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CONCLUSION. 
In conclusion I desire to suggest what I consider to be an ideal plan 
for combating plague. I believe that the fatal pestilence, however ob- 
stinate its ravages and terrible its effects, could be fought and vanquished 
by the persistent efforts of man and I also believe that where human endea- 
vor, backed by money, is determinedly directed against it, it must yield. 
But the efforts, however laborious, the money, however vast, can be of no 
value unless they be accompanied by the application of scientific knowl- 
edge. The danger of plague invasion through open ports must increase 
in proportion as international commerce progresses and maritime enter- 
prise advances. Again, where man has fixed his abode the rodents ac- 
company him to share it; and the unwelcome creature becomes the cause 
of the dreadful evil. In ports which vessels from infected regions 
frequent, an epidemic of the pestilence may not be difficult to exter- 
minate. But if infection after infection is repeated from fresh impor- 
tations the expenditure of large sums of money and much tedious effort 
become involved. In regions like India and southern China, plague 
appears to be deeply rooted, prevailing almost incessantly for several years 
and during each year attacking more than 200,000 victims. It is appa- 
rent that we can not avoid the danger of invasion by the pestilence at any 
moment, so long as we do not cease intercourse with these regions. ‘To 
be content with the mere placing of quarantine on the incoming vessels 
from these places or of enforcing rat killing and other sanitary measures 
in the open ports seems to me to be but imperfect protection. Why not 
extend the combat to the source of danger and destroy the cause of the 
evil permanently? Plague is not only objectionable to the people of one 
locality but it is an enemy of mankind in general. All civilized nations 
must fight this common enemy. I believe there should be an interna- 
tional conference to discuss a plan to collect money and to organize an 
international army to combat and vanquish this disease wherever it ap- 
pears. Expeditions should be sent to the interior regions of India and 
south China. The cost of such an enterprise would be only a small 
part of what the civilized nations are constantly expending in keeping 
armies and navies. Even the amount which every country is spending 
for the prevention of the pestilence would suffice. My suggestion only 
lacks a leader, and I see that the United States, one of the greatest 
nations of the earth, has such a leader in the person of its President, 
Theodore Roosevelt, who has already done so much for humanity and 
whose noble works are being admired by the whole world. 
