전염병의 과학은 어떻게 논쟁되는가? - 1911년 만주 폐페스트 발병과 국제페스트컨퍼런스

Abstract

This paper aims to demonstrate the complexity of medical practices on epidemic diseases and the relationships with the circumstances outside laboratory, by reviewing the pneumonic plague in Manchuria and the International Plague Conference in 1911. First of all, although bubonic plague had been historically rampant and its pathogen(Yersinia pestis) was identified in 1894, pneumonic form was unfamiliar disease in 1911, not only because it had rarely been seen but because its symptoms were quite different from the bubonic form. Medical experts at the conference, despite their acquaintance with bubonic plague, could not conclusively confirm that pneumonic plague was the same disease as the bubonic form. Secondly, at that time the way to inspect new and perplexing diseases, such as pneumonic plague, was not single and homogenous, and a variety of medical practices from traditional patho-anatomic observations to laboratory techniques, for example, bacteriological and histological analyses and animal experiments, had to be involved. While these diverse practices served to aid in the understanding of pneumonic plague to some extent, they were judged by different standards and became the central issue of debate at the conference. Thirdly, Manchuria offered an unstable stage for scientific investigations. Medical examinations of representatives concerning pneumonic plague had been influenced by the political position of powers in Manchuria. Therefore, the conference which aimed to understand and overcome unfamiliar epidemic, had failed to draw an unanimous conclusions. This paper, reviewing the case of Manchuria in 1911, would contribute to understand the complexity of medical practices on COVID19 and its relationships with diverse circumstances outside laboratory.