The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-09-07

would now have little else to contend
with than dengue fever.
DO. NOT BELIEVE 1T YELLOW FE-
YER.
WASHINGTON, Sept 6.-The Marine
Hospital Service is investigating the
fever at Ocean Springs, Miss, and the
information at hand inclines them to
the belief that the disease is not yellow
fever, though conclusive information is
not yet at hand. Surgeon General Wy
man is absent from the city. He has
been attending the British Medical AS
ISOLATION meeting at Montreal, and is
now at Vineyard Haven on his way
back. During his absence Surgeon
Bailbach is in charge.
The cases at Ocean Springs were first
called to the attention of Bailbach last
Friday by telegram from Assistant
Surgeon Wasdin, who is stationed at
Mobile, Ala, asking permission to ac-
company the State Board of Health to
Ocean Springs to investigate the fever.
Dr. Wasdin was directed to proceed.
Yesterday morning he telegraphed as
follows:
"Of 800 or GOO cases here, have seen
five; an epidemic infection spread by
carriage, mostly white; non-par-
oxysmal disproportionate in pulse;
prostration- Insisted on and made first
autopsy on adult of 60, said to be typ
ical case of fever Matter under ad-
viSement.
'Dr. Olliphant, President of the State
Board of Health of Louisiana, and
others will be here later"
e Ia
mitted to SUPERINTENDENT Wyman at
Vineyard Haven, and he Immediately
requested DR. John Guiteras. professor
of the University of Pennsylvania, to
proceed to Ocean Springs. DR.. Guiteras
was formerly in the Marine Hospital
Service, and is the authority on fevers
in this country.
DR.. Bailbach also wired Wasdin to in
quire into the result of the autopsy and
consultation, to give the number of in
habitants of Ocean Springs and the
number of fatalities
DR.. Wasdin replied that the popula :
ton of Ocean Springs, which is sum-
mer resort on the gulf coast near Bill
oXi, was about 1,500 in winter and 5000
in summer. He also reported the exist
ence of pasmodium of malaria, a con-
dition of the blood said to be never
present in yellow fever cases. No fur
Their report has been received, as none
has been sent in to-day
DR.. Bailbach says DIR. Wasdin is
making meteorological investigation
to determine the existence of yellow
fever germs. DR.. Bailbach believes the
disease, so far as his information goes,
;cx = /,
port of this he points to DR. Wasdin's
report that the fever is endemic, not
epidemic and that the fatalities have
been few, whereas yellow fever is fatal
in a majority of cases. This lack of IA
talities he considers the strongest evil
dence that the disease is not yellow fe-
YER
The existence of the pasmodium of
malaria is another strong evidence
against the yellow fever theory. About
ten days ago, he says, the State Board
of Health of Mississippi investigated
the fever and pronounced it dengue
If it should, however, prove to be yell
low fever, DR.. Bailbach says the late
ness of the season will materially aid
the authorities in keeping it confined
to the locality in which it has broken
out, and he gives assurances that there
will be no widespread epidemic of the
dreaded scourge.
SHOTGUN QUARANTINE.
AUSTIN (Tex.), Sept 6. State
Health Officer Swearing this morning
issued an irOnclad quarantine against
Ocean Springs, Miss, and all other
points affected or likely to be af
fected by yellow fever. Reports from
the gulf coast are to the effect that
the inhabitants are badly frightened
and some are talking of reorganizing
their shotgun quarantine force, which
patroled the gulf shore some twelve
years ago, to keep out all persons and
thereby prevent the disease from en-
tering the State.