New-York tribune., 1912-07-15
THE RAT MUST CO"
Only Way to Keep the Bubonlc
Plague Out of the Country.
CUBA FREE OF SUSPICION
Single Suspected Case at Havana
Proves Negative-More
in Porto Rico.

Washington, July A-BubOnic plague Is
at the gates of the United States.
A few years ago such an announcement
would have charged the nation with ex-
element and fear. In this day Of advanced
knowledge and scientific wonders, however,
IT is hardly more than an incident in the
worlds news.
When, month ago, the first suspicion
Of buhonic plague appeared in the con-
gested district of the old city of San Juan.
Porto Rico, and later in Havana. Cuba, the
| Public Health Service virtually spread a net
around the United States to keep the plague
| oIt and then proceeded to attack the dis
ease a. its seat.
war on bubonic plague means war on
rats, and so the resources Of the men who
cleaned New Orleans of dread yellow fever
and conquered the diseases of the tropics
were at once directed in a scientific cam
paisn against rats in Porto Rico Cuba and
| the seaports Of the United States. The
/ same measures which have made san Fran
cisco rat proof and plague proof were set
in motion.
! Cuba is now freed of scourge suspicion.
Past Assistant Surgeon Won Ezdorf re-
ported to-day that the single plague sus-
| pect at Havana mad proved negative" "
The patient is still confined and under
treatment. but it is certain that he is not
suffering from the plague.
on receiving this report Surgeon General
Blue. Of the Public Health and Marine Hos
! pital Service. instructed Dr. Ezdorf TO per-
| NIT passengers for New York to embark
directly from Havana without detention.
The time OF the sea voyage Will be allowed,
and the passengers will be detained in
quarantine at New York long enough to
make up the required seven days.
! Three new plague cases were reported
from Porto Rico to-day by Past Assistant
measures on that island. Two cases de-
veloped at Sarturcc. where the principal
American colony is located, and one at
San Juan This is the largest number OF
cases TO be reported in any one day since
the scare started. and brings the total on
the island to thirty-nine. There are now
! nine cases at Santurcc.
Seventy men ana four officers are fight
| ing the plague In Porto Rico, and twenty
| FIVE men and five officers are guarding the
! exits Of the island, that the disease may
hot be carried TO the United States.
Every port on the Gulf and the Atlantic
is protected against Infection. Every citi-
zen may help make the United States
| plague proof by helping 10 exterminate all
rats. The rat must 60" says Surgeon
| General Blue OF the Public Health Service.
Continuing. he says:
Destroy the rats ana you destroy the
| plague. Plague is a rodent disease Fleas
carry the disease from rodents 10 men.
Human a n nf
Rodent plague Is regarded by the laymen
as inconsequentiai Therefore the thing 10
do is 10 discover the plague while It is vet
! rodent plague and before 1t has become HI
man plague.
To avoid getting the plague, avoid rats
and heas. To avoid rats and feas, live In
a rat-prOof, rat-lree house. Houses may
| be rat proof by the use OF impervious
foundation and basement coverings. Cen
crete is the ideal substance for this
There has been no policy Of concea lment
with regard 20 tho plague situation. II has
been felt that by telling frankly what has
happened the citizens would interest them
selves in a campaign Of sanitation and
would cooperate with local health author.-
ties. 4 little money spent now will yield
good returns
Havana. July l4-No further cases Of
bubonic plague have been reported and the
sanitary authorities are encouraged. espe-
cIally because no infected rats have been
discovered
DR. r. n. Won Ezdorf Of the United
States Marine Hospital Service, has re-
ceived permission from Washington to dis
patch first class passengers to all Ameri-
can ports without previous quarantine de-
tention, provided they have a certificate ct
health and have not been in the infected
zone in the lower part OF the city