The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-05-10
FLORIDA AND
HATED PLAGUE
THIS STATE HAS NEVER BEEN
VISITED BY 1T, BUT EPf0EMIcs
ARE NOT IMPOSSIBLE.

The plague-we call 1t the bubonic
plague-probabIy has claimed as many
victims in the history Of this sad
world as the wars that have changed
the maps of Europe and Asia and on
this hemisphere; says recent Florida
board of health bulletin
Under the names of the scourge, the
black plague and other more or less
descriptive titles, this disease varying
but little in type has brought devas-
tatfon and panic and death-380 900
victims in Naples within six months in
the seventeenth century; $4,000 III
Constantfnople I'm 1872 10000 in Lon
don in the great plague; 100000
in China In few short years Of the
fourteenth century, and 25,000,000 in
the epidemic that swept over Europe
between 1347 and 1880. There was no
staying or stopping it's ravageS until,
like q great confiagration il had run
It's course, because men, horrsr strtck-
en- in the presence Of the awful visi
tation knew not it's cause or its cJlA
Such epidemics are just as possible
in these modern times even more Prob
able because of the vast increase in
international intercourse, but for the
one fact that medical science has dis
covered the method of transmission, If
not an infaIltble cure. 1t is prevention
more than cure that has given the
world of today an advantage over the
centuries OF the past.
/ II La know that the fea-the insect
that attaches itself to the hair of the
FRAT and In this hiding place trayerses
| the globe in the ships of commerce.
fcarries the germ Of infection. To avoid
the germ the rat and the flea must be
banished, or rather must be denied en-
trance at the seaports Of this country
sc the United States is to be kept free
/ in the years to come. This deadly and
inseparable trio must be fought as one,
for they can not be parted.
II fs the history of warfare against
disease, especially in epidemic form,
that IT is inefficient excepting under
or any association of individuals, can
hope to combat disease only by arous
ing public sentiment. Such sentiment
usually is not stirred until the actual
s3resence of danger makes fighting nexI
TO useless, excepting to limit the prog
reSs of disease. An instance as is now
recalled. no states have enacted siren
nous laws to control this disease. The
fight against 1T IN this country is being
carried on by private organizations, In
dividuals and boards of health which
are not backed by proper legal mea-
gures, and the disease, II Is said, Is
making more rapid strides than ever
before.
A recent warning Of the pIagu has
come to this country from the presence
of one OF two G. es in Havana. They
were controlled by prompt action OF
the Cuban health authorities, but this
nouncement OF its approach-its ac-
tuaI appearance often is the first warn
ing. IT may be reported in Florida
port next time Florida is one Of the
States from the tropics the favorite
resort OF the plague. Once entered
here, It would probably be stopped
here. but at what cost to Florida?
Quarantine, stoppage of traffic, i'm
mense commercial loss and infinite
fR "a n
the state--these are some of the pes-s
stbflIties.
Such confidence have the people of
FLORIDA in their board of health that
It will protect them from all forms of
pestilence, that all sense of individual
responsibility has been lost. Not
many years ago a we'll defined appre-
hension OF yellow fever was general
Thanks to its board of health, such
fear no longer exists and Florida is as
safe as New York or Michigal.,
This lack OF sense of individual re-
sponsibility and this confidence in its
health authorities appear to have ex-
tended 20 F1orfda's law-making bodies,
70 its legislature and to the councils
OF its cities In matters of such high
fnnportance, which touch directly the
interests OF every citizen, no organi-
xation Hike the state board OF health
can have more thar an advisory pow
ar Not until the disease has actually
made its appearance can this body as
sumo dictatorfa1 authority and en-
force it's orders with the dignity of
snacted law. In time of peace, pre-
pare for war. When the public health
10 good and before the pressure of &C
tual danger makes fighting more or
less Danicky, prepare to keep 1t good.
That this danger Is a possible one,
that 1t may come IS the belief Of the
board. Standing like a sentinel on a
high hill and surveying the situation,
with the knowledge OF the his
tory Of the disease and Of Its
tnsidious methods OF spreading, know
ing It's present occurrence In the coun-
ing out its warnings. 1t is urging
those in authority to take immediate
steps. Necessarily the preparations
for the defense must be slow, and the
sooner they are begun the sooner they
viii be completed and Florida will be
prepared for what may come.
A year must pass before enactment
by the legislature can be possible. Jud-
gfng by the past, efficient and timely
relief from this body Is uncertain and
fective legislation may be expected
from the cities, especially the sea-
port towns, which through increasing
marine commerce are in touch witl.
the outside-world.
It is war against the rat, to prevent
its entrance into Florida. 1t may not
be infected, but take no chances. 1t
Is possible TO keep 1t out. In the
years of the future 1t will become even
more necessary than now. Some day
all wharves and warehouses whef u
foreign commerce is handled must be
made rat-proof. Some day all houses,
public buildings, all places where men
live and transact business, will be and
must b constructed proof against
rats and other vermin.
Why not begin now3