The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-09-20
The auiteras Interriew.

There are two things in the interview
with Surgeon Guiteras published in the
MoRNING News yesterday relative 20 mat
tors at Brunswick that are worthy Of
very careful consideration. One is that
cases of yellow fever were concealed from
the marine hospital surgeons by citizens,
and the other is that he thinks, the fever
was introduced into the city by the Nor
wegian sailor who died with the fever in
the hospital a few days ago.
The inference from what Surgeon Cult
eras says is that if the citizens had been
perfectly frank in their dealings with
the marine hospital service authorities
and had given them all the assistance in
their power the disease, in all proba bility,
would have been stamped out. 1t
seems, however, that many refused
TO believe that there was yellow fever in
the city, and not only refused to report
cases'of Sickness in order that it might
be determined whether or not they were
cases of yellow fever, but they endeav-
ored to discredit the surgeons Of the
marine hospital service. The people
didn't want to believe that the fever had
obtained a foothold in the city, and it was
natural that they should try to make
themselves believe that it wasn't there
No doubt they were sincere in the course
they pursued, but they see now that they
made a mistake ola most serious character
Many condemned May Lamb for his proc
lamation advising the people to leave the
city. If it had turned out that there was
not yellow fever in Brunswick his act
would have been classed as a mistake
that could not be overlooked Now that
the fever has been declared epidemic
those who condemned him and his proc
lamation are ready to admit that he acted
wisely.
There was chance, of course, that
Surgeon GUiteras and the other yellow
fever experts were mistaken, but as they
are supposed to know great deal more
about the disease than laymen they should
have been dealt with frankly and given
all the support and encouragement pos
sible
Surgeon Guiteras' statement as to the
origin of the fever, as given in the inter
view, is not very satisfactory. 1t is left
in doubt whether the Norwegian's wife,
who is said to have died from yellow
fever, and who is believed to have con-
tracted the disease from clothes of sail
ors which she handled, was the first vic
tim of the fever or died just before the
second outbreak. 1t would be interesting
to know the history of the Norwegian and
his family during the time they were in
Brunswick. Did Surgeon Branham con-
tract the disease from that family? There
IS no intimation as to Surgeon Guiteras'
opinion in respect to that question
The people of Brunswick are not think
ing of making inves legations at present.
but when the epidemic is over its history
will be gone into pretty thoroughly. The
marine hospital service will insist upon
this course, probably, in order to show
that it was not responsible for the rails
ing of quarantine against Brunswick
while the fever still existed there.
There is disposition in some quarters to
criticise the marine hospital service for
recommending prematurely the raising of
quarantine, 1t was in charge at Bruins
wick and cities raised their guarantees
on its advice. 1t will want to, and doubt
will, show that the reports in its posses
sion justified the advice