THE BUBONIC PLAGUE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 53, 9 March 1900, Page 2

THE BUBONIC PLAGUE.

OUTBREAK IN SAN FRANCISCO. | [By Eleotiic Telegraph.—Copyright.] [PBB PBBSS ASSOCIATION.] (Received 8, 11 p.m.) San Francisco, Match 8. The plague has broken out in Chinatown, San Francisco. I MORE CASES IN SYDNEY.

Received 8, 11.40 p.m. Sydney, March 8. A boy named Strathford, who was j admitted to the Children's Hospital at the Glebe on Tuesday, from the Surrey Hills, was to-day found suffering from the plague The hospital, with the staff and patients (numbering about 60), and the boy's home have been isolated. The Union S.S. Co., in order to allay the apprehension of visitors to Sydney, is taking every precaution against the plague. (Received 9,1.80 a.m.) The boy Strathford and a nurse have been removed to quarantine. The Union Company's wharves and sheds are being saturated with disinfectants and washed with hot lime, and the approaches cleared.

Received. 9,1.30 a.m. An alarming development of the plague is j usfc reported. A child named Davy, who was admitted to the Sydney Hospital on Tuesday, from Redfearn, was to-night declared to be suffering from plague in a severe form. A man named King, residing at Redfearn, was also deolared to have ttie plague. Every precaution is being taken. The Board of Health iB informed that 10,000 doses of HoSkine'a plague i prophlactio is on-fche way from Bombay to Sydney. - Brisbane, March 8. ; IJThe i Government. Bacteriologist has 1 discovered the plague bacillus. A ! number of rats were submitted to ex- ! animation. The investigation is not > completed. - A few dead rats have been ' found on the wharves.

[PBB PBBSS ASSOCIATION.] Welling ton, March 8. The Government is considering the question of sending* a bacteriologist to Sydney in order to study-the Bymptoms and, .development of bubonic plague, and Mr. Gilruth, veterinary surgeon, t who fiad special training in the technique of bacteriology, is likely to be ! chosen. • Dr. James, health officer, while recognising that the closeness of the plague to New Zealand is a serious menace, considers that there is no occasion to become alarmists, The following cable was received from the Health Department, Sydney, last night:—" No actual cases of iplague at present, and no suspicious cases; all persons detained under observation are well." The Harbour Board has started a crusade against rats, and the stringers of the various wharves have been coated with a mixture of phosphorus and sugar. Th? Hon. J. G. Ward, Cblonial S3O- - interviewed this morning, said the health officers here aad at Auckland were uncertain as to the period of [ incubation of the disease, whether it

was 12 or 14 diys or mora before it, devi l>ped. A mealing of the loc d Brnrd of Health has boon convened to discuss the plague, and if neccssa' y to c til in expert assistance and any rac >mmnnd«tions they may make will, Mr. Ward mys, receive the imm<dhte attention i of the Government, i The mnjs by the Monowoj, which arrived from -Sydney last night, hav. Hi ea landed on Souaiß' Inland. Ali th< New South Wales b gi wt ra opet e 1 ind thoroughly fumigated. The cargo ■vill also bj fumigated while the vessel remains in quarantine, all expense iu this connection to bo borne by the Company.

'.Che steamer which arrived this morning from Newcastle with a cargo of coal, was p'aoefl in quarantine.. The Indramayq and Indraghiri, duo at Auckland to-day from Sydney, will also be quarantined. The various Australian Qovernmonts have baen informed of the precautionary measures adopted by N,:vv Zealand, and the Oolonial Secretary has forwarded the following communication to Mr, J. Mills, General Manager cf the Union Steamship Oompaay, and to Mr. Murrel), manager at Wellington for Meesi'F. Huddart, Pafker and Co.:—l am desirous of placing as little difficulty as possible in the way of. steamers coming out from the Australian colonies, and shall be glad if you will advise your Melbourne office that if any passengers book from Melbourne direct to the Bluff in coming overland from Sydney it may be necessary to order the steamer- into quarantine upon arrival at the Bluff. A declaration will be required to be made that no passengers will be booked who have ■travelled overland from Sydney to Melbourne. lam very anxious to avoid declaring "Victoria an infected country if possible, and your active co- ' operation in the direction indicated in the absence of any outbreak of bubonic plague in "Victoria itself will aid materially in this respect. —J, G. Ward."

Dunedin, March 8. In view of the quarantine restrictions, the Union Company find it necessary to reduce) sailings between New Zealand and Australia, and on account of the extra expense involved to increase the rates of freight and passage both to and from Melbourne and Sydney. Auckland, March 8. The Collector of Customs visits Motuihi to-morrow to see what is needed to make it fit for a quarantine establishment, in view of the possible advent of the bubonic plague.