Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1888-10-06
S1ILZ. GLOOMY.
Yellow Fever Still Holds an
Upper Hand in Florida.
Thirteen Hundred and Thirly-three
New Cases and One Hundred
and Seventy Deaths the
Record for o Week.

and Seventy Deaths the
Record for Week.
Yellow fever still has CONTROL Of Jackson
vile, and during the past week 1888 new
cases we're reported and ITO deaths. making
The total new cases to date 1868, deaths 237
The yellow fever made its appearance il
Gainesville, Fla, among the Gainesville
Guards who were ordered to Fernandina Il
queil riot They were allowed to return Il
Gainesville.
When the Board of Health announced {
the community the dread truth, ia frs
news was communicated to a church OF
Sunday night, and regular stampede o
the citizens commenced. By Monday nigh
nearly oil the white population had left the
city. most of them to country homes.
Decatur Ala, is now almost drpopulated
and nearly every door is closed against the
fleeing people. They have left town by every
imaginable way, and some have walked
miles to board train, only to find that they
could enter none OF the cities and towns lying
near them.
yellow fever was declared at Fernandina
by the Board of Health, which issued the fol-
lowing bulletin
The Board OF Health announces that the
result OF an autopsy held OIL the body Of Mr..
Hood demonstrated the existance of yellow
fever in tue city.
All are leaving the city that could do SO,
and it is not thought it will he severe, as the
city was depopuated in thirty six hours.
a correspondent writing from Jacksonville
says: How yellow fever is caught, or rather
how IL clutches its victims, seems rather u
hard matter TO unrayel Those who seem to
take the most care of themselves appear TO
be reported first, while those who seem care
less and Indifferent, and at times imprudent
in exposing themselves, seem To hold out
wonderfully well. 1t is just week ago that
l visited the Sand Hills hospital and in
spectel it thoroughly going within a few
feet of the sick in all stages of the disease.
So far have felt no i'll effects from it.
Again, l am out at night till eight or nine
o'clock. The doctors headquarters ore Wis
tied many times day in search OF news.
Doctors just from the bedside of the sick and
dying are seen and talked with; the under
takers Offices are also visited, and altogether
| am exposed about all the time. Yet, not.
withstandIng all this, my general health IS
better than for some time previous.
Whether the germs OF the disease can only
work when the system Is in a certain condi-
ton o: not is very interesting question
that should receive more attention from
medical men. This epidemic presents unus.
ually favorable opportunities for study of
the scourge, and it is hoped that Congress
will provide for the establishment of scien-
tific bureau, to carefully and accurately in
vcstigate the epidemic. Its value, from o
humane as well as scientific standpoint,
would be incalculable.
During the past week Senator Call intro
duced bill for the appointment OF yellow
fever commission to observe and report all
facts and particulars rotating to the disease
in Jacksonville, Fla, to the Surgeon General
of the Marine Hospital service; the report
at. rward to be prepared for publication to
the Surgeon Gen raj with his opinion and
recommendations.
Senator Plumb introduced bill offering a
ttG9ytyer u nu ~ III pUuilo any
certain remedy or treatment of yellow fever
which will lower the deaths to less than two
Der cont of tho cases which may be so treated
anywhere in the United States.
Representative VILE ,ler, of Alabama, in.
PRODUCED in the House bill authorizing tho
President to establish camps for yellow fever
refugees wherever they may be found neccs-
sary The bill appropriates 50 0,UOO to pro-
vide for the expense thereof.
Notwithstanding the severe suffering Of
the Post Office employees of Jacksonville,
most every one of whom has bad the fever,
none b I'VE asked for leave of absence, but re-
turn after their bout with Yellow Jack look
ing like company of ghosts. On one city
route three carriers one after the other,
succumbed to the fever, and no mail could
be delivered until the first carrier was able
to mount the mail car. Pos;m lster Clark is
delighted with the pluck OF his force
the Sand Hills Hospital is working up
most enviable record Mr.. Morse, yellow
fever patient who had black vomit twice,
was discharged cured, and DR.. Potts, who
also had it two or three times is now con-
vaescent.
Toward the close of the week the fever sit
uation was supposed to C improving, but
proof positive has been brought to the Board
If Health that some physicians who enjoy
n large private practice persist in calling.
their 6: ses by any other name than that OF
We low fever, thus creating any amount OF
Confusion and gripping tue authorities IN
their efforts to obtain reliable STATISTICS Oh
the epidemic. ,..;.. ~
drawing from the relief fund for the y, How
fever sufferers for the benefit of their own
patients. When thoy were told that this
would not be allowed TWO or THEM proiiliseu "
report their yellow fever cases faithfully, ana
will be given the benefit of the relief supplies.
To stop the frauds that are practiced on
the Re.isf Committee by inscriptions appll-
cants ems to be q serious problem. The
following plan was talked of at the asSocia-
ton meeting: A house to house inspection
to be made at once and n complete census OF
the needy compiled. Each family entitled
to relief to be given an order for rations for
n month to be filed, stamped with date and
filed where it can readily he referred to in
case of necessity. Sufficient provisions to
furnish months rations for l2,oj0 people
will be ordered at once, in nd ition to the
regular orders coming to supply tie people
temporarily. When the great m iority OF
the people are supplied for amont the more g 3
energetic and discreet members of the Relief
Committee can have time to look up and IN
vestigate special cases that are overlooked IN
the general distribution.
1t will take large supply OF provisions to
feed tie people who cannot provide for them
selves. but these can be obtained and de-
livered by the month with comparatively
little more trouble anu labor than is now re-
uuired each week.