The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-09-02
ATTACKS ON HAMILTON.
The surgeon General Explains His
Heroic Measures.

The surgeon General Explains His
Heroic Measures.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 1.-Senator Call and
Representative Dougherty held a conference
with the President this morning in regard
to the condemnatory resolutions passed by
Jacksonville ciuizens concerning DR.. Hamil-
tons course of action. No conclusions were
reached.
The following circular explains itself:
To the Public:
Certain criticisms. mainly based on misin-
formation concerning the present sanitary regu-
lations, have appeared in the daily press, and as
these criticisms have tendency to weaken the
hands of the officers engaged in the prevention
of q spread of yellow fever and to induce laxiCy
in the maintenance of quarantine, and thereby
greatly increase the danger to the whole coun-
try, have thought it eXpedient to make gem
eral statement of the condition of affairs.
The United States government, acting through
its marine hospital service, is engaged in help
ing the people of Florida, not in injuring them.
and in particular the stricken city of Jackson
vile has been treated with kindly consideration
suited TO the calamity which has befallen it,
s@hey were permitted to go anywhere they de-
sired, so long as the disease was confined to
circunscribed areas in the city, but when the
city became generally infected then the neces-
sity of placing restrictions upon the
movements of outgoing persons was apparent
and in restricting promiscuous travel from
Jacksonville the bureau is looking to the So
curty Of the country. The dreldful record of
the ravages of yellow fever in towns along the
railroad lines leading out of New Orleans In
1873, where there were over 1900 persons
afflicted with yellow fever, Of whom nearly 900
died, is too fresh in memory to risk its repeti-
ton along the Atlantic seaboard. The
extension of the disease to Memphis in 1873,
where nearly 5000 persons died Of yellow fever,
might have been prevented, had there been
any authority to restrict its ravages by proper
TN ha sfWaI
TO compel persons from Jacksonville to remain
within a camp of refuge for a period of ten
days before being allowed to go at will, but that
alternative is humane in comparison with the
results which would follow the admission
Of the coutagion into all the seaports and south
ern cities, each Of which in short would itself
become new center OF infection. The govern
ment has not at any time established strict
Gordon sanitaire about the city OK Jacksonville,
but has opened camp OF refuge in a high,
healthy locality and furnishes free ratons 20
those detained. IL has also authorized at large
expense tae building of 200 pine
cabins to shelter those poor people who
are driven out of the infected localities
and it is willing to provide for the further relief
of Jacksonville by furnishing transportation by
trains to any definite point that is safe and has
opened its doors. but there are few places will
ing to receive large numbers of refugees.
While it Is probably true that the body Of a
healthy person does not carry contagion, his
clothes do carry it, and baggage packed in an
infected house is dangerous ia the extreme.
Fumigation stations have been established at
proper points, and all baggage win be fumigated
which comes from any infected city. | do not
think, therefore there can be any reasonable
ground of complaint.
JoHN D. HAMILTON
SUSTAINED BY THE PRESIDENT.
The President will sustain Surgeon Gen
eral Hamilton in all tho measures he may
take to prevent the spread of yellow fever.
He has entire confidence in the surgeon
general AID believes that he is doing his
best The senator's and representatives
from Florida have this belief. The Presi-
considers DIR. Hamilton's reply most salts
factory