The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-07-29
BU6okiC PLAGUE APPEARS IN
NEW ORLEANS.

! In the industrial home of the volun-
teers of America, one death resulting,
the post norton confirming the dag.
nosis- Thanks to the ceeseless yigI-
lance of the quarantine officers OF the
United States public health, service,
this is but the second instance in
which this dread disease has gained
foothold On American soil In the
last twenty years. during which time
It has made one OF its periodic and
mysterious circuits OF the globe. The
four worldwide epidemics Of bubonic
plague in previous centuries. while
carrying unprecedented death and dis
aster to the human race, did not
touch the North American continent.
at that time unsettled by civilized
men and cut OF from communication
with the outside world. The an
nouncement of bubonic plague within
our borders, if made ten years ago.
would have caused CONSERVATION and
panic throughout the country. while
one hundred OF three hundred years
ago. the disease would probably have
been unrecognizeG and would have
smoldered in its characteristic fash
ion until large number OF cases and
many centers OF infection had devel-
oped. Today through the knowledge
given US by scientific medicine. we
know the cause, the method OF trans
mission and the necessary measures
| for controlling this dread black
death" Of history. knowledge alone,
however, will never save. The know
ledge must be applied promptly and
energetically. No time must be lost
in stamping out the infection, which
/ in the case OF bubonic plague. is trans
mitted by rats and, feas. The prompt
action OF the authorities in New Or
leans is in gratifying contrast to the
! inactivity, delay and evasion OF the
| responsible officials in San Francisco
under similar circumstances ten years
ago. There has been no hesitation,
no attempt to suppress the facts. no
Indignation" over the announcement
! that the health OF the city was in
/ danger New Orleans has learned by
years OF bitter experience with yellow
/ fever that temporizing and denial al
ways give disease more time to de-
! velop. The local health officers
promptly recognized the disease. The
state health authorities were tmmedi-
ately notified and took action at once.
Before the facts had had time to ap-
pear in the daily press, the United
States public health service had been
called on for assistance. Surgeon
%, 70
now in charge Of the situation. Wide
experience gained in fighting this dis
ease in Honolulu and San Francisco
has gicen General Blue a training for
this task possessed by few, IL any,
other sanitarians, while Surgeon
Creers mastery work in Porto Rico,
in controlling the plague on that IS
/ land. is well known. Swift, decisive
and effective action Is necessary on
the part OF LEGAL state and national
health officers. The immediate CO.
operation of the general public and
especially of all railroad. transporta-
ton and local officials is also neces-
sary. Ports reached by shipping must
be watched to prevent landing of the
rodents responsible for spreading the
/ disease. It is impossible to state at
present the extent OF the infection or
the number OF hidden cases, but We
NAV rest assured says the Journal OF
the American Medical association. that
the fight will be wagei with the aid
OF all the weapons of modern science,
and that all necessary funds will be
promptly provided. Some one has said
that the first yellow fever patient al
ways dies. so also with 5ubonic
plague. A Characteristic o: this dis.
ease IS that il snolders unrecognized
and suddenly breaks out, apparently
from a number Of different csntsrs Of
infection. The discovery of two cases
in New Orleans indicates that there
are other persons infected, and. we
may look for the report Of additional
cases in the course o. the next week
4 The country is to be congratulated on
( the fact that New Orleans and Louisi-
ana have in this emergency wide
awake and energetic health officers
WHO have lost no time in acting.