Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-27
EPIDEMICs HERE AND ABROAD
Cholera, Yellow Fever, Grip and Lep-
rosy-A Talk With DIR. weimer.

HEALTH OFFICER TowNsHEND DOES NOT THINK
THE GRIP HAS RETURNED-soME LOCAL PHysI-
CLANS THINK IT Is HERE AoAIS-Ar ANY RATE
THERE ARE THE SAME OLD SYMPTOMS.
There are some fears being expressed that
the grip, which played such havoc all over the
world last winter and did not forget Washington
by any means. has returned and that there are
now some cases Of that peculiar disease in this
| city. STAR reporter made inquiry this morn
ing at the marine hospital bureau. DR..
Weimer, who is in charge of affairs during the
absence Of Surgeon General Hamilton In Eu-
rope, said:
II have not even heard the rumor. and we
are in constant communication with such re-
liable sources that We would be very sure to
hear of any cases of grip that might develop.
l do not think there is anything in the idea Of
return Of the epidemic.
THE CHOLERA IN EUROPE
"what do you hear about the spread Of chol-
era in Europe?"
Il received a message from the State Depart
ment this morning transmitting telegram
from the United States consul at Natal. the ex-
treme southern point in Africa, which simply
announced that there was cholera there. 1t
looks as though there was considerable cholera
in Europe, but there are no indications of a
general spread The London scare seems to
have died out. Our principal efforts in watch
ing the immigrants just now are being directed
toward
LEPRosY,
which is being found in almost every part Of
the globe. There have been few cases dis
covered among the immigrants and they have
been turned back at once. The disease seems
to be on the increase. Under the new adminis-
m aff nj
some very active work at the large ports in
detecting disease. There are now
THREE YELLOW FEVER SHIPS
detained at Chandelier Island, Fla, and there
have been quite a number of cases found ut
different points along the coast this summer,
but by no means as many as there are ordi-
narily. 1t has been peculiarly healthy year
as regards yellow fever"
Apropos of this it may be of interest to hear
from the lips of Washington physician con-
nected with the Nicaragua canal. who has Just
returned from the isthmus. He reports that
there has been no fever there at all this season.
There have been few cases of what approx
mated to yellow fever but none of the genuine
sort and no deaths among the companys en-
ployes. Everything is in q most healthy con-
dition.
DOCTORS WHO BELIEVE THE GRIP Is BACK AGAIN.
Notwithstanding DR.. Weimer's opinion given
above it is thought by many city physicians
that the fatal grip or influenza that was pre-
valent in this city last winter is returning. and
it is believed by some that il will appear in II
worse form than it did before. In different
sections Of the city persons COM
planning of feeling bad and many of
them have tire symptoms of the
grip. Many persons who were afflicted
with the disease last winter again suffering
from pains in the head and back and in the
joints.
During the past two weeks three or four
deaths traceable to the grip last winter have
occurred but there have been no new cases re-
ported to the health office.
HEALTH OFFICER rowNsHEND HAS NO FEAR OF
RETURN OF THE EPIDEMIC
Health Officer Townshend when seen by a
STAR reporter this afternoon said he had no
fears of another epidemic of the disease.
Those who are now suffering from the
| grip" he said. ''are persons who were not COM
pletely cured of the disease last winter,
or else it is continuation Of
the disease at that time. Grip" he continued,
| lis like many other diseases. such as pneu-
mona and scarlet fever After getting over it
| a spell the patient is in u worse condition than
before it. and from time to time the effects of
| the disease will become noticeable.
| NO" concluded the health officer. ~ think
| il can safely be stated that there is not an ep-
/ idemic of the disease at present. but only such
cases traceable to the effects of having
the disease last winter"
I 1t was stated today by physician
/ that he had several patients sick with COM
plants similar to those that follow the grip.
| The doctor lives in East Washington, but he
| did not say in what section his patients reside
| ----