The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-09-06
WASHINGTON.
Statement of Surgeon General
Hamilton Concerning Yellow
Fever in Florida.
Speculation on the Causes of the
Alleged Rejection of the
Chinese Treaty.

WASHINGTON, September l.-GovernOr
Perry, of Florida, has telegraphed Sur
geon-general Hamilton as follows:
"Without the consent of the Nassau
county board our promises preclude the
establishment of fever hospital there
asked by the Jacksonville committee"
Senator Call and Representative Dough-
cry had a conference with the president
this morning in regard to the oondemna-
tory resolution passed by the Jacksonville
citizens concerning DR.. Hamilton's course
of action. No conclusions were reached.
julius Wise, one of the bureau of inspec-
tors, was on his way from Jacksonville to
Fernandino three days to inspect the
latter place. He telegraphed he had been
impeded at all points by quarantine
regulations, and expected to reach Fer
nandino to-day and Camp Perry to-
morrow.
Doctor Guideras telegraphed from
Camp Perry there we're 1876 persons al
muster yesterday, fifty having arrived
He will discharge Twenty-Five to-day
Following is the card from Surgeon
general Hamilton on sanitary regulation;
To the public: Certain criticisms
mainly based on misinformation con-
corning sanitary regulations have APP
peared in the daily press, and as these
criticisms have tendency to weaken the
hands of the officers engaged in the pre-
vention of the spread of yellow fever and
to induce laxity in the maintenance OF
quarantine and thereby greatly increasing
the danger of the whole country. 1 have
Thought it expedient to make a gen
eral statement of the condition of affairs
The United States government
through its marine hospital ser,
vice, is engaged in helping the
prople of Florida, not injuring them,
and in particular the stricken city Of
Jacksonville has been treated with q
kindly consideration suited to the calam
ity which has befallen it. They were
permitted to go anywhere they desired, sc
long as the disease was confined to cir
cumscribed areas in the city, but when thu
city became generally infected then the
necessity of placing certain restrictions
upon the movements of outgoing
persons was apparent, and in restrict
ing promiscuous travel from Jacksonvill,
the bureau is looking to the security o
the country. The dreadful record of tn
ravages of yellow fever in towns alonl
the railroad lines leading out of New
Orleans in 1878, where there were owe
$1,000 persons affected with yellow fever
of whom nearly 1000 died, is toe
fresh in the memory to ask its repetition
along the Atlantic seaboard. The exteu
sion of the disease to Memphis, in 1878
where nearly 5000 persons died of yellow
fever, might have boon prevented haC
there been any authority to restrict trave
by proper quarantine. 1t may be fear
full alternative to compel persons from
Jacksonville to remain within a cam
of refuge for period of ten days befor
being allowed to 90 at will, but that al
tentative is humane in comparison wit
the results which would follow the admis
sion of oontagion into all the seaport
and southern cities, each of which in
short time would itself become ne,
center of Infection.
The government has not, at any time
established strict "cordon sanitair
about the city of Jacksonville, but ha
opened camp of refuge in a high an
healthy locality, and furnished free rt
tions to those there. It has also author
! lied, at large expense, the building of 70
U pine cabins to shelter those poor peopl
who are driven out of the infected localitie
!, and it is willing to provide for the furth'
Q relief of Jacksonville,b furnishing tram
portation by special excursion to any d.
: finite point that il safe and has opene
its doors, but there are few places viii
ing to receive large numbers of refugees
While it is probably true that the body G
a healthy person does not carry the cor
tagion, his clothes do carry it and baggag
packed in an infected house is dang erou
in the extreme. Fumigation station
have been established at proper point
and all baggage will be fumigated whic
comes from any infected city"
no not think, therefore, there can b
any reasonable ground of complaint.
Signed JNo. b. HAMILTON.