Many epidemics have occurred in Mesopotamia (last in 1892), in Turkestan (last in 1892), in India, in China, and in Mongolia. In India there were several outbreaks during the nineteenth century, but, with the exception of the current epidemic, they were of a localized rather than of a general character. One, beginning in Cutch in 1815, spread to Scinde and Gujerat, and continued till 1821. Epidemics have also occurred in Kumaon and Gharval on the southern slopes of the Himalayas in 1824, 1834-37, 1846-53, 1876, and 1884; also at Hansi in Delhi, 1828-29. In 1836 it appeared at Bareilly, Rohilcund, and at Pali in Rajputana, spreading to Jodhpore and to Marwar, and continuing till 1838. Probably plague is always present in some part of India, especially among the rude hill-peoples.
It is now known that plague has been endemic in the south-west of China, in the province of Yunnan, for many years. It is probable that the present extension of plague had its origin in that part of China. There it was seen by Rocher and others in 1878 and afterwards. It was particularly active in 1871-73, after the great Mohammedan rebel-lion. From Yunnan, probably following the trade route, it spread to Pakhoi on the Gulf of Tonquin, a severe epidemic occurring in 1883 in that and in neighbouring towns. In 1894 it had extended to Canton, where it killed, it is estimated, 60,000 in a population of 1,500,000 (?). Later in the spring of the same year it broke out in the British colony of Hong Kong, subsequently spreading to Macao, Swatow, Amoy, Foochow, Formosa, and probably to many other places in the southern provinces of the Chinese Empire, where, in one place after another, considering the wretched hygienic conditions and the poverty of the inhabitants, it is safe to prophesy that plague will continue epidemic for many years to come. Japan and the Philippines were both infected from China.
Having probably been imported from Hong Kong, appeared in 1896 at Bombay, and subsequently as
