Bubonic Plague
2 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Bubonic Plague. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
2026 Editor's Note: This page uses language about race that was commonplace when the book was published and is offensive by today's standards. The text has been left exactly as it was printed, rather than cut or softened, so that the historical record — including how ordinary such language once was — is preserved. (Ed: ET 2026-07-22) a disease supposed to be identical with the plague known as the Black Death, which had its origin in China, and made its first appearance in Europe 543 A. D., at Constantinople. It derives its modern name from the fact that it attacks the lymphatic glands in the neck, armpits, groins and other parts of the body. The swollen parts are extremely sensitive to the touch, the patient suffers from headache, vertigo, high fever, vomiting, and great prostration. Another feature is the appearance of purple spots and a mottling of the skin. In severe cases death generally ensues in 48 hours, and, at best, recovery is slow. It is now generally agreed that this plague is a germ disease. The bacillus has been identified by Indian bacteriologists as well as by European and American investigators. It is found without trouble in the blood of the patient. At the Hoagland laboratory in Brooklyn, N. Y., extensive experiments have been made, both in the culture of the germs and in an anti-toxin, by means of which immunity from this scourge may be obtained. The disease has been called "the poor's plague," from the fact that it first attacked the half-starved masses who congregate in the slums of the cities. This was the case in Bombay, where it has produced fatal ravages. Pure air, wholesome food, the free external use of cold water, and proper sanitary regulations modify to some extent the attacks of the plague. History. The first authentic description of the bubonic plague is contained in the writings of Rufus of Ephesus, who described the disease as having existed in northern Africa during the 3d or 4th century B. C. Since that time the disease has been variously described by writers under the name of Levantine, Oriental and Bubonic Plague and the Black Plague, or Black Death. These designations are more or less open to criticism and lack scientific foundation. In the reign of Justinian, 542 A. D., the disease appeared in Egypt, and within a year extended to Constantinople, where it is said to have caused the death of 10,000 persons in one day. In 1352 the plague spread through the whole of Europe and nearly one-fourth of the population died. It is estimated by Hecker that, during this reign of terror, out of 2,000,000 000 inhabitants of Norway but It was estimated, by 300,000 survived. Pope Clement VI., that the mortality from black death for the entire world was 40,000,000. This outbreak lasted about 20 years. During the great plague of London, in 1665, there were 63,596 deaths out of a population of 460,000. Characteristics. The bacillus of the bubonic plague was discovered and studied by Kitasato and Yersin, working independently, and at about the same time, in 1894, during the epidemic of the plague at Hong Kong. It is found in large numbers in the pus, in the lymphatic glands, and occasionally in the internal organs. It is apparently present in the blood only in the acute hemorrhagic types of the disease, and shortly before death. An anti-plague serum injected into a young Chinaman, at the Catholic mission at Canton, in June, 1896, who was attacked with a severe type of the disease, was effective. It is believed the plague is transmitted solely through infection from previous cases. It is apparent, however, that hot, dry air is fatal to the disease, and that moist warm air is favorable to it. It even may be very active in cold weather. This was shown by the outbreak that occurred on the Volga river, in Russia, in the severe winter of 1878. Like typhus fever, the plague is unknown in the tropi tropics, and, like typhus, again, it usually selects its victims from the lowest class, and thrives on filth and famine. The invasion is abrupt, associated with chills, great depression, blunted condition of the intellect, pains in the bones and high fever. Death frequently occurs within 48 hours, and even earlier. Remedies. The chief causes of the plague are given as famine and filth. The various serums seem to be unavailable against these obstacles and even the use of antipyretics or stimulants. As a preventive serum, that of Professor Haffkins has proven the most effectual. The compulsory evacuation of infected cities and districts has accomplished much. Indeed, this was the most available remedy during the epidemic in the Punjab District in 1896-1897, and is the first preventive of a spread in case of an outbreak. Animals also have a tendency to spread the plague. Mice, rats, cats and monkeys have been known to infect a ship and bring the scourge from a foreign port. Excessive precautions are taken at all ports leading from Asia, that of the Suez canal being the most dangerous and carefully guarded highway into Europe. Precautions, however, are quite impossible in the incipient stages of the disease, as the evidences may not appear in the victim till he or she is already marked for death. The white races are more immune than any other. The mode of life in civilized countries is conducive to successful battle with the plague. As it is rather sporadic than epidemic, even in the East, there should be little fear of its securing a foothold on Western soil.