Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-10-24
THE BREWTON EPIDEMIC.
rur INVESTIGATION BY THE
ROARD OF EXPERTS.

ROARD OF EXPERTS.
DR. stone Interyiewed-The Disease
Pronounced Yellow FeVer-lts origin
The First Case Contracted in Pen
sacoIa TWENTY-FIVE Cases Under
Treatment When the Doctor Lett
New Cases DeveIOping-The Town and
its surroundings.
DR.. George II. Stone, who, it y ill be re-
membered, was ordered by Surgeon Gen
eral John b. Hamilton, in connection
with DIR. Carson, of New Orleans. to
Rrewton. Ala, to make an investigation
of the prevailing fever at that point, re-
turned TO the city on Monday evening.
A representative of the MORNING NEWS
called upon the Doctor yesterday morn
ing at his office in the custom house, to
make inquiries relative to the FEVER at
Brewton, and TO gain such other lniorma-
| ton as would be of interest to the general
public. He was quite busy, but willingly
rave the reporter few moments TO an
| swer such inquiries as were put to him.
! The reporter commenced by saying,
swell. Doctor. see that the experts have
] made a report to Surgeon General Hamll-
ton declaring the fever prevailing at
Brewton, Ala, as yellow fever"
Eyes, sir, they have. After thorough
! examination of the cases of sickness at
/ that town they could arrive at no other
! conclusion. The post mortems developed
| that fact completely and satisfactorily"
s.Dr. Stone, why was it necessary to
send board of experts to examine INTO
| itYr
..WeH. the reason was that the local
| physicians and the State Board OF Health
| disagreed very materially about its origin
and the nature of the disease, and sur
geOn General Hamilton decided to make
an investigation by disinterested parties.
| Surgeon General Hamilton also invited
| DR.. Jones, of the New Orleans Board OF
| Health, to appoint some one to act with
me i'm the matter, and Or. W. III. Carson,
! Sanitary Inspector of New Orleans, was
sent to cooperate. DR.. j. Cochran, the
| Health Officer of Alabama, was also
| present in the investigation"
| ''WeIl, Doctor, did the fever originate
| from local causes, or was it importedY'
at was imported, without doubt. The
| conditions of BrewtOn are perfectly
| healthy. There are no swamps or low
lands near there, and nothing to Indicate
| a particularly unhealthy district"
"Why are you so certain that 1t was
imported?'
| .tOur reason said the doctor, ''for COM
| ing to that conclusion is this: A DIR. Ran
| kin lived at Mr.. DOwning's house. across
] the railroad from BrewtOn. This gentle
man, it was stated to the board by respOn-
sible parties, visited Pensacola and re-
manned some time. 1t was also asserted
that he visited the navy yard while the
| fever was raging there. This is denied
| bv some of his friends, who claim that he
| did not leave the neighborhOOd. The
board of experts, however, feel satisfied
| that thew will establish the fact be-
yond doubt that he did go to Pensacola
| and the navy yard. When he returned to
| MIR. DOwning's he was stricken with
fever, which occurred September II, and
| on the 18th he died with black vomlt.
| There was a family of four or five persons
occupying the same premises, and each
| in turn took the fever. Within 10 days of
the date OF his death , persons in the
| house all had yellow fever, of whom
died The party who nursed the sick
where the fever first broke out; as
| Just stated, in turn took the fever and
died. In a country town when person
| gets sick every one in the neig hbOrhood
calls to see the patient, not knowing the
nature of the disease, and thus 1t was
| spread"
Here the Doctor took pencil and piece
| of paper and drew map of the location,
| and showed the reporter how, in the judS-
| ment of the board, the fever spread over
| the entire community.
After explaining this matter DR.. Stone
! was asked about the sanitary condition
| Of the town.
The town." said he, twas found in an
! excellent sanitary condition, the streets
and premises were all thoroughly clean,
| and no piles of dirt or rubbish about. The
streams in the neighbOrhOod were of PED
| bly, bottom, and the running water as
| clear as crystal. In fact, as | said before,
! in my opinion there are no conditions to
/ produce yellow fever in the nelghbor-
| hood. 1t is true there has been very
| little rain during the summer, but the
| same complaint is made all along the line
| to Columbus, and if the fever had been
| produced by local causes, it would have
| appeared in other localities Immediately
connected with Brewton."
$50 you are positive that 1t was I'M
pOrtedY'
Il am, and so are my colleagues, and
when the investigation is complete, it
will be established that DIR. Rankin
| visited Pensacola and the navy yard,
contracted the yellow fever, and when he
| returned home was taken sick and died
as stated. And from this case may be
attributed the epidemic at BrewtOn."
'EWhat is the population Of the town,
| and where is its lOcatiOn?'
Its population Is between 300 and 800.
| 1t is about 10j miles from Montgomery,
| between Pensacola junction and Mont
| gOmery."
"How were you impressed by the ac-
tiOns of the citizens"
The citizens were very hOspitable and
kind. and showed us every consideration
and lent every assistance i'll their power
to ferret out the origin of the epidemic"
"When did you leave Brewton, Doctor ~
1--WE left Brewton on Sunday morning"
| "W hat was the situation of affairs at
| that timer"
There were - cases under treatment,
| three or four of whom may die. The re-
mainder would possibly pass through the
ordeal and recover. That, of course, de-
| ponds great deal upon changes that may
! occur"
"Were there any new cases developing
when you left"
Yes; two new cases had developed
that day"
lis there any prospect of its immediate
cessation?"
Il do not think so. In my opinion, it
will continue until frost, OF until it eX-
hausts its material.'
''ls there much alarm along the line!"
"Well," said DIR. Stone, Il know one
| thing: they are very strict in their quar-
antine regulations, and are very careful
not to let anyone pass that has not under
! gone a thorough fumigatiOn. Why, sir, |
was locked up III car for hours, and
was told that / was fortunate to get through
as easily as that. People cannot be
blamed for exercising "a great deal of
/ prudence in this matter, and every effort
should be made to keep the terrible
scOurge out of community"
'Well, Doctor, L suppose | have eX-
hausted your fund of information on this
/ epidemicY'
/ Eyes, l know of nothing further to say
| at present about it, and think l have
covered all the main points, anyway"
so bidding the Doctor good morning, the
| reporter withdrew.
A New Weekly Paper.
r. NJ. Orme, Esq, announces that he
! proposes to publish a weekly paper, to be
/ called The Savannah Merchants Gazette,
! provided he can get support from our mer-