The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1914-07-21
THE PLAGUE HAS COME!

rs Orleans.
Two cases have been found
in the Industrial Home of the Volun-
teers of America, one death result
ing, the post mortem confirming the
diagnosis.
Thanks to the ceaseless vigilance
of the quarantine officers of the Uni
ted States Public Health Service, this
is but the second instance in which
this dread disease has gained a foot
hold on American soil in the last
twenty years, during which time it
has made one of its periodic and mys
ferrous circuits Of the globe The
four worldwide epidemics of bubonic
plague in previous centuries, while
carrying unprecedented death and
disaster to the human race, did NOT
touch the North American Continent,
at that time unsettled by civilized men
and cut off from communication with
the outside world.
The announcement of bubonic plague
within our borders, if made ten years
ago, would have caused consterna-
ton and panic throughout the coun-
try, while one hundred or three hun
dred years ago, the disease would
probably have been unrecognized and
would have smoldered in it's charac-
ueristic fashion until a large num-
Der of cases and many centers of in
fection had developed.
Today through the knowledge given
us by scientific medicine, we know the
cause, the method of transmission and
the necessary measures for control
ling this dread "black death" of his
tory.
knowledge alone, however, will
never save. The knowledge must be
applied promptly and energetically.
No time must be lost in stamping
out the infection, which in the case
of bubonic plague, is transmitted by
rats and feas.
The prompt action of the authori-
ties in New Orleans is in gratifying
contrast to the inactivity, delay and
evasion of the responsible officials in
San Francisco under similar circum-
stances 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 always
give disease more time to develop.
The local health officers promptly
recognized the disease. The state
health authorities were Immediately
notified and took action at once. Be-
fore the facts had time to appear in
the daily press, the United States
Public Health Service had been called
on for assistance.
Surgeon-General Blue and Surgeon
Creel are now in charge of the situa-
ton. Wide experience gained in fight
ing this disease in Honolulu and San
Francisco has given General Blue
training for this task possessed by
few, if any, other sanitarians, while
Surgeon Creel's mastery work in Por-
to Rico, in controlling the plague on
that island, is well known. Swift,
decisive and effective action is neces-
sary on the part of local, state and
national health officers.
The immediate cooperation of the
general public and especially of all
railroad, transportation and local Of
fcials is also necessary. Ports reached
by shipping must be watched to pre-
vent landing of the rodents respon-
sible for spreading the disease. 1t is
impossible to state at present the ex-
tent of the infection or the number
Of hidden cases, but we may rest as
sured, that the fight will be waged
with the aid of all the weapons of
modern science, and that all neces-
sary funds viii be promptly provided.
Some one has said that the first
yellow fever patient always dies, so
also with bubonic plague. A char
acteristic of this disease is that it
smolders unrecognized and suddenly
breaks out, apparently from num-
Der of different centers of infection.