Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-08-01

their laborS about the docks, they
should also be sent aboard ship on ar
rival to rid il of rats. One of the in
teresting sights on arrival at the port
of London is to observe the red uni
formed band of rat killers come aboard
ship and commence their operations
before the passengers have even dis
embarked.
The above referred to medical jour-
nal says:
Bubonic plague, the BLACK Death" of
the Middle Ages, is epidemic in South
America, Unfortunately, health con-
ditions among our southern neighbors
arc not the best. Where is the source
OF our danger? Is our health imper-
lied from without or willing Is our
danger close or distant2 Our danger Is
without. and not within, cur borders
and i; is not distant but very close and
really on top of us. Ii the Mississippi
valley or the central or eastern borders
of this country are ever infected or
should there occur wholesale ditfu-
sion throughout the United States, the
disease will enter through some port OF
the South Atlantic or Mexican Gulf;
and more than probable the gateway OF
the infection will be New orleans, Mo-
bile or Galveston. Many believe that
our only source of danger from with
out lies in direct communication with
the now infected ports of the Far East
India, China and Japan-and that the
probability will also be considerably
heightened on the completion of the
Panama Canal. That there is danger
from these sources is not denied, but
this is not our single source OF danger
our menace to-day, this very moment,
is South America, the West Indies,
Central America and Mexico. 1t is the
existing infection in the American
tropics which threatens our safety. ana
it Sehooves US to exercise the greatest
caution in repelling the invasion of this
travelling disease. The presence of
plague in any one of the ports of the
South Atlantic or the Gulf of Mexico
would imperil the entire country. Thus
to-day we stand facing problem the
solution of which cannot in prudence
be undertaken too early.
The entire western coast line of
South America is now infected. On
the eastern coast the infection is dis
trihuted in spots and does not follow a
continuous line. How soon these spots
may be connected in a chain of con-
tinucns infection we do not kow. We
do know, however, that from one of
these infected spots plague travelled to
Porto Rico and Cuba.
In not one of these South American
countries does there exist properly
constituted board of health. No rolia-
BILE certificate and recordation of deaths
is enforced. Governmental authority
relating to health measures is divided
in such a manner as to render the ser
vice inefficient and confusing. The au-
thorities apparently have not the con-
stitutional power to enact or enforce
such regulations as would tend to les
sen the spread of disease and increase
professional knowledge on the subject.
In some cases there also prevails an
appearance of great indifference as to
whether or not disease exists.
There is lack of cooperation be-
tween the state and local health OFF,
Gals of South America, and this lack
of unity is greatly in evidence during
the time of epidemics. Maritime SAM
tation Of the health authorities of these
countries is not only improperly con-
Quoted, but is, as well, "a hindrance to
commerce and a source of expense to
ship-ewners. A uniform international
system of maritime sanitation and fu-
migation would prove of great benefit
to shipping, and at the same time
minimize the dangers of spread of the
disease. The measures used in com
batting the plague are inadequate and
antiquated.
AS to the original source of infection
on the western coast of South America
fut little is definitely known. though
1t rs believed that commercial inter-
course with India is responsible for its
presence. The exports of these coun-
triess should also receive attention.
They are hay, wool tvicuna, ALPACA
and sheep), dry salt hides, chinchilla
frodenD pelts, vegetables, wines, nj
trates, copper and silver. In view of
the great loss of life suffered by China
in the Manchurian district through
trafticking in the pelts of infected mar
mots, 1t behooves us to exercise the
greatest care in dealing with importa-
tons of ehinchilla erodenO pelts.
''tlai anu economic cOlnlt10nS IN
South America are not much better
than those of the Far East The edu-
cational and intellectual condition of
the people is of low order. The most
distinguishing trait in their character
is their imperturbable and incurablc
apathy They are habitually slow in
their movements and extremely indo-
lent. Their dwelling places are moth
ing more than dark, ill-ventilated, one
story matched huts, offering no de-
Tense from either wind or rain. One
small room usually shelters the whole
family; their bed is a sheep skin oil
two; their cooking facilities. one or two
earthern pots and a rude oven built in
to the wall; their diet consists mainly
Of vegetables and corn products. In.
lection was probably carried from
South America to Cuba and Porto Rice
by small smuggling vessels, coast
traders and wandering hlack JahararS