469 
have been discovered on board vessels coming from the infected regions ; 
but as a result of the strict quarantine, the danger of contagion has 
been prevented. When a ship is found to have plague infection on board, 
all communication with the land. is stopped, measures are taken to 
destroy the rats, and other sanitary precautions are employed. In 
order to provide the means for killing rats on board ship, auxiliary 
vessels especially fitted for that purpose and similar to those used in 
Hamburg, Germany, are recommended. We now have several of these 
at Yokohama, Kobe, and Moji, and they will be employed during the 
present year. 
The Department of the Interior of the Japanese Government, through 
the Bureau of Public Health which belongs to that Department, names 
officials who are to meet to discuss and execute measures for the prevention 
of infectious diseases. These committees consist of physicians and 
surgeons with assistants and quarantine commissioners. Each munic- 
ipality or prefecture has also its established board of health, which 
consists of one physician, several assistants, and a number of inspect- 
ors. ‘This organization is placed directly under the control of the 
police department, and it takes charge of all matters relating to infec- 
tious diseases. The principal prefectures and districts are provided 
with isolating hospitals to receive patients and with laboratories for inves- 
tigation and these boards of health carry out the necessary preventive 
measures. In case of a plague outbreak, the prefectural government in- 
creases the number of health officials so as to meet the emergency. 
When an epidemic of an unusual nature takes place, an imperial receipt 
is issued by means of which the organization of a special board consisting 
of commissioners, inspectors, clerks, and watchmen is ordered for fight- 
ing plague. In addition, several councilors are appointed to submit 
advice relating to the matter. he municipal government of Osaka 
has increased its staff by 311 officials and a number of councilors because 
of the present outbreak. 
In Japan all affairs relating to health and sanitation, particularly to 
the prevention of infectious diseases, are referred to local administration, 
the execution of the necessary measures being carried out by the aid of the 
police. The expenses required for the purpose are shared by the people of 
the locality in which the disease occurs, aid also being given from the 
financial resources of the prefectural or municipal government. In case 
of an outbreak of contagious disease, the Central Government will give 
assistance to the local ones to an amount not exceeding one-sixth of the 
total outlay. However, in the case of plague, the Central Government has 
spent and is spending an amount enormously in excess of that fixed by 
regulation. 
The Institute for Infectious Diseases acts as councilor to the Goy- 
ernment in matters relating to health, and it especially advises in regard 
to the preventive and sanitary measures which are to be taken against 
