the disease. Of course Dr Kitasato, being satisfied that in the case of a plague patient there is no other alternative but either the bacilli or the patient must die, is on the look-out for bacteriocides, inimical to the specific plague bacillus, and Professor Aoyama is otherwise investigating the peculiar bacteric-therapeutics of plague, but it is too early yet to expect any definite conclusions in those respects. There is some hope, however, that the inquiries now pursued by these specialists may contribute towards the eventual discovery of a cure for this terrible scourge which at present seems to defy the best medical treatment.
It is the firm conviction of both professors that nothing definite can be said yet with regard to how this plague bacillus, which so ruinously attacks the principal internal organs of the patient, gets into the human system. They consider it probable that it is drawn from the air by breathing, but they are decidedly of opinion that the peculiar habits of the Chinese and the general filthy conditions of the dwellings of the lower classes in China and Hongkong form a specially favourable breeding ground for this particular bacillus. Looking to the peculiar habits of the Chinese people, and to the fact that this terrible plague is endemic in Yun-nan, they do not see that there is much ground for the sanguine hope that the plague will ever be permanently stamped out in South China. On the contrary, they fear that it is much more likely that the plague, which has evidently ravaged China since times immemorial without being scientifically noticed, will continue alternately to languish and revive now, since it has once established breeding grounds in so many places which commercially inter-communicate with each other.
The investigations of these scientists are by no means concluded yet, and the two Professors may, therefore, spend some time yet in Hongkong. Their final official report, whenever it may be ready, will no doubt prove of great value not only to the Japanese but also to the Hongkong Government; and the University of Berlin may be congratulated upon having furnished Hongkong, and we may say the scientific world, with such able, painstaking, and scientifically cautious observers as Professor Kitasato and Professor Aoyama. We must add that the foregoing account has not been corrected by the two scientists, and as it is merely a summary of what a non-professional but deeply-interested listener gathered from a desultory half-hour's conversation, we warn our scientific readers to take the above for what it may be worth.
Page 493
the disease. Of course Dr Kitasato, being satisfied that in the case of a plague patient there is no other alternative but either the bacilli or the patient most die, is on the look-out for bacteriocides, inimical to thie 'specific plague bacillus, and Professor Aoyama is otherwise investigating the pe- culiar bacteric-therapeutics of plague, but it is tou early yet to expect any dofuite conclusions in those respects, There is some hope, however, that the inquiries now purened by these specialists may con- tribute towards the eventual discovery of a care for this terrible scourge which at pre- gent seems to defy the best medical treat
ment.
It is the firm conviction of both pro- fessors that nothing definite can be said yet with regard to how this plague.bacillus, 'which so ruinously attacks the principal internal organs of the patient, gets into the human system. They consider it probable that it is drawn from the air by breathing, but they are decidedly of opinion that the peculiar habits of the Chinese and the general filthy conditions of the dwellings of the lower classes in China and Hongkong form a specially favour- able breeding ground for this particular bacillus, Looking to the peculiar habits | of the Chinese people, and to the fact that this terrible plague is endemic in Yun-nan, they do not see that there is much ground far the sanguine hope that the plague will over be permanently stamped cut in South China. On the contrary, they fear that it is much more likely that the plague, which has evidently ravaged China since times im- memorial without being scientifically noticed, will continue alternatoly to languish and revive now, since it bas once established breeding grounds iB su many places which commercially inter- communicate with each other. The investigations of these scientists Are by no means concluded yet, and the two Professors may, therefore, spend some time yet in Hongkong. Their final official report, whenever it may be ready, will no doubt prove of great value not only to tho Japanese but also to the Hongkong Govoru- ment; sud the University of Berlin may be congratulated upon having furnished Hongkong, and we may say the scientific world, with such able, painstaking, and scientifically cautious observers as Professor Kitasato and Professor Aoyama. We must
add that the foregoing account has not been corrected by the two scientists, and as it is merely a summary of what a non- professional "but deeply-interested listener gathered from a desultory half-hour's conversation, we warn our scientific rea- ders to take the above for what it may be worth.
493
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