Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-08-17
Yellow Fever.

WEEKLY REPORT OF THE SURGEON GENERAL.
The following is the weekly health report of
Surgeon General Woodwork, of the marine
hospital service, issued this afternoon:
Since last report from New Orleans Al cases
of yellow fever, 12l deaths, making a total of
9O2 cases, aud 2S9 deaths, of which lOs cases
and 70 deaths occurred during the "a hours to
Port Fads.-Thirty- three cases and i've
deaths from yellow fever during the week to
Grenada. Miss.SThe first case of yellow
fever occurred July 25th. To noon yesterday
there had been Us cases and AZ deaths.
Mobile, Ala.-One death from yellow fever
excursi ion to Biloxi, July q.
Cincinnati. Since last report a young
woman living in a house where baggage, be-
lived to be from New OrlearS was stored, died
OF afever.resemblng yellow fever. Another
case of fever of similar character has since
developed in the same neighborhood. Steamer
deaths from yellow fever before arriving at
Cincinnati, which city she passed Friday,
bound for Pittsburg, with several cases on
Louisville, proceeded to Cincinnati by rail,
where he was sent to the hospital l3st instant,
with fever Steamer Golden Rule passed
cases yellow fever on board two deaths oc
Cured on her on Thursday.
Several people from New Orleans and Port
Eads have sickened or died OF yellow fever on
their journey nOrthward-one case at Coving-
ton. KY, one at Cairo. and three at st. Louis.
HavaDa.-99 deaths from yellow fever and 8
from smallpox, week ending August 10th.
CardenaS and Saqua la Gran0e, Cuba-No
eases OF yellow fever during week ending
August 9th.
Matanzas, Cuba-There has been decrease
9TH. N " >'> 7
Calcutta-lO deaths from cholera, week end,
ing June 18Th
Bombay.-25 deaths from cholera week end
ing June 25th.
DIsNFECTION OF MAILS
The following is the reply Of Surgeon
General Barnes to the inquiry OF the Post
Office department whether some method
cannot be devised whereby letters can be
etfectua1y fumigated and the transmission OF
the yellow fever prevented. In response TO
your letter of the 18th, inclosing telegram
from the postmaster at Vicksburg, MIssis-
slppl. in reference to diSinfectlng mail mat
ter, ! have the honor to state that in my
opinion for the special purpose mentioned in
your letter, nothing could be more effective
as disanfectant, than heat. / would suggest
the use of bakers ovens, the floors Of Which
could be covered with layers Of sand, upon
and exposed to temperature of 325 de-
grees without damage to the letters
or the like; The same could be sprinkled
with carbOlic acid as an additional pre-
caution, but the trouble in attempts ar
fumigation is that the enclosures may and
probably would be untouched or influenced by
the VapGrS. There is nothing SO effectual as
heat, and it is, feel assured, the only safe and
sure means for the purpose indicated The
telegram inclosed with your letter is herewith
returned. Your Obed servant,
j. II. BARNES, Surgeon General.
A CAUTION
The following dispatch has been received at
the Post Office department from M. d. Wick
erSham, postmaster at Mobile =" Health au-
thOrltleS prohibit receipt of third class mail
matter from New Orleans, and urgently re-
commend that postmaSters i'll infected cities
be instructed to exercise vigilance to prevent
enc ,osures being forwarded that might con yey
the injection