The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-03

and at Plant City, but in these places
succession OF cases kept il alive through
the winter, which was n very mild one,
the frost not being sufficient to Kill the to-
mato vines.
Qucstion-Ploase give me your views as
to the value aud efficacy OF disinleCion,
iumigation, arrestion, etc.
Distinction in yellow fever is
very largely based uron hypothetical
grounds. We have very little direct proof
OF the efficacy OF any sort Of dsnfection
in yellow fever. We know that heat and
various chemical agents will destroy the
germs OF some other diseases, Tor instance,
smallpox, typhoid fever, cholera, and We
hence conclude that the same agents may
perhaps be equally elicacious against the
germs which generate yellow fever. The
germs of yellow fever have not yet been
demonstrated and we are, therefore, un-
able 10 de,crmi eXpcrimontally their
power to resist the usual means of disin-
lection. For myself, ! believe that bod
ding aud clio hing contaminated by the in.
fiction OF yellow fever, can be disinicctcd.
IL is perhaps possible to disinlect con-
tamnated rooms or even contaminated
houses, although this is probably
problem of great difficulty. When II
comes 10 disinlccting yards aud streets
the experiments hitherto made are not
encouraging A very persistent effort was
made last May TO disiniect the little town
OF Plant City, under the auspices Of
the Surgoon-Geneal OF the Marine
Hospital Service. This is u nowly built
railroad town, the houses are usually of
moderate nize, widely scattered in word,
all the conditions were ~ favorable Us they
possibly could be for the success OF disin-
lection, and yet the effort proved com
pleto failure. The agents employed were
those now commonly regarded rs most
cilicaclous. Some things were burned,
Others were subjected TO the action of boil.
ing water the solution OF bi-chloride OF
mercury WIS used so literally that all the
people became alarmed lest their wells
might be poisoned by scepage. All the in
foc,cd houses were iumigaied with burn
ing sulphur; lime was freely used in the
yards aud wet places; the houses were
opened and thoroughly ventilated by .lay
aud 10y night, and several weeks were
consumed In the process. In very
few days after the refugees returned
lcarly in June) they began To have foyer,
although prior 10 that time there
had not been q case for three weeks
don't make any war upon disinicction
in yellow fever. In the beginning OF an
outbreak ! would exhaust all the resources
oi disinicction, with the hope that II might
help Ia prevent the spread Of the disease.
Immediately after the close OF an cpl
dcmic | would not think il amiss 10 disn.
feet houses in which yellow foyer had
prevailed before their renewed occupancy
10y returning refugees or other persons,
but after the suhsldcncc of an epidemic
can sec no need Tor the disinicctiOn OF
houses that have been continuously
occupied, nor bedding or other things
that have been continuously used,
but when several weeks have elapsed
after the close OF the epidemic. hold
all distinction 10 be- utterly useless
80 lar ~ the prevention OF yellow fever is
concerned. Under such circumstances,
yellow lever Is NO longer to ho feared.
There Is no longer any yellow fever intcc-
ton anywhere, and consequently
there IL nothing against which ~
discharge the batteries OF disiniuciion.
post.opidcmic disinicction-ih is TO say,
disinicrlion carried out weeks aud months
after the disappearance of yellow fever la
place, Is a new thing under tho sun. so
lar ~ ! know, IL WIS first prnctced hy the
National Board Of Health In Memphis
aud New Orleans IN 1879, and IL now bc.
ing carried out extensively In Florida.
Question you think yellow fever
will rc-appcar In Florida next summer, or
at Decatur, or Jackson, Miss.2
Answer feel perfectly confident Il
will not rc-appoar at Decatur or jackson
unless il SHOULD be brought In again.
am not quite ~ certain about Florida.
There have been cases ui yellow fever
lhcrc much later than the public has been
apprzcd Of but ~ iir ~ | know, " has
been some weeks since there has been
case In that State. think the proha biii-
ties are that there will be- no outbreak Of
yellow FOYER In Florida this coming sum
mer, always, OF course, excepting REIN
poriati0n.
Question what do you base that
conclusion2
Answer base that conclusion upon
the fact that II my information u correct,
aud believe II 10 be 40, there Is now no
yellow foyer In Florida. think this cx.
cmpiion ia likely 30 continue for some
months. aud. ~ have already said. he.
licyo Il only hibcrnatcs by the recurrence
oi eases during the winter months.
Question lave you any agencies for ~.
ccriaining the exact condition Of affairs In
Florida2
Answer know an the leading doclon
personally In the state OF Florida. and ~.
pccially In those places where yellow fever
has prevailed. | have their confidence
aud they have promised 10 inform me
promptly Of the occurrence Of any case or
suspicious case. Heretofore they have
kept their promises faithfully. aud he
lioyo will continue to do ~. WIS In Flor.
IDA last May and visited all tho infected
placcA ! was In Florida again la January
and met q larg, number Of Florida physi.
clans at ~. Augustine Januiry ~. at tho
meeting oi the Florida stao Medical As.
ISOLATION.
Qucstion-What Fixed conclusions have
you arrived nj as 10 the nature Of the dis.
ease and the best means 10 prevent It's in.
PRODUCTION aud spread2
Answcr-l believe the fever In propa-
gated by specific germ, germ which
has not yet been demonstrated, however.
] think it IL probable that the local habi.
iaiion Of that germ In the human body
Is the alimonlary canal and therefore that
the iecal oynCuatiOns OF yellow lover
patients should DO very carefully diaIn-
lociod. shall insist upon II In this State
hereafter. The most cilcaciOus OF all the
means 10 prevent the spread Of yellow
fever h the isolation Of first eases and non.
intofcoursos with infected persons, places
aud things. Keep away from the IRE and
you won't got burned aud you needn't
keep very Gar away from the fire either.
Tho yellow foyer Is not commonly carried
~ any considerable distance by atmos-
phorio currents. Ordinarily II will not
cross n street unless IL Is carried across.
Ordinarily II will no. get over a wall