The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-08-28

ganism,. which it enters through the air
passages. The poison germ of miasm Is a
product Of the tropics. In this country
yellow fever has prevaileds in most of the
gulf and Atlantic cities and in many of the
towns along the Mississippi river. In some
instances it has been carried inland with
people fleeing from infected localities, but
IL has never shown disposition to spread
epidemically at points remote from the con-
tinuous water roads of commerce or to lodge
in high salubrious places The cities of the
great lakes have always been free from the
disease Yellew fever can not be sand to be
epidemic in the United States, from the fact
that in some years it does not appear, though
the imported germ undoubtedly survives
the mild winters.
1t appears to have about as much resist
ance of the cold as the banana plant When
the banana stalk is killed down by the frost
the yellow fever does not recur until again
imported. The germ is transmissible. 1t is
capable of being transported in the clothing
or personal effects of passengers and sailors,
but its spread from one city to another is
chiefly accomplished by vessels, their damD,
filthy holes and bilge water being Its favorite
lurking places Confinement, moisture and
high temperature favor the multiplication
or virulencs of the poison.
USE OF DIsINFEcTANrs.
When wharf or spot of ground or house
becomes infected the poison at once COM
mences TO spread, creeping slowly in all
possible directions, continually enlarging
the area around the center of infection I'M
less checked by disinfection, as had undoubt-
eddy been done by the use of carbolic acid in
New Orleans in former outbursts. Yellow
fever is not communicated from the sick to
the well, the sick and well being dangerous
only as possible carriers of the poison germ
and miasm. In support of this assertion it
may be stated that at quarantine hoseitals
where the effects of yellow fever patients are
burned or otherwise thoroughly disinfected
before the admission of the patients, the at
PENDANTS do not contract the disease. This
has been demonstrated many times All
well persons whose effects have been disin
fected may be considered harmless after six
or seven days have elapsed from the time of
leaving an infected district or vessel, as the
period of Incarnation of disease lasts from
two to six days. This simplifies the question
of quarantine, absolute land guarantees be-
ing deemed impracticable, and indicates
the direction OF preventive measures to the
vessel, cargo or to the locality, if the poison
has found Judgment on shore.
HOW VESSELS MAY ESCAPE.
A vessel may escape infection If kept clean
and dry and all parts capable of being closed
are frequently subjected to the fumes of
burning sulphur, and the men employed on
board are compelled to battle and change
their fiannels daily, and not allowed to
sleep on deck or in the hold of the vessel
There is an example of ship trading between
Havana and New York upon which these
precautions have been enforced for a period
of IL years, and not single case of yellow
fever has occurred on board. Though not
sufficiently demonstrated to state as fact,
still there seems good reason to believe that
much may be accomplished by individual
prophylaxis; by the use internally of small
doses OF sulphate of qulnia at regular in
tervals and of tincture OF iron or of chlor-
ate of potassa- AS the poison enters the
system through the air passages 1t has been
suggested that the nasal passages be bathed
frequently with q solution containing
quinine, to be applied by means of nasal
spray. JOHN M. WooDwoRTH
Surgeon General United States Marine Hos
pital Service.