In 1855, an unusual outbreak of disease was recorded in the Chinese province of Yunnan. Those infected experienced a sudden rise in temperature to 39 degrees, were tormented by severe muscle pain, developed conjunctivitis, and then horrific buboes appeared on their skin. It was later determined that this was the plague. The third pandemic of the 'black death' in history spread across the world in just a few decades and soon reached Russia. There was an urgent need to develop a vaccine, but for that, an isolated location was necessary to prevent the disease from spreading in case of failure.

Volunteer scientists, risking their lives for the common good, were allocated Fort 'Alexander I' in the Gulf of Finland. The fortress was equipped in advance with everything necessary for research: a power station, baths, laboratories, laundries, cremation ovens for waste and bodies, and a sterilizer. Doctors lived and worked in the fort, but in a separate 'non-infectious wing.' A library was organized for their leisure, and they prepared their own meals.

All necessary supplies for research were delivered by the steamboat 'Microbe.' The serum was tested on horses. Laboratory staff member Cherventsov described: 'A whole menagerie has been set up, all animals serve for experiments on the vaccination of plague and other diseases: monkeys, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, mice, ground squirrels, which are considered carriers of the plague in Siberia, and susliks, which are very susceptible to the plague and, due to their speed of movement, potentially dangerous spreaders of the disease.'

The work was progressing successfully. Through the blood of a horse that had processed the 'plague poison,' the first serum was created. Victory seemed close. But in 1904, a terrible incident occurred at the fort: the head of a special laboratory, Turchinovich-Vyzhnikievich, became infected with the plague, followed by another doctor. The fort was placed under quarantine. They could not be helped, and their bodies had to be cremated. However, at the cost of their lives, the scientists of the Plague Fort still developed a serum against the 'black death.'