Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-01-17

Estates seaports are, through maritime
commerce, in constant communication
with ports infected with plague, and
often with cholera and yellow fever
dreaded plaques of few years ago
there was no importation of these
diseases or of other major quaran-
Unable disease during the year,
though both human and rodent plague
were detected on vessels arriving in
quarantine.
For almost the first time in the
history of United States quarantine,
there was no. detention of ships pas
sengers or crews on account@of yell
low fever few cases of this di-
isease were reported from El Salvador,
Central America, from three coun-
tries in south America, and also from
the gold coast and Nigeria in Africa.
The fact that the Incidence. of yellow
fever has at no time in ifs recorded
history. been SO low is very crafty
ing. Surgeon General Cumming
points out, however, that until it is
completely eradicated from the earth,
yellow fever will remain a grave po-
tential danger.
Guard NAEainSt Smallpox
Contrasting the relative freedom
from the major qTArantinable di-
seases (small-pox excepted) which
we nonchalantly enjoy in this coun-
try, and emphasizing the protection
which the quarantine service and the
application of the principles of mod
ern health measures give us, are GER
tain figures from reports of foreign
countries. Although these data are
said to be, in most instances, in
complete and often fragmentary they
are nevertheless astounding to US in
this country who rarely hear of some
of the. diseases mentioned.
Cholera was reported in many parts
of Asia, but with the exception of
eight cases in European Russia, this
disease was not reported from other
countries. India reported more than
276,O00 deaths from this disease dur
ing the calendar year 1924. This is
nearly four times the number re-
ported for 1928.
In spite of the fact that the meas
.ures for preventing smallpox are well
known and very effective, this di-
sease continues to be widespread.
The warning issued by the surgeon
general in July 1924, regarding the
menace of smallpox in the United
States proved amply justified, since
reports from 35 states for the call
endar year 124 showed an increase
of rs per cent in the number of
cases and 628 per cent in the num-
Der of deaths as compared with the
year 1923. The smallpox case-rate
in the United States is at present,
according to reports received, the
highest of any civilized country in
the world. 1t may be said however
that much of the disease is of a mild
type and in some countries many of
these cases would be cIassed as
"alastrim." 1t is also believed that
smallpox is better reported in the
United States than in most other coun-
tries. Eleven cases of tetanus, most
of them fatal; occurred in the United
States during the year as result of
the use of bunion pads as vaccina-
ton dressings. Efforts are being
made to induce physicians to follow
q standard technique when vaccinat-
ing, and IvaI nings were issued against
the. use of shields and bunion pads
as dressing
BubOnic Plague
Bubonic plague has been widespread
throughout the world for many years
During 1924. reports of this disease
Were receive from 49 countries, in
cluding cases in many important ports
and shipping points. More than 4O0,-
coo deaths from plague were reported