Plague Research in India.

37 medical research is the pursuit along specialised lines: for practical purposes the old routine of quarantine has of general scientific procedure ; many therapeutic measures: ceased. The whole question has passed into the hands of are but a particular application of a common know- the medical profession who rely, for the safeguarding of ledge of chemistry or some ancillary science. When the public, on early diagnosis of the disease and prompt there were but three learned professions, and when removal of the patient from his home to an isolation hospital. At the same time the place which he has occupied is disa large proportion of the public was completely illiterate, on the and all persons who have been exposed to infection infected no good purpose was served by any attempt part of the medical man to explain his actions. No are kept under constant observation until the period of member of the laity would have understood the elements incubation of the disease has expired. In India this system Bat now that fails entirely, for the apathy of the population and their of what he proposed to talk about. medicine touches the borders, or passes over into the dislike of European interference lead to wholesale conterritory, of so many other sciences, and now that none cealment of the presence of the disease and to murderous of the public can be called completely illiterate, while a attacks on the sanitary officials with occasional rioting large proportion of them enjoy as good education as the on the removal of a patient to a hospital. Dr. average medical man, there is no need for the medical man YERsiN, as is well known, established the fact that an to feel that he cannot discuss a professional topic with a attack of plague is due to invasion by a specific bacillus, layman. We are not advocating the publication by medical the microscopic recognition of which either in the actual or after cultivation or inoculation forms the men of popular views on disease in the daily press-such un- patient of the modern diagnosis of the disease. There professional action is open to grave abuses and occasionally basis does serious harm. But we are suggesting that medical men are, in fact, only a few other diseases the presence or should be quick to seize on this assistance of laymen, absence of which can be determined with similar rapidity which events prove can be obtained if it is intelligently and precision. Much, however, still remains to be done in sought. The sympathy of the public need not be expressed explaining the etiology of plague and some printed reports only by the support of large educational schemes or the which have reached us show that Dr. J. A. TURNER, erection of splendid buildings. The payment of medical executive health officer of Bombay, has been recommen for the discharge of State or municipal duties, the fees mending that competent bacteriologists should be enof medical witnesses and public vaccinators, the position of couraged to study the relation of plague outside the body medical men working for provident institutions-we quote to the organism which is associated with the disease in The frequent occurrence of plague in these as a few examples-are subjects in which our pro- its clinical aspect.

fession and the public have equal interests.

On the surface frank discussion

these interests may be opposed, but between intelligent men would soon show on which side justice lay. It is this entente eordiaze that we would urge our readers to cultivate during the year now opening.

Plague Research in India. improvement of the public health, and especially for the prevention of epidemic disease, there can be little success unless the general population cooperates with the sanitary authorities. A convincing proof of this is to be found in the behaviour of plague in Asia and Europe respectively, for in India and China it has IN all schemes for the

the lower animals shows that the human subject is not the only host of the specific bacillus, and Dr. TURNER believes, no doubt with perfect correctness, that light might be thrown, by investigation in this direction, upon the prevalence of plague in India. Dr. TURNER’S suggestions, made to the municipality of Bombay, were eventually submitted to the Governor of the Presidency, who approved of them so far that in the beginning of November certain appointments for the purpose of facilitating the proposed research were announced, but since that time nothing seems to have been done. Considering that hitherto all in India have yielded almost to the disease check attempts no result it is obvious that every effort of whatever kind should be made to throw more light on the pathology and propagation of plague. But the serious question of inducing the population to acquiesce in sanitary precautions will still remain, and for this dilemma there would seem to be no

annual loss of life for the last eight years, whereas in European maritime countries the landing of plague patients from vessels coming from Indian ports has never been followed by remedy. v any considerable extension of the disease. Differences of climate do not account for this recent immunity of the The Functions of the General western nations, for all regions of Europe except the most Medical Council. northerly have been the scene of devastating epidemics at NOTWITHSTANDING much that has been written and intervals during the last 600 years. In Europe, however, at various times with regard to the powers, the the idea has always been held that protection was to be printed ] obtained by interposing some barrier between the sick and duties, and the responsibilities of the General Medical the healthy. In former times it was hoped that thisiCouncil, we frequently receive evidence that these are not so could be accomplished by rigorous quarantine and by correctly i understood in the profession as they should be. cordons round infected often ; Letters reach us describing possibly some serious towns ; many persons also, military where circumstances permitted it, deserted their homes aptabuse or some crying evil and indignantly inquiring why the first alarm of plague and lived elsewhere till the danger the Council permits this, that, or the other subject of comwas past. In modern times the underlying idea is the same plaint, or why the Council does not put a stop to the ] but the method of applying it is so much improved that conduct, of whatever nature, that is impugned. A letter caused seven

an

or

enormous