Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-24

An Associated Press reporter saw Surgeon
General John b. Hamilton to-day and had a
talk with him concerning the case of yellow
fever reported at Sanford, Florida, and the
possibility OF the spread of the disease or a re-
currencce OF the epidemic Of last year. Said Dr.
Hamilton:
Il learned of the appearance of yellow fever
at Sanford from two sources yesterday: from a
special agent who has been traversing the state
since the subsistence of the plague of 1888
and from Dr. r. P. Darrell, president of the
state poard OF health. This fact shows that
there Will be no attempt made to conceal the
presence of the disease, as was done last
year; and such being the case, the danger
is largely reduced. The fear and panic excited
by the knowledge that the true condition of
affairs is being suppressed do much more
harm, in my judgement, than the fever Itself"
AS TO THE PROBABILITIES OF ANOTHER OUTBREAK
"what are the probabilities of another out
break Of the disease this year,"
II should not be surprised if there were a
considerable number of cases. The
and cities which escaped the plague
last year. In places that were visited then
there is large proportion OF acclimated resi-
dents who have had the fever and are therefore
safe who can remain to nurse and care for any
who are sick, 30 that the disease may compare
| lively be easily controlled.
BETTER PREPARED THAN EVER TO MEET IT.
"Are you prepared to manage an outbreak
should it occur?"
Eyes, much better than ever before. Camp
Perry is in Such condition that it can be put in
operation IN twenty-four hours But it
Will be much better if we do not have to
mt up a refugees camp. To do
this would tend to create panic
In surrounding towns, and that is the most
rs hay
received messages of inquiry, showing an
alarmed state of public feeling, for which
there is no foundation. Ever since the
outbreak OF 1883 ended this Office has kept a
close sanitary surveillance over Florida, trac-
ing every report of the existence of fever, and
this case at Sanford is the only one 1 have
heard OF from reliable source.
Since the epidemic of last year
Florida has organized state
board OF health by legislative enactment, pro-
vlulng heavy penalties for violations of the
regulations of the board, and those regulations,
which were promulgated on the 9th of this
month, are admirably adapted for carrying out
the purposes of the act. The board is made
effective by the imposition of a tax, the re-
celpts from which are set apart as fund to be
used for the health purposes of the state"
WHERE THE DISEASE HAS APPEARED.
where is Sanford, the seat of the present
outbreak"
sit is about 100 miles almost directly east of
Tampa, in central Florida. 1 can readily
account for the presence of the disease
there. 1t is only miles from Enterprise,
across the lakes where the fever ragged last year.
and there was uninterrupted intercourse be-
tween the places. After the fever was sub
dued an attempt was made to disinfect
the place, but it was not thorough by any
means, nothing like the house to house inspec-
ton, and destruction of infected material car
| rled on at Jacksonville by this department.
But, after the government ceased to pay for
the articles destroyed the destruction
ceased-the people would not give up their
property unless paid for it-and in a great
measure the inspection stopped. Sanford was
visited by the yellow fever in 1887, when there
were $50 cases there, the presence of which
was concealed from the authorities. That is
the thing most to be feared, a suppression of
the facts. If publication can only be secured
| apprehension and terror are allayed and the
greater part of the difficulty in controlling the
disease is overcome"