Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1911-05-04
AWFUL TALES
Appalling Death Tell Has Been Iitsn BY
The Plague in China
A TERRIBLE SCOURcE
The Danger Is Passed for the Pres
ent-The Astounding Indifference
of the Doctors and the Nurses to
Catching the Disease, Which Seems

to Be So Fatal.
A Pekin letter says many true
stories are told of the plague In
North China. In one shop tailor
had eight apprentices. Two OF these
died. Their bodies were hidden, and
no report was made. Then four
more were stricken and died. But
now the master was unerved. He
gathered together his money, collect
ing what debts he could, and with a
hoard of $345 hurried on to the rail-
way, determined to flee from the
place.
But he had come from the infected
district, and the railway would not
issue him a ticket. In despair he
returned to his shop, and three days
later he died. Two apprentices now
survived: They divided his money,
and looked forward to the enjoyment
OF their gains and Of the propert,
Escape, however, was denied them.
Both died, and when the bears came
to search the house they found the
money equally shared sewn up in
the clothing on their dead bodies.
The danger is over for the present.
Delegates are now gathering for the
conference in Mukden, which will
meet under the presidency OF DR..
WI Lienteh. Many interesting ques-
tions await~answer What Is the or
igin of the plague? Why has 1t died
break out before? Why has 1t died
out? What is the nature OF the
marmot plague? Will the pneumon-
ic outbreak be succeeded by a ou-
bonic infection? During the recent
outbreak there has been an unusual
mortality among horses. mules and
pigs. There are pneumonia symp-
toms but it is believed no plague in
fection. What is the explanation!
Is the mortality coincidence only!
Finally, what is to prevent recur-
renee of the plague next October?
Infection was by erect contact.
Rats and fleas played no small part
in the infection. The attack was full
minant, there was no authentic case
OF recovery. Old persons and young
children Jared better than the strong
and middle-aged. In one family. out
of fourteen persons there were oni!
two survivors. woman OF seventy
one and her great grand-child OF two
Evidence as to the value OF inocu'
lation Is inconclusive, but evidence
is overwhelming that nearly every
case of death among European pop
ulation in the infected areas OF North
Manchuria of not less than 60,OOo.
Astonishing Indifference was man
ifested in the face of danger. DR..
Mesny. a brilliant French doctor who
died. was examining, unmasked the
chest sounds of a patient with his
naked ear when the patient coughed
into his face and thus gave him his
Qoatn. Ut. mlCllcl, thO AseS
tor. whose death shocked the COM
munity. believing himsel; immune,
showed a reckless disregard OF pre-
cautions.
When Pere Metillet was struck
down in Hulanfu, large Chinese
town. his fellow missionary from a
neighboring district, Pere Delpal'
came to nurse him. They had been
friends from boyhood. Pere Delpai
kissed his dying comrade on the lips
was infected and died in three days
In the chief plague hospital, l,oOV
plague patients were admitted anc
1000 died. An aged Chinese quacf
of the old school, named Ku, assist
cd by one dresser, was in charge o
the hospital. They cared ior the dy
ing. superintended the removal o
the dead, incurred appalling risks
took no precaution and yet enjoyed
complete immunity. Both were opium
smokers.