Pictorial "Incidents \ of * a ; Stirring -Day in Chinatown.
Health Board we were, escorted beyond
the quarantine line. Judging from the
number of Chinamen ¦who crowded the
sidewalks of their district It was evident
also that there was a holiday there, al
though for a very different purpose. Ser
geant Ma honey of the police force of
San Francisco, who has command of the
quarantine district, took- us duly in
charge, accompanied by other members of
the force. The Inhabitants of this now
famous district were evidently very
much exercised over the outcome of the
examination which was to be made. They
lined 'up on the sidewalks. In many cases
to the very curb, thickly packed. In evi
dent expectation of the coming health
officials. Large numbers followed be
hind us from npparent curiosity and in
terested motives.,
When we arrived at the morgue, which
was on the ground floor of a low, bovel-
Hke building, the crowd, for obvious rea
son3. was moro dense. No violence was
offered on the part of this closely packed
assemblage, . nor did . it seem - intends 1.
There was an ominous quiet along the
whole line, each Chinaman appearing to
have that stolid gaze so characteristic of
hi? race. There was a disposition as we
entered the building for many of the by
standers, to crowd uround us and obtain
an entrance If possible, but- it was-con
sidered prudent, where there was such
liability for the possible spread of infec
tion and . also for, other reasons for the
crowd to be kept at a safe distance. The
body .was- attired in all the gaudy ap
parel common on such occasions and was
covered -by a rude but peculiar pall.
The, autopsy, was performed by. Dr.
Kellogg.'Dr. Kinyoun and myself ¦ assist
ing. ' I confess I was somewhat surprised
enue to many of the wealthy men of San
Francisco. > It is for them to answer the
question ¦ regarding the feasibility of this
radical measure. So far all that seeras to
be necessary is to attend to these particu
lar buildings in' whlclv the dead - bodies
were found. This reduces the whole ques
tion down to a simple and practical issue.
-Yesterday afternoon Dr. Kellogg In
formed me that he had at the Instance of
Dr. -Wilson, the assistant city physician,
been summoned to see the body of a sus
picious -case which -had been under' the
care of Dr. Fitch,- who.was called to see
the patient on May. 24. There were - ap
parently no symptoms which pointed di
rectly to. the existence of the plague,
save softening and Infiltration of the In
guinal glands associated with a like con
dition of the. glands under the Jaw. On
the left- fide one. of these glands had
broken. down '.Into an abscess. In order
to clear up any reasonable doubt con
cerning the existence of the suspected
disease «Dr. Kellogg removed some portions
of. both, sets pf glands for. bacteriological
examination.- '-Finding microscopical evi
dences Mn them characteristic of the
plague he decided to make a more thor
ough examination of the body thia morn
ing in order, to obtain additional facts.
Dr.. Kinyoun, of the -:,Marlne Hospital ser
vice, Dr. • Montgomery, formerly patholo
gist in, the-.Unlversity of California, and
myself .were . invited ,to take part In ..the
said autopsy.'. With such. an end in view
we repaired, to the morgue in the Chinese
quarter. It was-a strangely, significant
errand . in • view of the surroundings in
the ; street : made apparent by the : ¦ diffi
culty % of .wending through a' gay^crowd
viewing, the Decoration day • parade."Pro
vided '.with ¦¦ the : requisite ¦ passes from the
statements to, the contrary, to be a bold
assertion. Physicians are no more afraid
of the plague than they arc of typhus,
which, by the way. Is the most dangerous
disease of all. •>. Personally I may be per
mitted in view of a 1 firm belief in this doc
trine to state thatMn my mind there was
no more fear' at the autopsy this morn
ing than In any other case of similarly, in
fectious disease. As a still greater em
phasis to this assertion it may be stated
that all the other gentlemen -taking part
in the autopsy had been injected with
Hafkine serum. The disease is not apt
to spread rapidly at first. We must re
mark also in this connection that it ha3 a
ppeclal predilection for 1 the Asiatic race
and exceptionally attacks the whites. The
great point, however, is to prevent its
gaining any possible foothold In San Fran
cisco 'and now seems to be the time to
make assurance of safety doubly sure.' If
prompt action Is taken the disease,wher
ever it may be or whenever it may come,
can be easily and absolutely compassed
within safe limits.
