The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-19
AT NEW ORLEANS.
Five New Cases and Two Deaths from
yellow Fever.


NEW ORLEANS, Sept 1S.--A trifiing inn
provement in the fever situation marked
the close of the days work of the Board
of Health. There was only one death, as
on yesterday, and there were fewer new
cases. At O'Clock this evening there We're
still two cases under investigation by the
experts. OF the cases investigated to-day,
five were declared by the experts to be yell
low fever and as usual they were widely
scattered. This is the record:
Death-E. Harmon.
New Cases-Santa Graffato Marie Du-
bois Rafael Fourtion, c. IL. Gormon, -
Melchior.
The fatal case, that of E. Harmon, mu-
latto, was reported in last nights dis
patches as one of the new cases and was
said to be a genuine type of the disease.
1t has not been found possible to trace the
origin of his case, but it is not improbable
that he came in contact with the summer
sojourners at Ocean Springs or Biloxi. Har-
mon died this afternoon. He lived in a
nest of the negro population and ever since
his case was reported the neighborhood has
been under the most rigid surveillance The
woman Graffato is Italian and as soon
as her case was pronounced steps were
taken to have her removed TO the hospital
where arrangements had been made to iso-
late her. Rafael Fourton is also an Ital-
ian, living in an apartment house in a
neighborhood in which the Italian popula-
tion is very large.
The Italian colony in New Orleans is an
especially large one and members
of it huddle together in densely
populated neighborhoods and in houses
poorly ventilated and calculated to
incubate fever germs. The authorities have
for several days feared an outbreak of fe-
yer among these people and special efforts
have been directed toward the sanitation of
the neighborhoods in which they live. The
MelchIor case is that of boy in the ST.
Claude-street square, where the first six
cases in New Orleans were reported. Other
members of his family have been i'll with
yellow fever and there was no surprise this
evening when it is learned that he had sue
cumbed to the disease.
The Board of Health of the State of
louisiana officially announces the status
of affairs in New Orleans as regards yell
low fever to be as follows: During the
twenty-four hours ending at D. m. to-day
there were: Positive cases of yellow fever,
s.; suspicious cases under investigation
none; deaths, 2. Recapituiation: Total
cases of yellow fever to date, "a; total
deaths from yellow fever to date, 4. The
majority Of the cases under treatment are
reported by attending physicians as doing
we'll. The board will not hold any more
daily meetings, the president being en-
powered to carry on the work.
AS a general rule the patients who are
suffering with yellow fever are reported to-
night to be improving, with the exception
of DR. Lowell, whose condition is not con-
sidered satisfactory. There have thus far
been total Of thirty-five cases here and
the death rate has not yet reached 10 per
cent, thus showing the mildness of the
type OF FEVER now prevailing
Marion DoWden, member of the Ouachi-
ia Guards, engaged in patrolling the city,
was accidentally shot this morning at Mon
roe by Henry Mccormick a fellow-mem-
Der, and it is not thought that he can possi-
bly, recover.
The Board of Health this morning urged
that meetings, whether social, traternal or
otherwise, be avoided or postponed as much
as possible and enjoins the public to use
filtered, distilled or boiled water No steps
have yet been taken to close the theaters
which are nightly thronged with people. but
If the fever should spread it is anticipated
that the management of the playhouses
will be asked to suspend temporarily
The old Marine Hospital, which has been
selected as a hospital for yellow fever pa
tients, is in comparatively isolated local
ity in the rear of the city, and the city
which owns it, has rendered it's use to the
Board of Health. No patients have yet
got in readiness for the reception Of the
sick.
A close watch IS being kept by the au-
thorities at West End and other points to
prevent schooners from the infected points
on the gulf coast from slipping in. The
charcoal, lumber and other trades of the
coast will be seriously interfered with. One
schooner was seized last night. Her cap
tain had defied the police. but he was
quickly made to see the error of his ways
and his craft was shipped back whence it
had come.
Many citizens have volunteered as sani-
tary officers. The Board of Health is, how
ever exercising much care in making selec-
tions of their officers. since upon their eff
ficiency the efforts of the board to stamp
out the disease is largely dependent The
board decided last night that only trained
and acclimated nurses should be allowed
to attend yellow fever patients i'm order
that the infection might be prevented from
spreading Railroad traffic here has
dropped to little or nothing
Later-The Italian woman, Santa Graffa-
to, died in the Charity Hospital tonight,
making two deaths to-day and four deaths
since Sept. /.