The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-10-08
GAINESVILLE'S FEVER.
An Effort to Locate the Cause of


cast deeper gloom arouu us, and shaken
the faith of those who relied implicitly on
the non-infection high pine land theory.
Theories appear to be all sadly at fault in
this yellow fever matter. Doctors disagree
and experts are at variance.
After all the experience of past epidemics,
it is reasonable to expect that medical men
should readily recognize the fever i'll its
lncipiency, take promptly a definite line of
action with high average of favorable
results, and so inspire confidence. But
since this is not so, there must be a grave
fault somewhere. Is the fault with the
doctors. The doctors proper realm is the
treatme It of disease when 1t appears, not
the prevention of its appearance. From
variety of surroundings cases may be COM
pllcated with other forms of fever, thus
varying the symptoms, and SO the indica-
tions in the experience of doctor in one
locality may differ essentially from that Of
another not similarly located, and thus may
arise honest difference of opinion.
There is needed careful investigation, an
assemblage of facts, well authenticated,
carefully classified and compared regardless
of any theory or any ones reputation.
Such investigation should be made by resi-
dents of some years within the area of
probable epidemic action. Experts, of how
ever high repute elsewhere, are sadly mis-
led by mistaken IDEAS in unfamiliar sur
roundings, and oftener avoid than invite
necessary information from those best able
to give it in the form in which it will be
most useful.
A large number of plain, simple state
ments of the first symptoms, and the prog
ress of the disease, obtained from intelli
gent persons who have passed through the
ordeal of yellow fever, might be collected,
classified for similarity aud variation, and
deductions therefrom be put in useful form
for public distribution. A similar work by
doctors is evidently advisable. I'm
familiarity with symptoms and widely
varying methods of treatment form the
elements of the wild terror inspired by the
possibility of being q victim TO yellow
fever. Thoroughly isolated cases, either as
communities, families, or individuals,
should be sought out as being best calculated
to give definite useful series of facts.
The case of Gainesville is, to some extent,
thus isolated. A company of men in ordi-
nary health are absent five DAYS, their
whereabouts during that time is strictly
well known. They return nearly all sick.
All apparently recover except six; these
develop yellow fever. They, with the
friends or relatives who happened to be
with them, are isolated. The fever takes
it's course None of the attendants, not
even in the case of fatal termination, take
the disease. In one case the outbreak is
DELAYED and terminates in death. Again
the attendants escape.
Here we have one prominent fact, verified
by seven isolated and distinct instances, in
which yellow fever is brought from afar
and introduced into the midst of a thickly-
inhabited region, passes through all its
stages there without communicating itself
to those in immediate, continuous aud pro-
longed exposure to its influence.
Seven such clearly defined cases may
rarely be found, and they form nucleus
when found and from all to try to ascer-
tain and understand the conditions of this
immunity for future guidance.
The question naturally arises here: Did
these cases contain the elements of con-
tagion? and further, what are the condi-
tions necessary to immunity and to conta-
giona
Here, sad to relate, we are not without
positive information.
When a week or more had passed the
board of health deemed it advisable that
the houses of the refugees which had been
closed should be opened and fumigated.
Mai. N. R. Gruelle volunteered to per-
form this work. He told the writer that he
found in several houses fetid odor from
decaying food and other matter left in the
stampede. This he and his assistants re-
moved before lufHlSdUlOH.
In this work he hurried from place to
place and overexerted himself, as shown by
his perspiring condition and fatigued APP
pearance on a very hot day. Being asked
why he did not keep out of town he replied,
81 am not afraid of the yellow fever spread
ing in this pure atmosphere. Turning to
your correspondent, he said, Il do not really
know how far l have been exposed, and 1
don't want to 60 beyond prompt help"
H.. 1T
intimately associated in business. The
majors office was in the same building
where Mr.. Ammons' room was, using the
same entrance. DIR. Miller's death from
the fever was sad blow to him, and deep
ened the fear of his possible infection. He
was stricken down with the disease and on
the third day he died.
We can trace Maj. Grueles' where
abouts every day during the period of the
fever brought by the guards, and know that
he had not been absent from here during
that time, nor for some time previous, nor
had any member of his large family beel
away recently.
The evidence appears to be conclusive
that he was infected by the fever brought
here by the guards. consequently, the feuer
1Uds communicable IN its most fatal FORM
Here we are met by one of those difficulties
which beset the path of investigation
Those in the constant presence of the dis
ease escape without any trace of its effect
on themselves; another after questionable
exposure, is smitten TO DEATH There must
be reason for this. Yellow fever must
act in accordance with natures fixed laws,
and these laws are not, presumably, past
finding out.
We have here from the same introduc-
ton, cases of comple.e non-infection, and
also fatal infectio Can we separate them?
Like causes under like conditions invariably
produce like results. Here we have given
cause, but opposite results
The results being different whilst the
cause remains the same, the conditions must
be different. II we can find any marked
difference Of conditions in these cases, 1T
may form guide to further investigation
elsewhere, and the recurrence of similar
conditions where the fever has become cpl
demic, may mark step in progress toward
the recognition, avoidance or removal of
that one condition conducive to the spread
of this hitherto untamable horror.
As soon as the cases were decided to be
yellow fever. all persons in the houses in
fected were confined therein, none allowed
to go in or out, and nothing to pass out;
complete isolation was strictly enforced by
armed guards.
In these houses conditions for infection
presumably did not exist.
What possible difference of condition
could Maj. Gruelle have encounteredl His
residence was nearly one mile east of the
court house, Just outside the city limits. and
less than 200 yards beyond the house of
Mrs. Evans, where her son, Lieut. Evans.
died OF the fever. Between these two b uses