No better Illustration of this can be
offered than 'that afforded by the manner
In which fires are extinguished.. Take, for
Instance, the working of the Fire Depart
ment of New York, the greatest, most
alert and most efficient of Its kind the
world over. When the firemen are fight
ing a fire In bis neighborhood, the average
citizen gives hlmseif no further concern
as to the outcome.- nor has he any busi
ness 'Inside the limit of operations. ¦ -. "Why
should not the , health : officials . stand in
similar relations. with; the public? This
applies not. only to San Francisco, but.to
every city; and, township the - world • over.
The Quarantine line is drawn to keep the
busybody out. ' The merchants. Instead
of bulldozing the disease watchers, should
keep quiet and stimulate them to be even
more alert and fearless.. -In 'the end they
would always gain by speaking the truth
when such would do tho best service;
rather than being forced to do so when
It Is too late. Policy" Is 1 never an excuse
for implying a lie. Neither the health of
ficials nor the other, public officials; can
afford to deceive. the public on any issue,
particularly en a matter of public health,
which necessarily concerns the safety of
every Individual.- Ideal protection consists
in' knowing the'. danger at the start and
in working earnestly,' persistently and in
telligently in overcoming, it. : , To the latter
end the health boards arc always the es
sential ; means. . Therefore, : I ; say,, take
care of your health boards. "Don't invade
their nre lines.. Rest easily and leave the
issue with them. - What seems to be nec
essary for Francisco to do at the 'present
juncture is to empower the health author
ities to draw* the nre lines, - so to speak,
round the Infected buildings. -Empty every
infected house of its inhabitants. .,; Keep
these tenants in quarantine in, some safe
place— some house : of detention— until all
danger . from the disease with them has
passed./ Then, as to the house, let it be
so thoroughly . disinfected thaf there shall
be no chance of any infection remaining.
1 f this be j impossible then resort to ; the
radical measures of burning. \ I believe
the safest thing .to do with any. infected
house Is 'to take no chances short of the
fire brand.-: It may. cost jtnoney, but what
Is money against human life? ¦ It seems to
me^ there is no argument that will, hold
good > against such, an ! assumption. :¦*; I ¦ am
told , that - Chinatown yields . a large rev-
latest observations , also pointy to* the
transf errence of germs from I one locality:
to thexither by means of the infected rat. :
Here also is a condition which can easily
be met. Science thus far has unraveled
most of the mysteries connected with the
propagation of this scourge and the rea
son why it has. spread so extensively be
fore is for the want of that knowledge
ourdlspo"? lnves tigation has placed at
T &£/ TllC j C * e was discovered only so late
fn 1S94 a ,1? >' et , to-day sanitary science is
in a position almort to defy the disease.'
J. mystery of its invasion is virtually
d hl PCHe £ and people can be assured that
This may'appear, in view of sensational
Dr. George F. Shrady, the Fa-;
mous Specialist, Outlines the
Ordinary Precautions Which
Insure Complete Protection.
THE healih authorities of this city
and the Federal quarantine officers
are still acting in conjunction with
Dr. George F. Shrady. the famous spe
cialist, who is here at the instance of the
New York Herald and The Call to de
termine the absolute facts in regard to
the sensational reports that bubonic
plague exists in this city. Late Tues
day night the dead body of a Chinese.
showing suspicious evidences of the
dread disease, was found in Chinatown
zvA- yesterday morning the authorities,
assisted by Dr. Shrady. performed an
autopsy. As a result of this investiga
tion Dr. Shrady says that the body re
vealed rranifest eviderices of the plague.
