Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-10-20
FACTS ON YELLOW FEVER,
THE DISEASE NOT CONFINED TO
THE SOUTH.
Surgeon General HamiIton's Knowledge
on the Subject Made Public-Secretary
Lincoln to be Asked for an Explanation
by Congress, and Advocate Swain Cor
respOndingly Happy.

|
by Congress, and Advocate Swain Cor
respondingly Happy.
Correspondence ofthe Morning Aeaos.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1S.-The next an
nual report of DR.. Hamilton, Surgeon
General of the Marine Hospital Service.
VIII contain some interesting facts in re-
gard to the prevalence of yellow fever in
this country since its first settlement. 1t
VIII be shown that yellow fever has by no
means been confined to the South This
is pretty well known, but the extent to
| which it has prevailed in the North is by
no means well known. In his discussion
| of this subject it will not be claimed that
it is exhaustive, localities not named
having no doubt been visited by the fever.
The conceded home of the yellow fever is
| in the West Indies and Bahamas, with
portion OF the adjacent continents ofNorth
| apd South America. A square formed by
the 45th and Tooth degrees oflongitude and
| the Both north and 9TH south latitude will
include the favorite region of the disease.
Although originating within the square
named history shows that il may prevail
on the sea coast in any locality within the
tropics, north and south of the equator,
where malarial tevers prevail and the
| daily average of the thermometer is over
70 or 50 degrees with a high dew point for
weeks or months together yellow fever
does not prevail in tine East Indies or in
China. 1t has appeared in most of the
maritime cities of the United States on
the Atlantic coast as far north as Boston,
and, indeed, has been chrOnicled at
Quebec and Halifax. But fortunately
it has never extended far into the interior
of the country, In the United States it
seems to prevail in the large seaports
and in localities along the nayi-
gable water-courses having their outlets
in the Gulf of Mexico. Its epidemical
limits coincide with the range and growth
OF the liye-oak, the cypress and the long
| mOsses. The elevation of the land is an
other cause to be taken into considera-
tiOn. yellow fever was never known at
an elevation Of $500 feet. Certain Iocali-
ties in districts of much less elevation
than ,, 800 feet are notably free from the
disease while it RACES in localities lower.
Since 1868 yellow fever has appeared in
the following States: Alabama, Arkan-
sas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida,
| Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland,
| Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North
Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas
the fact that they have been visited by
yellow fever is too well known to 80 into
any details. 1t is different, however, in
others. 1t appeared III Connecticut in
1894, 1876, 1898, 1900 and 1920. In Della
ware it was a visitor in 119S. In 1873 it
was in Illinois. 1t visited Baltimore,
Maryland, in 1894, 1795, 1897, 1893, 1899,
and 1868. Massachusetts had to enter
tain the unwelcome visitor in 1851, 1888,
1902, 1875, 1876, 1898, 1900, 1902, 1905, 1919
and 1858. New Hampshire has had the
scourge in but one year-179S. New Jer-
sey in three years-179S, 1905 and 1911;
New York for a long series of years,
with breaks here and there from
1916, 1893, 1900. 1921, 1854, 1862,
1864, 1871; Ohio in 1876, 1871 and 1879
Pennsylvania had it first in l7l1 and last
in 1870. She had it in about forty-five of the
intervening years. Tennessee has only
had the disease four vears-1S53, 1850,
1866 aud 1878. The other States, where
the disease has occurred, have had it so
often that this paragraph would wind up
with but string of dates were they to be
given.
THERE HAS LONG BEEN
difference of opinion between the Secre-
tary OF War and General Swain, the
Judge Advocate General of the Army.
This has ripened into considerable ILL
feeling. All the court martial cases are
forwarded to General Swain for revision.
He looks over them and then sends
them to the Secretary of War with
his written views as to whether the find-
ings should be sustained, oyerruled or
amended. Secretary Lincoln thinks he
knows something of military law. He
thinks he knows good deal more about
it than does his Judge Advocate General.
The result has been that the Secretary has
made practice of oVerruling the latter in
nearly all the cases that have been sent
up to him from the Judge Advocate Gen
eraPs office. The mOnotOny of having his
work undOne became very calling to
General Swain. But the Secretary was
in the position held by Tweed when he
asked the people of New York, whom he had
robbed, that famous question, "What are
YOU going to do about itY" Now, Secretary
Lincoln refused to allow the counsel of
the defendants in the Whitaker and Flip
per court martial cases to look at the
record. This is an unusual and arbitrary
course to pursue. The fact having be-
come public, the counsel for Flipper and
Whitaker started a little agitation of the
subject, seeing that they had public Opin-
ion on their side. The result is, that Sec
retary Lincoln will very likely be called
upon to explain to Congress his reasons
II
Judge Advocates who wanted Swaim's
place very much when the latter was put
at the mead of the Law Bureau of the War
Department, is very close to Lincoln. He
reported to the latter that Swain was at
the bottom of the whole little teapot tenn
pest. This made Secretary Lincoln very
mad. He has just informed General
Swain that he has no right to give out in
formation to the public. He spoke in
very testy manner to Swain. They never
speak, except officially, now, as they pass
by. SWAIN and his assistant don't even
speak officially.
THE FALL MEETING
of the National Jockey Club is in
progress here. 1t is one of the most
successful meetings ever held in
Washington. But very few cities any
where can surpass it. The weather has
been a little o0olish, and sitting on the
grand stand with northeasterly breeze
a-blowing has been little bit uncomfort-
able. But the people do not seem to mind.
They are there by thousands each day.
The grand stand is crowded with ladies of
the very best social position and by the
leading men in official and private life.
In the infield there are hundreds of hand
some emlipages, and the park is crowded
with them. On the quarter-stretch there
is crowd of sporting men around the
pool boxes and around the hook-makers.
| There are among them many department
clerks and officials who are anxious to
take a ssflyero ON horse in
the mutual pools or with
a book-maker. There are hundreds of
men here who commenced with the first
running race last spring and have not
missed single meeting in the circuit
since then. There are quite a number of
! half-grown boys here too, who have done
the same thing, They all seem to have
plenty of money. They will bet on ANYTHING.
When the races are over they 20 to the
hotels and bet on billiards at frcm $40 to
5000 game. All the leading stables i'm
the country are represented. Both the
LorilIards, Dwyer Brothers, the Kmneys
and so on with the list. Freddie Geb-
hardt's famous horse Eole is also here.
There is more interest taken in that ami
NAL than in any other at the meeting.
This was especially the case among the
ladies. The racing has been splendid No
remarkable time was made, but the con-
tests were all fast. The fact that this is
very near the close of the season-tha
horses having been at work since sprjnp
accounts for no remarkably quick miles
But it is very interesting meeting. II
brought good deal of money into tbe
city, and took great deal out. Good
racing in Washington is now a doubIy as
sured fact.
THE OTHER DAY WHILE
party Of newspaper men were seated in
the office of Judge Advocate General
| Swain, there walked in neatly-dressed
negro woman. She was about 35 wears
old. She did not look around the room. but
| walked dirpcflv nm to fgot, Cx,-,;,,,t., ,IacI-