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
an eastern epidemic, first known in China. It is supposed to be the same as the Black Death which appeared at Constantinople in 543 A. D., and which carried off a fourth of the population of Europe, 1347-52. It is due to the marvelously rapid growth of colonies of bacteria in the lymphatic system . The particular germ, or bubonic bacillus, resembles that of chicken-pox. Within three or four days from the time that germs have entered, usually in food or water, the plague breaks out in swellings and purple spots in the lymphatic glands of the neck, armpits, groin, and elsewhere, accompanied by headache, dizziness, fever, and prostration. Death is likely to ensue within five hours. After forty-eight hours the chances of recovery increase. As in the case of typhoid fever the bubonic bacteria thrive in filth of all kinds and the plague is most severe in the slums; but even the most sanitary districts are endangered by plague-breeding districts. It is chiefly an epidemic of the city. Clean streets, prompt disposition of garbage, and an abundance of water for flushing and thorough drainage,--that is to say, air, light, and cleanliness,--are preventives. Hot, dry air kills the germs; moist, warm filth favors multiplication. Famine stricken people lack strength to withstand the disease. At the present time the thickly populated quarters of the dirty, underfed poor in the cities of China and India are the centers of the pest most to be dreaded. The utmost precautions are taken at all enlightened seaports to prevent the landing of persons, animals, baggage, or articles of merchandise from a suspected locality without first holding the ship in quarantine to see whether the plague may not break out. Special efforts are made to prevent rats from swimming ashore from infected vessels, lest they carry germs into the houses and sewers of a city. Every ship approaching a port, especially a ship from Asia, must satisfy the health officers that it does not carry infectious diseases. It is not supposed that the bubonic plague can ever gain a permanent foot hold in America. It has at times reached the harbor of New York . In 1900 it appeared in the Chinese quarters of San Francisco . The United States authorities who guard our ports say that the bubonic plague is a question of germs, rats, fleas, and men. The bacillus or germ, which is described as a spindle-shaped rod, breeds in the blood of rats. Without rats, a port will not have the plague. A person may inhale the germs, in which case pneumonia is likely to ensue with deadly results. If the germ get into the blood current, poisoning results and death is almost certain. The two types mentioned, however, are of infrequent occurrence in this country. The ordinary line of bubonic attack lies through the skin, and here is where the flea plays a part. Fleas abound in the fur of rats. They live on the contaminated blood of the rat. The flea that infests the rats is not averse to the body of man. Here he makes an incision and helps himself to human blood. While feeding, the flea, like the fly, deposits a "speck," disgustingly full of bubonic germs drawn in at previous meals, on the body of the rat. When the victim attempts to allay the itching caused by the flea bite, this speck, germs and all, is rubbed into the incision, and the germs are taken up by the lymphatic system. They are killed by the lymph, but are carried to the nearest lymphatic gland, where they cause inflammation and a swelling or bubo, from which the plague takes its name. This is the least dangerous of the forms of infection; yet seventy-five per cent of the patients die. A crusade has been inaugurated the world over to exterminate the rats in our large harbors. See Black Death ; Disease 2026 Editor's Note: The entry's guess that the germs enter "in food or water" was already wrong when written. The bacillus had just been identified — by Alexandre Yersin in 1894, whose name it now bears — and in 1898 Paul-Louis Simond showed the real route: the bite of a flea carried by rats. Plague is now readily cured with antibiotics, though a few thousand cases still occur each year worldwide. (Ed: BR 2026-07-08)