FOREIGN REPORTS. BARBADOS. Precautions against Importation of Plague. The following statement was received under date of July 4, 1913, from the port health officer: Measures for the prevention of the importation of rat plague and human plague have been carried out at the port of Bridgetown, Barbados, since 1906, as follows: RAT PLAGUE. 1. All vessels arriving from ports infected with or suspected to be infected with plague have to undergo fumigation prior to coming alongside the wharves. 2. All vessels arriving from ports infected with or suspected to be infected with plague and lying at anchor in the roadstead are required to have efficient rat guards on all ropes connecting them to lighters or water-supplying steamboats alongside. 3. Cargo from ports infected with or suspected to be infected with plague can only be discharged during daylight, and all rat-food cargo from such ports is examined by officers of the health authority on board prior to being put in vessels' slings for discharge into lighters, in order to discover any broken and thus possibly rat-containing packages. On March 3, 1913, the following regulation was brought into operation. This regulation will not only further aid in the protection of the port, but by reason of its prevention of the vessels affected by the regulation being vermin carriers will also benefit owners and the ports to which these vessels trade. 1. Every ship registered in this island or employed on intercolonial voyages as defined by the merchants' shipping act of 1898 shall, when lying in the careenage, be fumigated to the satisfaction of the health officer after her cargo has been discharged, provided that such ship has not been fumigated within the preceding three months. 2. None of the expenses in any way connected with the fumigation of such ship shall be borne by the ship. HUMAN PLAGUE. 1. Passengers and crews of vessels from ports infected or suspected to be infected with plague are medically inspected prior to the admission of the vessel to pratique. 2. Persons landing from such vessels are subject to daily medical surveillance for such a number of days as will complete a period of 10 days, dating from their embarkation at the port infected with or suspected to be infected with plague. 3. The baggage of such passengers is disinfected if the health officer considers such procedure necessary. BRITISH EAST AFRICA. Plague. From May 15 to June 12, 1913, there were notified in British East Africa 15 cases of plague with 14 deaths. The cases were distributed as follows: Mombasa, 10; Kisumu, 3; Nairobi, 2. CHINA. Amoy-Plague. During the week ended June 21, 1913, there were notified at Amoy 40 deaths from plague. Hongkong-Plague-Plague-Infected Rats. During the week ended June 14, 1913, there were notified at Hongkong 10 cases of plague with 8 deaths. During the same period there were examined for plague infection 2,117 rats, of which number 13 were found to be infected with plague. On July 31, 25 cases of plague were reported. 1 One case came from Oriente province and the other from the steamship Meredio. RUSSIA. Astrakhan-Pneumonic Plague. From June 3 to 10, 1913, 9 deaths from pneumonic plague were notified in the Tsarev district, government of Astrakhan. SOUTHERN NIGERIA. Lagos-Yellow Fever. A case of yellow fever was notified at Lagos May 12, 1913. On July 23 yellow fever was again reported present. TURKEY IN ASIA. Smyrna-Cholera. Cholera was reported present at Smyrna July 31, 1913. URUGUAY. Montevideo-Plague. Plague was reported present at Montevideo July 28, 1913. CHOLERA, YELLOW FEVER, PLAGUE, AND SMALLPOX. |