In making this announcement the
physician take? particular pains to
counsel the people of San Francisco not
to be alarmed. The plague is not only
not epidemic but there is nothing to in
dicate that another case will be found.
Ordinary precautions will insure the
people of the city against contagion.
The physician is particular to empha
size his opinion that there is absolutely
nothing to fear and that the people of
the city are justified in following the
usual routine of their lives.
. Nothing should be left undone, how
ever, he declares, to maintain a strict
quarantine of the Chinese quarter. It is
now a question rather of precaution
than of- prevention, as the presence of
an occasional case of the disease is not
by any means an indication that it has
gained a foothold in the city. The peo
ple of San Francisco have only to ob
serve the ordinary rules of sanitation,
to keep their habitations clean and be
assured that they are not in danger.
The health authorities have only to en
force a rigid quarantine and isolate the
district which shows signs of infection.
Dr. Shrady goes so far as to suggest
that if necessary infected buildings be
destroyed. If these measures of pre
caution be adopted there is not the
slightest need for uneasiness and in a
very short time the city can announce
to the world that it is free from even
a suspicion of the scourge. Evil enough
has already been done by exaggeration
and rumcr and the authorities of San
Frapcisco can now act calmly and judi
ciously with the situation that is not in
the slightest way dangerous.
The Call promised that it would pub
lish the frets in this affair and it is fortu
nate that the publication will give the
people of San Francisco no reason for
unrest or alarm. The outside world
rnay know now that San Francisco is
far from beinjj the plague-stricken city
which sensational newspapers have rep
resented it to be. The quarantine in
Chinatown is not yet by any mcins.as
effective- as it should be and the local
Board, oi Health should at once attempt
to carry cut the spirit and purpose of
its "own orders. The matter is one of
fcrious moment to the people of San
Francisco and if the officials have the
slightest thought of the solemn char
acter of their obligations they will sec
that the reliance placed in them is net
dishonored.
' Chinese go and come in the district
at wiil. They employ the cheapest and
most . palpable subterfuge to escape
from the district and to return to it* at
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON FOR ALARM.
ALTHOUGH it can still be said that no living case of plague is to be found in China
town, a corpse has just been discovered in which the evidences of that disease are
manifest. It is with the greatest regret that this statement must be made, but the
plain truth must be told. This, as I understand it, is what the public has asked for. Now
the time comes to face the issue calmly, deliberately and judiciously. TJie few cases which
have already occurred as adding to the ordinary mortality statistics are of comparatively
trivial moment in themselves. We are simply called to count chances for the future.
This might be the last case and it might not. In either case there is no reason for
any unnecessary alarm. There is no danger from contact with cases when ordinary precau
tions are observed; thus the public can be assured that when a given infected house is prop
erly quarantined there is reasonable safety for all outsiders. It is wel! for these facts to be
known to the public as counteracting unnecessary alarm when a case occurs in a given, iso
lated and properly quarantined district.
The great point, however, is to prevent its gaining any possible foothold in San Fran
cisco? and now seems to be the time to make assurance .of safety doubly sure. If prompt
action is taken the disease, wherever it may be or whenever it may come, can be easily and
absolutely compressed within safe limits. The transmission of epidemics of this disease is
mostly due to soiled clothing and dirty and infected houses; thus the main remedies are
within easy reach.
What seems to be necessary for San Francisco to do at the present juncture is to
empower the health authorities to draw the fire lines, so to speak, around the infected build
ings. Empty every infected house of its inhabitants. Then, as to the house, let it be so thor
oughly disinfected that there shall be no chance of any infection remaining. If this be impos
sible, then resort to the radical measures of burning. I believe the safest thing to do with
any infected house is to take no chances short of the firebrand. I am told that Chinatown
yields a large revenue to many of the wealthy men of San Francisco. It is for them to an
swer the question regarding the feasibility of this radical measure.— Excerpt from third day's
report of Dr. George F. Shrady, the famous physician.
pleasure ¦ It ' is : estimated that' "nearly
iooo coolies left Chinatown en Tuesday
night, escaping over roofs to houses
that are not within the quarantined dis
trict. . On Stockton street, on the west
side, are hives of Chinese which are not
in quarantine. The embargo on men
and material is simply farcical. The
street cars, crowded with passengers,
traverse the district and destroy utterly
any attempt at an effective quarantine.
