The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1910-09-15

44qM 70 inquiry ne mas itit
9CMN Obliged to explain that the
animals are wanted not for
viyisection. but for the
manufacture OF serumB and a~ntitoXinR.
They are dosed with small quantities
Of disease germs again and again untA.
having been "hyperimmunized" by
this means. their blood contains an
anti-poison utilizable as a cure for the
malady, whatever Il may be, In hu-
man beings.
Mithridates OF old. the celebrated
king Of Pontus. was so afraid Of being
poisoned. that he dosed himself con-
stantly with small quantities OF varf-
Gus kinds Of poisons IN order hat he
might become IN a measure proof
against them. Practically the same
method Is adopted by the public
health service. which, in the manner
described, OPPORTUNITIES" such
animals as sheep, horses. cows and
rabbits. With a view 70 the subsequent
employment Of their blood for the
cure or prevention OF disease. Il is
by this means. for instance. that diph-
iberia Rntitoxin Ia obtained.
BY the same means II is hoped TO
secure a satisfactory serum for the
treatment or prevention OF the bubon-
&c plague. Already. in India. the
plague vaccine" has been obtained
made by breeding the germs Of the
disease IN beef soup. and then killing
them by heat, the resulting fluid being
administered by hypodermic injection.
This Is a matter Of extreme impor.
tance. inasmuCh as the malady in
question is az the present time threat
ening to ravage our own country.
Our government during the last rs
cal year. spent sG50,000 in fighting the
plague on the Pacific coast. and with.
IN the next twelve months Il viii ex.
pend about $1,000. 600 for the same
purpose. From this fact Il may be
Judged that the situation in regard 10
the bubonic disoase-or black death.
rs Il used 20 BE- caIlcd-In the United
states Just now IS far from cheerful,
Notwithstanding the efforts OF tie
health authorities 20 minimize alarm
on the subject.
The truth Is that this most dreaded
n destructive 81 al human maJadles
secmr 20 have obtained a secure foot
hold on the Pacific coast. where small
epldemics o. Il have broken out IN sew.
eral Of the larger cities within the last
three years. But the most serious fea.
ture of the situation neT IN the CIR.
cumstance that the hubonic infection
has already become widely spread
among the rats Of tho towns and the
ground squirrels OF the rural districts
IN that region.
The plague IS a rat disease primA.
rily. Il IS conveyed TO human beings
Cos wcll as 20 ground squirrelsl BY
the aea A flea hRos a ~plsEuc-sick rat
and later on. q bites a man. thus ~.
o%cu'sting the latter with the deadly
infection.
u g. only through quite remarkable
good luck that the malhdy has not
already made its appearance az u
principal Atlantic seaports. This
may we'll happen. and the public
health service (which has It's head.
quarters az WashinEtoul has had for
som" time past a complete plan OF
campaign mapped out TO meet such
nu emergency
Immense quantities OF grain and
other merchandise are constantly be.
ms shipped from san Francisco and
olhor Pacific coast ports 70 tho Fast.
Rats are often transported with such
merchandise. as involuntary paaseu-
gers hidacn In grain sacks. or other
wise l.; M or two plaruo-atrickrn
specimens be delivered IN New York
and the metropolis would DO likely
soon To have an epidemic on So
handF-thC arst wnruSnr Of tho out.
hrcak botor Afforded by the Rnding OF
large numbers OF dead and dying rats
about tho wharysB and IN the strcota.
To hBht she mischief n Il once got
started 81 New Yofk. tho municipality
would be- oblired 20 ware q war OF
liberalization against rats. This would
involve an expenditure ~ mary mtl
lions Of dolhrs-much money being
rouuircd not only for tho wholcsal0
trapping and poisoning Of The animals.
but also fuy tho r~atproonnE Of sewers,
houses and particularly b~uitaiugs used
Tor the storage Of food supplies. t,N.
p]erlence has shown that the only way
60 set rid OF such vermin is 10 de-,
priye them Of food n hiding pisces
trtbutiou among human bcings on two
tribution among human heNg on two
Rnimals-the rat and the nea. 10
serves very stiikingly 10 illustrate
whnt might be called the modern 20.
illogical aspect or diseases. The work
ing laboratory Of the public health
service IN Washington e. today. In
seed, a sort ~ station Tor natural his.
tory research, and an official BIOLOGIST,
DR.. Charles W stiles Is IN charge OF
one OF its most Important departments.
Nowadays, when the study OF a dis.
ease IA begun, suspicious are always
entertained against one or more ami,
mails, as possibly accountable for tho
trouble directly or indlrecty-iust aa,
for example. the African crocodile Is
charged with maintaining In its blood
the parasite OF sleeping sickness, g
which the dreaded tsetso hy latter