PNEUMONIC PLAGUE

Hokitika Guardian, 9 December 1924, Page 1

PNEUMONIC PLAGUE

I.OS ANGELES OtTMUEAK. I.OS ANGELES. Nov. 8. State and Eetleral health authorities are moving to the aid of Los Angeles in its grim battle to block the spread of an outbreak of pneumonic plague that at last reports had claimed a total of 22 victims in the Mexican quarter of the city, and, with 10 cases under treatment at the General hospital, was expected to claim still other victims lodav.

Drs W. 11. Kellogg and C’. 11. Ilalliday. State Health Department experts. have arrived from San Francisco. Dr Kellog nniiounceil that though there was no doubt about the nature of the malady or its seriousness, the prospects for blinghig it under control were pood-. Three squads of policemen guard the Mexican quarter dancer zone day and nigbt. Food and other necessities are sent throucli the police Yordon under strict 'supervision, while within the lines and in Hie hospital wards, nurses, doctors and orderlies go about wearing masks to ward off infection. HEROIC NI'IISES.

Herein lies a tale of quiet heroism. Masks worn by those who work among the sick arc. after all. hut partial protection. and the mortality rate of the disease, which is allied to the bubonic plague. approaches Id!) per cent. These workers among the doomed are not ignorant of the practically certain fate a wait imp them it tlieir protective masks and other precautionary measures tail them. lull, as Dr Kellogg explained it: “That is all a part of the work in dealing with a situation like this. Those who do the work must take the risks." Croiind squirrels probably earned the disease !o l.os Angeles and communicated it to rats, who in turn transmitted it to tlu> first human victim through the intermediary agency of a flea. Dr Kellogg said in discussing the history of the plapue in the United States. SEMU.M SOUGHT. Serum laboratories in New A ork today were called oil hv the United Sillies Public lleallli Service to report at once- if they were able to supply anti-toxins w ith which to light the pneiinionie plague in l.os Angeles. Tl the New York maniifaetiirers have nolle on hand, the Pasteur Institute, in Paris. Erauee, tile only other place in the world where the serum is available, will he asked to ship some to this (mint ry. Eipht io overcome the pneumonic plague in I os Angeles will lit' conducted under tin- direction of physicians and apents of tile United States Public Health Service, it was announced todav from the oHives of the State Hoard of Health. Drs .1. 0. Perry and X. \V. Wav-on and William M. Dickie, of the Federal Department, are en route from Washington to tin* infected district.