The Worldwide Spread of Bubonic Plague
THE gradual but steady spread of bubonic plague to all quarters of the world, the present vast dimensions of the scourge in Asia, and the absence of any signs of diminishing force in India, the seat of the epidemic, are attracting the attention and exciting the alarm of medical authorities both in that country and elsewhere. From the recently issued report of the Marine Hospital and Public Health Service, on the status and progress of epidemics throughout the world, it appears that bubonic plague is now prevalent, outside of India, at Aden, Arabia; Osaka and Tokyo, Japan; Bangkok, Siam; Amoy, China; Southeastern Russia; Leith, Scotland; Egypt; British South Africa; Cape Colony; New South Wales and Queensland, Australia; East Sumatra and the island of Mauritius; Rio de Janeiro and cities of Chile and Peru, South America; the Philippine Islands, and Hawaii. Of the plague in India the report says: “In India morbidity and mortality for plague are constantly assuming increasing proportions. The disease has so far baffled every effort to stamp it out. The failure to control the epidemic is not only causing great alarm among all classes in India, but is beginning to attract much attention in England and other countries in active relations with India. The reports quote recent statistics given by the British secretary of state for India, showing a steady increase there since 1901, and a total of 1,022,299 deaths from it in 1904, and that it is still prevailing with unremitted violence.”