The Health Board indicates that the
quarantine will be maintained probably
for six weeks. An emergency hospital
has been established in a tent in Ports
mouth Square. Postal clerks have been
stationed in the district, where they
must remain until the quarantine is
raised. The quest-on of providing food
for the Chinese is yet to be discussed
and the problem promises to be a ditTi
cult one for solution. The Chinese Six
Companies are also showing signs that
they will attempt to resist the quaran
tine, but as yet no legal action has been
taken.
EVIDENCE OF PLAGUE
IN THE CHINESE QUARTER
Dr. Gtorge F. Shrady, the .Great Spa
cialist, Counsels the Public That
There Is No Need of Alarm.
Copyright, 1900, by the Herald Publishing
Company. ,
ALTHOUGH it can still be said that
no living case of plague is to be
found in Chinatown, a corpse has
Just been discovered In which the
evidences of that disease are manifest.
This- puts such a new complexion on the
situation, after a lull of security extend
ing over two weeks, that too much tare
cannot be taken in properly interpreting
present indications. After having taken
part in the autopsy this morning I have
personally no doubt, so far as the investi
gations have gone, of the existence of
plague in the body examined. It is with
™ *"; eate " regret that this statement
m f \a C £L ade> but the P laln truth must
S hi, h u S> as l und eretand It. is what
the public has asked for. Now the time
Tt^T IZJ****}** l8Sue «*lmly. dellber
2£&, £ Judiciously. The few cases
which have already occurred, as adding to
ordinary mortality statistics/are of •com
paratively trivial moment in themselves.
\\ e are simply called to <5ount chances for
the future.
This might be the last c as ,e, and it'mlght
I ™ ° f h C0U 7 e ' sincerely hopes
it may be. In rither case there Is no rca
has 'been^-ih? n «? e f* ary ala ™ So^uch
nas oeen said of the mysterlouslv con
tagious properties of this disease thatlt
is. as well to know that the danger of
communicating it from one person ?o
anothty is very much exaggerated It is
more a cjuontlon of house infection than
of transmission by personal contact. U
is the place- that must be looked after
more than the individual. There is no
danger from contact with cases, when
ordinary precautions are observed. Thus
tho public ran be assured that when a
given infected house is properly quaran
tined there !s reasonable safety for all
outsiders. The small amount of danger
from actual contact with the sick is
abundantly proven by statistics regarding
the number of physicians and nurses who
remain free from the disease, notwith
standing their most intimate connection
with the same.. The greatest risk for
physicians Is from wounds received in
making autopsies, as- then the inocula
tion is direct: but. outside of this con
sideration, the medical man and the nurse
appear to have a charmed Immunity. -It
is well for these facts to be known to the
public. as counteracting" . unnecessary
alarm when a case occurs in a given, iso
lated and properly quarantined district.
The transmission • of epidemics of this
disease is mostly due to' soiled clothing
and dirty and infected houses; thus the
main remedies are withlneasy reach. The
"Now that there seems to be no farther
doubt that the disease is here, we should
stick at nothing to rid ourselves of It.
Fire has at all times proved the surest
treatment, and we have the best evi
dence of it right befor* us In the case of
the Hawaiian Islands. There the torch
was used without respect to property
owners and property Interests, and tha
plague was stamped out with dllllgence
that reflects great credit upon the Hono
lulu Board of Health. "We have, tortan
ately, bad the counsel and advice of Dr.
