St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-07-06
YELLOW FEVER SOUTH.
Surge on-General Hamilton Thinks No
Alarm Need Be Felt

|
Alarm Need Be Felt
AS TO IT'S INTRODUCTION THIS SEASON
| HE BELIEVES TIE GERMS IN FLORIDA
WERE KILLED BY THE SEVERE WINTEF
AND COMPLIMENTS THE VIGILANCE OF
THE SOUTHERN STATES.
Surgeon General Hamilton, of the Ma.
rine Hospital Service, expresses great con.
fdence in the ability of the State and Ma
tional authorities to prevent the introduc.
ton and spread of epidemic diseases into
the country during the coming summer.
81 believe that we shall get through the
coming summer with less trouble than
heretofore. The general condition both
as to laws and to their enforcement and
the general sanitary condition outside the
United States is very satisfactory. I say
outside the United States, because it is
we'll understood that the condition here is
very satisfactory at this period of the
year, and will remain so unless imported
from other countries"
"You do not think that the yellow fever
has wintered in Florida, and will break
out unless imported~
'No, do not think that it exists there
in any form. think that the winter was
sufficiently severe to exterminate the dis
ease in all parts of the United States, and
do not anticipate any trouble unless it
should be from the arrival of infected yes
sells or persons from points abroad
Chow are the arrangements for the pre-
vention of the introduction of the disease
as compared with former years2"
Every satisfactory and very much i'm.
proved. The last congress authorized the
construction of fumigating steamers, board
ing steamers and other appliances which
we shall be able to make use of for the
prevention of the introduction of the fever
off the infected vessels or individuals. We
are having fumigating steamers built
which will sail up alongside the infected
vessel and pump sulphur fumes into the
holds and such portions as can possibly
carry infection or the germs of these dis.
eases. These fumigating steamers have
furnaces in which the sulphur fumes are
generated. A long hose attaches to this
and a fan is so arranged as to force these
fumes through the hose to any point in
the vessel desired. There is also an ar
rangement for destroying the germs of
yellow fever or other diseases which may
exist in clothing or other articles without
injury to the clothing by the fumes of sui
phur. This arrangement consists in heat
ing or baking them instead of fumigating
them as heretofore. One difficulty we
have had in fumigating clothing and other
articles of this character heretofore has
been that the sulphur injured the fabric.
By this process of simply heating them
well will destroy the germ and not injure
the articles themselves. We are having
plans completed for number of cars in
which we will have the same kind of ma
chinery, by which we will be able to de-
stroy the fever germ in clothing and other
articles on land. We will keep these cars
here just as the Fish Commission does it's
cars, and when fever breaks out at any
point we will send them direct to that
place and have them ready for use there
immediately. By this process we shall be
able to prevent the spread of the disease
very effectually.
We are also having boarding steamers
built by which our officers will board in
coming vessels and make a thorough ex-
animation before the vessel is allowed to
touch the land. If there is any reason to
suppose that the vessel has any germs of
disease they will be thoroughly fumigated
before they are allowed to land"
"Where are these steamers to be loca-
ted"
cat all danger points. but especially at
the Southern ports, where, of course, the
most danger is. We are also having them
built for the western coast, and when they
are completed and there are cars also
ready, we shall be able to prevent the in
PRODUCTION of the dreaded yellow fever,
and prevent its spread in case it should
become introduced, q great deal more
rapidly than ever before"
'What is the condition of the general
in comparison to other years?"
every much improved. The Florida
Legislature has passed an excellent law
upon the subject, and the laws in Louis |
lana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the South
generally, are now excellent in this par
ocular. The Board of Health of Florida |
Is now in fine shape, and it will not be |
necessary to more than watch its ports and |
prevent the introduction of the disease, |
unless called upon by the civil authorities
70 aid them. All the Southern States are |
now in shape to take care of any case that
night appear there, but if they find it |
necessary to call upon US for assistance
md cooperation, of course we will act
with them. The Southern cities are in |
better condition than heretofore as to
cleanliness and to local laws, and the sit
lation generally is very much improved
"What is the general situation abroad ~
"Good. We have our inspectors at all
Important points to inspect vessels leaving
or this country, and other nations are
cooperating very carefully, intelligently
md vigorously. At Calcutta where there
has been good deal of cholera, and which
has been counted the danger point in re-
ard The cholera, the authorities are doing
IL they can to keep it in check, and are
cry active in trying to keep it from
preading. No country or city or nation
las right to keep in existence a plague
pot from which the disease spreads to all
ARTS of the world, and the authorities
here are beginning to thoroughly realize
his and are taking vigorous steps to- pre-
ent such condition of affairs. In those
ountries where yellow fever exist from
vhich we usually receive the cases that
ives it foothold in his country, great
aution is now exercised both by our own
Ulcers and by the local authorities. I
ave strong hopes that we shall get
trough the summer without the intro
uction of these diseases, and if they do
ppear / feel confident that we shall be
Die to take care of them better than ever
efore. Each State has good laws and
God supply of money to back them and
18th our improved facilities for the pre-
ention of the spread of the disease, and a
lree hundred thousand dollar fund which
9 have on hand for use if necessary, the
tuation is very satisfactory and hopeful"
IN. o. States.
Another New Vegetable. /,
Another new vegetable has been intro
nced into France by M. Paillieux, the in
sfatigable collector of new alimentary
lants. The plant has been received