The Bubonic Plague.

Manawatu Herald, 28 April 1900, Page 2

The Bubonic Plague.

In a paper on the bubonicplafue written by Dr Walter WVman, Surgeon-General of the Marine Hospital Corps, U.S.A., and submitted rathe information of the United States Government, tbe writer points out that the bubonic plague (Pestus bnbonical), Levantine, Oriental, and black death, have ravaged from time to time the several countries of Africa, Asia, and ""' Europe, almost from time immemorial. Dr Wyman says :— ln the light of experience io other parts of the world, and with even a cursory study of the sanitary conditions obtaining in the places infected with plague, it seems reasonable to believe that even were the plague to be introduced into the I United States its spread would be very ! limited in cities where tbe sanitary conditions are good, and where precautions as to the isolation of patients and the segregation of those exposed to the infection could and would be practised. It was not until 1894 that positive knowledge of the true nature of the disease became known. Now its cause, method of propagation, and the meaqs to prevent its spread are • matters of scientific certainty. . . . Plague or malignant polydenitis, as it

has been termed by Dr Cantlie, has been defined as an acute febrile disease of an intensely fatal nature, characterised by inflammation of the lymphatic glands, marked cerebral and vascular disturbances, and by the presence of a specific bacillus. Although one' gland alone 'may be clinically apparent m6st if not all, of the lymphatic glands -^ ace found to be enlarged at the postN mortem examinations. The micro organism invades the blood, and forms numerous and extensive colonies in tbe spleen, especially when death is delayed beyond the second day. It is practically a septicaemia. In a varying period of twelve hours to ia days — usually within four days— after exposure the disease makes its appearance in the individual. The patient complains of a high fever, a swelling - of one or more of the lymphatic glands, and has delirium early in the attack, though seldon violent. The j fever persists at least a week, and convalescence thereafter is slow. In the fatal cases death usually occurs at the height of the disease, between the second and eighth day, frequently within 48 hours. If life is prolonged tor five or 6ix days the prognosis is better.. The glands most commonly affected are those of the thigh and groin, next those of the axilla, and sometimes those of the neck. The swollen gland quickly attains the size of a hen's egg, and unless death intervenes after five or six days, the gland may soften and be filled with pus, which may be evacuated. The death rate varies in different epidemics, and is estimated at from 50 to 90 per cent. It would seem that the bacillus of lhe plague losses its' virulence by drying, and that to retain its virulence it requires the action of both heat and moisture. The presence of organic ' matter, animal or vegetable, and in a state of decomposition, wouldseem to • furnish the most favourable mid us ior • its growth, wbich will account for its more dir less prolonged existence in Oriental countries. * and the comparatively rarity of its appearance in Europe since the existance of 'modern and improved hygienic . conditions. This does not mean, however, that filth and overcrowding are alone responsible for the disease. The malady is pre-eminently of bacterial origin, -nd- wherever the microbe As found there the plague is likely to develop. The- methods by which the bacilli enter the human body are three in number, by inoculation (through an external wound or abrasion), by ► respiration, by introduction into the stomach. The individual may contract the disease by inhaling the dust from infected houses which contain the germ, furthermore by imbibing infected fluids or eating infected food. According to Lowson, the poison is not given off in the ordinary respiration of the patient suffering with the disease. The conditions favouring! plague are similar to those favouring typhus fever, namely, crowd poisoning , bad ventilation and drainage, impure j water supply, faroiae or imperfect nourishments. It is probable of this disease, as of yellow tever, that human habitations and the ground may become so thoroughly infected as to establish endemicity.