Day, president of the Honolulu board, who
has - been in this city for several weeks
and who did all in his power to assist us.
"Chinatown Is a natural plague spot,
and, although the local Board of Health
has Improved the situation much by put
ting into effect the strictest sanitary
measures, yet. In my opinion, the only
sure method is to apply the torch. Under
proper management the infected district
and the adjacent districts likely to be In
fected can be burned without danger to
the remainder of the city. If it is
then decided to rebuild a new China
town on the ruins of the old, let tho
buildings be sanitary and arranged with
regard to proper drainage, and their ten
ants compelled to observe the laws of
sanitation."
DR. CROWLEY WOULD
BURN DOWN CHINATOWN
Badical Measures Suggested by the
State Board of Health's Repre
sentative From Oakland.
57 .WOULD advocate the complete de
struction of Chinatown by fire as the
j| best and safest method for stamping
. out the plague." said Dr. D. I>. Crow
ley, member of the State Board of Health
from Oakland, at the Palace Hotel last
night. "I think it would prove the cheap
est course in the end. too. and the one
best calculated to reassure the Eastern
people, who have so great a horror of the
scourge.
at the resulting revelations.
All the pathological phenomena ob
served were those usually associated with
plague. The body was in a good state of
preservation. There were no spots or
eruptions upon It. On the left side under
the jaw there were evidences of suppura
tion, due to previous inflammation of the
glands. There were no enlarged glands
in the armpits. 'The glands- in the groin,
were slightly enlarged, but not protuber
ant, as they were- broken down by a dis
integrating process and in a state of ne
crosis. A DortUm. M this material was
taken from xne body by Dr. Kellogg for
microscopical examination.
The following are the notes of the au
topsy: There was a characteristic effu
sion of bloody serum in both chest cavi
ties, in the heart sac and in the abdom
inal cavity. The heart was not sensibly
enlarged, but its muscular substance was
exceedingly soft and flabby, the evident
result of some intense Infected process.
The spleen was softened, of the usual
size and was of a dark slate color Tna
mesentery was injected in different por
tions with hemorrhaglc spots. Portions of
the small intestine examlr^d- disclosed like
condition. The Internal surface of tha
small intestine was carefully examined
put nothing abnormal was found, care
being -taken, of course, to exclude any
possible existence of the pecular ulcera
tions characteristic of typhoid fever Nu
merous specimens were removed from tha
body for future microscopical observation,
by UTs. .Kellogg and Kinyoun.
_Just before closing this message Dr.
Kellogg called on me, bringing with him
the preparation from the inguinal gland
of the corpse. -After examining: the speci
men.with him I was able to verify the ex
istence in it of the typical plague bacUlL
OUTGOING STEAMERS
REFUSED CLEAN BILLS
THE Federal authorities have de
clared officially that this port Is In
fected by refusing to Issue clean bills
of health to foreign-bound steamers.
The ruling -was first made In the case of
the Pacific Mall steamship City of Peking,
which sailed from here on Tuesday with
a lot of passengers for Honolulu and the
Orient. Dr. Day of Honolulu was a pas
senger and carried home with him full re
ports of the situation here and a history
of all the cases that have- come under tha
observation of the local Board of Health.
cisco Is Infected.
The Peking and .Australia Carry the
News Abroad Thai San Fran-
Chinatown Is Under Quarantine,
; but Authorities Neglect to
Take Measures to Secure
I Obedience to Their Orders.
CALL'S EXPERT SAYS:
"THERE
NO DANGER
CONTACT
ORDINARY
PRECAUTIONS
OBSERVED."
SPORADIC CASE OF BUBONIC PLAGUE DISCOVERED,
BUT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO NEED FOR ALARM
SAN FRANCISCO, THURS^^ MAY^ 31; 1900.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
VOLUME LXXXVII— NO. 192.
The San Francisco Call.
Continued on Second Pac*.