Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-07
MEASURE OF PRECAUTION
Appeal to Congress Has Approval of
President Taft.
HEALTH OFFICERS STATEMENT
Malady Said to Menace Atlantic and
Gulf Coasts-Preliminar
Work Needed.

IL eildDie the duOptiOn OF protective
measures against the appearance OF
bubonic plague in Washington. the Com
missioners of the District of Columbia
have sent to the Treasury for transmits
sion to Congress an estimate for a spe-
cial appropriation of so0.oo.
The estimate is the result of a report
made to the Commissioners by District
Health Officer William c. Woodward.
pointing out that plague is menacing the
entire Atlantic and gulf coasts. and has
received the Endorsement of President
Taft. In their letter to the President the
Commissioners. ii is understood, stated
that il the disease should appear I'm the
District the current appropriations for
use in connection with the supervision
and control of contagious diseases would
be insufficient to avert its danger.
No evidences of the plague have been
discovered in Washington, but the fact
that rats in New Orleans nave been
found to be afflicted with the pestilence
has determined the local authorities to
take all precautionary methods possible.
Rat determination Proposed.
In the event of Congress allowing the
appropriation, ii is probable consider
able portion Of the fund will be expended
in rat determination campaign. 1t is
said that experiments will be conducted
to determine whether rodents in the Dis
trict show evidences of the disease.
Congress last year appropriated $500 for
the determination of rats in the District
After an investigation of what has beer
accomplished along this line in Other
cities. the local authorities reached the
| conclusion that the amount was insult
| fcient, and that it would be waste TO ex
pend it. The appropriation was allowed
| to revert to the Treasury.
In his report to the Commissioners
| Health officer Woodward. in part
says:
Il desire to call your attention to the
! fact that there is no sufficient fund at
| the command of the District of Columbia
wherewith to cope with plague, which
| is now menacing our entire Atlantic
and gulf coasts and which apparently
! has already gained a foothold among
| the rats of New Orleans. I respect
! fully recommend, therefore, that Con-
! gress be asked to make a special ap-
| preparation Of $4,000 to enable
| the Commissioners to adopt internal
protective measures against this dis
the United States public health and
marine hospital service in the effort
! which that service is making to afford
protection from without.
Precautionary Measure.
I'm anticipation of the possible intro
| duction Of plague. it is important to be-
| gin as soon as possible a campaign for
the destruction of rats, and if even a
single case of plague We're to be found.
either in human being or in a rat, the
destruction of all rats within the particu-
| lar area where such case occurred would
no INN
| occur in a human being, it would be
necessary, too, properly to care Tor the
patient and to keep under observation all
persons exposed to infection.
1T is quite apparent that no substan-
tial effort can be made with available
funds toward averting the impending
danger from plague, without at the same
time neglecting other dangers that are
closer at hand and which the health ON.
Ger is bound to guard against, such as
those from tuberculosis, typhoid fever
diphtheria, etc.
Cites Additional Reason.
IAN additional reason for asking ac-
ton by Congress at the present time is
the fact that when Congress has once
adjourned the District of Columbia is un-
able to raise any money for the preven-
ton of the plague or for the care OF
plague patients until after Congress re-
convenes. For the reasons stated. | re-
spectfully urge that Congress be asked
to appropriate the sum men ,ioned, to be
used solely for the prevention of. the
spread Of plague in the District of Column
bia and for the care of patients suffering
from that disease should any be found.
Health Officer Woodward report was
sent to the Commissioners July 30. and
on the following day the District heads
addressed a communication to the Presi-
dent pointing out the Importance of the
matter. President Taft approved the
recommendation August > and the item
for the supplemental appropriation was
sent to the Treasury yesterday with the
request that it be transmitted to Con-
greSs.