The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-08-18
FLORIDA AND
THE BUBONIC FEVER

THE BUBONIC FEVER
Isn't it about time that the Off
Gals of Florida's cities realized the
seriousness of the plague situation:
The highest authorities on the
subject, men who have had wide ex-
perience in combating the disease
and in its eradication, have been
| fighting for nearly two months, since
June 81, to master the situation in
New Orleans. The latest report from
that city, August II, announces the
seventeenth human case and the dis
covery of the fifty-first rodent case
Almost seven weeks of fighting.
directed by these able men, using
the most advanced methods that
science has evolved, has not master
ed the epidemic and as many
months, probably more, will elapse
before New Orleans will cease to be
feared as source of infection.
Recent telegraphic dispatches tell
Pof two deaths and two suspicious
cases in Liverpool, England, showing
new foothold gained by the en-
envy
| Is it possible that any Florida sea-
| port or inland town is willing to ibe
involved in a struggle against this
| horrible disease, or even to invite
such risk? But is just as possible
as was the original infection at New
Orleans or Liverpool.
The Florida Board of Health re-
CARDS the situation as serious but
! not as alarming, and it has not re-
Taxed in the slightest degree its fight
! against this possible invasion from
| it's first announcement in a neigh
boring state. 1t has sought the co.
operation of the municipal authori-
! ties throughout the state. While
this has been given willingly, not
every city has appeared to appreciate
the real seriousness of the condi-
tons that confront Florida.
! The disease is not communicated
| from one person to another, but only
by the flea that is carried by the in
| fected rat Therefore. the danger
from New Orleans to other commun-
tiles is not from unrestricted passen-
ger traffic, but through freight traf-
fic, either by marine commerce or
thru railroad freight carriage.
The United States public health
service authorities at New Orleans
are maintaining thorough supervis-
ion over marine commerce leaving
| that port, as was described in a re-
cent issue of this press service. 1t
| also inspects all railroad cars sent
from that city and affixes its o. K in
the form of a SEAL
Florida's health authorities are
cooperating with the United States
| officials by insisting on a thorough
examination of all railroad freight
care coming from New Orleans into
this state. Wherever and whenever
the original seal is found to be .brok-
en- or shows evidence of having been
tempered with, the board requires
that the railroad company handling
the car at destination shall open and
inspect the ear for rats before deliv-
cry to sonsignee. 1t also requires
the mayors OF Florida cities to en-
force this order, and in several OF
the larger cities it has its own super
visors to watch incoming freight
from the Louisiana city.
Five representatives of the state
board of health are or have been in
New Orleans studying the situation
there and learning methods of treat
ment of the disease, of rodent sur
veys, the most efficient means of re-
ducing the rodent population, and
becoming efficient in every way tc
meet a possible similar emergency
in Florida.
The board urges upon municipal