Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-16
Chinese BRING new
DISEASE into j. S.
Thirty-two Oriental Merchants
Suffering With Malady
Which Battles Science
U. s. AUTHORITIES ACT

Washington, Jan. 18.-An Oriental
disease. bathing to medical science
unknown heretofore in this country
has been brought into the United States
by thirty two Chinese merchants now
In California. An application in behalf
Of ffty-three additional merchants for
admission has led 10 disclosure OF
official facts about the strange malady.
According to official correspondence
nassing between Secretary of Labor
Davis and Surgeon General Cummings,
of the United States Pubic Health
Service. the disease-clonorchiasis---
will not be "unduly prejudicial' TO the
public heath so long as there Is strict
! obedience to precautionary measures
adopted respecting the Chinese afflicted
with II. The Orientals were admitted
by the port authorities because they
were not newcomers to the United
States, having resided here previously.
/ The Chinese merchants we're permit
ted BY Secretary Davis to land under
bonds Of $1,000 each on condition they
we're to reside In buildings the plumb
ing OF which was connected with sewers
emptying In salt water, and also that
they we're to be treated continuously
and IN inspector was TO visit them
every twenty four hours to zee that
they remained in residences assigned to
them.
Secretary Davis, in a letter to Sur
Eeon General Cummings, said:
Il nots from your letter TO the Com
missioner of Immigration that the dis
ease Is rather n new thing IN medical
history and Is virtually unknown III the
United States. Also that II isIa parasite
disease, consisting of a small worm or
huke, which locates in the bile passages
Of the liver, and that so far no trent
ment has been found which Is in any
wise effective, and for that reason is
classified in the regulations governing
medical admission of aliens as q
dangerous contagious disease, although
II is possible, you say, that patient 50
afflicted, after removal from possibility
OF reinfection, may possibly free himself
Of the injecting agency.
u also note TINT you state ita spread
IN accomplished through the medium OF
freshwatcr Snails and certain species
Of fiGh that may eat such infected shails,
and that while fish ordinarily are not
eaten In the raw state In this country,
there are those, nevertheless, who con-
sumo both meat and fsh not thoroughly
cooked.
> Also that under the conditions
ordinarily obtained In seaports
wherein sewage ~ discharged in the salt
water. the probability OF the spread
Of the infection is not great. Also, that
the detention OF limited number of
these cases under appropriate cus-
todial restraint at an immigrant sta
ton for the pnrposc Of treatment and
observation would not be unduly preju.
dicisl to the public health Of the coun-
try, and that under such clrcumsth nces
your bureau will be plensed TO make a
study Of the cases in order to ascertain
the cure If the disease by drugs and
other treatment md also TO determine
the possibility of recovery Of the cases
through the automatic elimination Of
the injecting parasite.
1T Occurs to me that It would be q
wise thing IL you cou d arrange for the
inspection of Orientals intending to
come to the United States before their
departure from their homes, with
special refcrcn ,e to clonorchiasis, and
the prevention of the departure Of per-
sops so afflicted. l learn info~mallv
that the leaders among the Chinese !n