The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-05-01

WASHINGTON, April 24.-An Asso-
ciated Press reporter saw Surgeon
General Hamilton to-day and had talk
with him concerning the case of yellow
fever reported at Sanford, Florida, and
the possibility of the spread Of the dis
ease or a recurrence of the epidemic of
last year. Said DR.. Hamilton: Il
learned of the appearance of yellow
fever at Sanford from two sources yes
terday-from special agent who has
been traversing the State since the sub
sidence of the plague Of 1888, and from
DR.. R. P. Daniel, President of the State
Board 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 sup
pressed does much more harm, in my
Judgment, than the fever itself"
What are the probabilities of an
other outbreak of the disease this year2'
81 shall not be surprised if there were
a considerable number of cases. The dan
ger chiefly lies in those towns and cities
which escaped the plague last year. In
places that were visited then, there is a
large proportion of acclimated residents
who have had the fever, and are there
fore safe, and who can remain to Lurse
and care for any who are sick; so that
the disease may comparatively be easily
controlled"
Are you prepared to manage any
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 fill up the refugees camp.
This would tend to create panic in sur
rounding towns, and that is the most
difficult thing for us to control. AL
ready | have received messages of in
dui1y, showing an alarmed state of pub
lie feeling, for which there is no foun-
dation. Ever since the outbreak Of 1888
ended, this Office has kept a close
sanitary watch over Florida, tracing
every report of the existence of fever;
and this case at Sanford is the only one
have heard of from reliable source.
Since the epidemic of last year Florida
has organized State Board of Health
by legislative enactment, providing
heavy penalties for violations of the
regulations of the board, and these
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 tax, the receipts
from which are set apart as fund to
be used for the health purposes of the
State"
Where is Sanford, the seat of the
present outbreak"
cit IS about one hundred miles almost
directly East of Tampa, in Central Flor
ida. l can readily account for the pres
cuce of the disease there. 1t is only SIX
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
subdued an attempt was made at disin-
fecting the place, but it was not
thorough, by any means-nothing like
house to house inspection and destruc-
ton of infected material carried on at
Jacksonville bi this department. But,
after the government ceased to pay for
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
yellow fever in 1897, when there were
$50 cases tn ere, the presence of which
was concealed by the authorities. That
is the thing most to be feared-suppres-
sion of the facts. Ii publication can
only be secured, apprehension and terror
are allayed. and the greater part of the
difficulty in controlling the disease is
overcome"
DR. Hamilton left Washington this
evening for Jacksonville. to confer with
the State Board of Health il regard to
measures for preventing the introduction