The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-01-07
PREVAILING EPIDEMICS.
The Disease at Little Rock Not Cholera
Typhus Fever I'm Mexico.

The Disease at Little Rock Not Cholera
Typhus Fever i'm Mexico.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.-The Surgeon gen.
eral of the marine hospital service to-day
received telegram from Passed Assistant
gist, who was detailed to examine into the
cause of the sickness among the convicts
at the Little Rock, Ark. penltentiary. DR..
Geddines reports that he completed the ex-
animation to-day. which failed to show the
existence of cholera. There were no new
eases of sickness nor my more deaths in
the penitentiary. DR.. Geddings has been
ordered to return to Washington.
unless he thinks his services
at Little Rock are further required.
Surgeon Williams, who wass sent from
the cause and character of the disease
which recently broke out among the con-
yicts in the State prison makes the follow
ing report:
I have examined the condition of city and con-
Wet camps. The surface drainage OF the city is
by open. stagDant bitches, and the streets are
quagmires; no sewerage vault system the
contents being cmptied into the river below the
city. The water supply Is partly artesian, partly
cisterns and surface wells. The convict camp is
located in quagmire just below the city. Ii
consists OF passenger coach and five box cars.
Eighteen men are housed In one box car and
there Is no ventilation 10 speak Of. The bedding
Is filthy and the sewage is disposed of by
wooden hopper let into the floor In one corner,
with q pail beneath. The place Is very filthy
The sewage Is dumped into ditch near by. The
food is very cOarse no fresh meat Water Is
obtained from the river near the camp. Two
slaughter pens. very offensive, containing an
immense amount of decOmpOsing Offal, are within
two hundred yards of the camp. The slaughter
pens and camp are subject TO overflow be-
lieve the ground at the camp 10 be saturated
with products of animal decomposition. There
are three cases OF sickness at the camp, not sus-
were due to either poisoned food or contan-
mated water. filth and overcrowding; probably
the latter
The Surgeon general also received a re-
port from Sanitary Inspector Alexander. at
FL Paso. Tex, in regard to typhus fever
now raging in Mexico. The inspector states
that typhus and smallpox are epidemic at
Zacatecas and other points in the interior
prevent the disease from being brought
across the border to the United States.
The passenger detained at Paso del NOrte
was found 10 have small pOx. At the same
place two Mexican soldiers are i'll with
typhus fever. but are kent isolated. In
spector Alexander says he is informed by
the railroad employees on the Mexican Gen.
trail road that there are about six hundred
cases of typhus fever at Iacatecas. result-
ing IN sixty nine deaths during last week.
Hugo NJ. Starkloff. United States consul
at Bremen, has mnde q report to the State
Department as 20 the medical examination
OF emlgrants leaving Bremen for the ports
of baltimore and New York. He says:
The sanitary condition of all hotels and board
ing-houses in Bremen. quartering emgrants, has
hecn kept up under his supervision. The disin-
lection or ali North German Lloyd steamers. in
every Compartment carrying emigrants and
other passengers 10 the United States, has been
carefully continued. and no steamer has left
Bremen for tho United states without having
been Inspected by the United states consul or his
deputy. From April 10 Nov. %, 1892. 1878
persons. intending 10 einigrate TO the United
states. have been medically examined. and
l.2l0 were rejected for various reasons. i27 for
sanitary, and 246 on account OF having con-
tagious diseases.
AS the danger of cholera has not entirely dis
appeared IL Is NY Intention 10 continue this