CHAP, XI.] Measures to prevent the spread of infection by sea. 369
special peculiarities of plague, and in accordance with modern
scientific views regarding sanitary precautions for the prevention of
the spread of epidemic disease.
Important
points of
difference.
The following are the most important points in which the Con-
vention of 1897 differs from the previous Conventions on which
it is based:-
(i) The fact that the period of incubation in the case of plague
may be considerably longer than in the case of cholera
led to several important modifications. By the Venice
Conference of 1892 the period of incubation for cholera
was fixed at five days. The conference of 1897 adopted
a ten days' incubation period for the purpose of plague
regulations.
(ii) The list of articles of commerce which may be considered
"susceptible" was considerably increased; but it is left
to the option of the Governments concerned to allow or
prohibit the importation of the commodities, on the
"susceptible" list, no article being subject to absolute
prohibition.
(iii) Modern principles of disinfection were substituted for the
obsolete system of land quarantine, but, with a view to
meet the wishes of Governments who may find it difficult
to thus protect their borders, the option is given of
closing the frontiers to travellers and merchandise.
(iv) The provisions of the Paris Convention on the subject of
the regulation of the pilgrim traffic were embodied in the
Venice Convention, but in several respects those provisions
were altered in the directions for which the Government of
India have from time to time contended.
Measures for the
prevention of
plague to be
adopted outside
Europe.
Notification.
The first chapter of the regulations prescribed by the Conven-
tion deals with the measures for the prevention of plague which are
to be adopted outside Europe. In the first place, it is laid down
that the Governments which adhere to the Convention are to notify
to other Governments the existence of plague within their several
jurisdictions, and must communicate to them a statement of the
measures that are being carried out to prevent its diffusion. This
requirement as to notification is, however, subject to certain import-
ant conditions. Thus the area to be deemed infected is strictly
limited to the actual district, town, village, etc., where the disease
prevails; and no locality is to be deemed infected merely on account
of the importation into it of a few cases of plague which have led to
no diffusion of the malady. It is also provided that any area in
which plague has existed will cease to be considered as infected
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