The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-09-22
YELLOW FEVER EPIDEMIC
Official Announcement That the Dread
Scourge Has Broken Out.
RIGID 9UARANTINES ORDERED.

Health Officers of Mississippi, Louisiana
and Alabama Declare It the Genuine
Fever-The Disease Broke Out at Ocean
Springs, Miss.-A Number of Deaths
Unusual Precautions Against Spreading
NEW ORLEANS, La. (speciaD.-The as
ISOLATED physicians of the United States
Marine Hospital service and the Louisiana,
Alabama and Mississippi Boards Of Health,
who have been examining the suspicious
cases Of fever prevailing at Ocean Springs,
Miss, small town on Mississippi Sound
and the Louisville and Nashville Rail-
road, about eighty-fve miles from New
Orleans and sixty from Mobile, have
pronounced the disease yellow fever.
The examination was complete. Two autop-
sizes were made, assisted by the microscop-
ist and bacteriologists who accompanied the
party. The result was unanimous ver-
dict by the physicians. all experts, that
the disease was yellow fever, al
though 1t presented several character
lstlcs not heretofore noticeable In the
disease. The announcement Of the news
caused an uneasy feeling along the Missis.
sippi Sound and In the neighboring towns,
for the reason that the verdict OF the doc
tors came as surprise. No one was pre-
pared for It. Some 800 people who have
been in Ocean Springs and exposed to the
disease during the last few days have scat
tered In all directions, going to Mobile,
Jackson, Montgomery, New Orleans and
other places. The apprehension IS that
some Of these refugees may develop the
fever. and the several Boards Of Health will
have hard work to keep track OF the refu-
gees.
Quarantine proclamations flew right and
left, but 1t was very mnch like closing the
stable door after the horse had been stolen.
Most Of the visitors in Ocean Springs had
left before the quarantine was proclaimed
against that town. Ocean Springs Is
pretty seaside summer resort OF about 1900
people.
The Louisiana Board offers to give re-
lief and assistance in the way OF physi-
clans, medicines and provisions to any
town that may need them. The chances
are that some Of these towns, being bot
tied up by the numerous quarantines, may
be in actual need of help or food.
The origin OF the fever still remains
matter Of perplexity. Some attribute 1t to
the large number Of Cubans who flocked to
the town in July to arrange for fllibuster
expeditions; some think the oysters may
have spread it, but the most prevalent be-
lief Is that the disease was brought on from
the quarantine station at Ship Island, only
twelve miles away, and believed to be thor
oughly isolated, but with which, 1t Is as
serted, the fishermen have kept up regu-
lar intercourse.
The Louisiana Board OF Health announces
that Raoul Gelpi, who died few davs ago
in New Orleans, had yellow fever. He was
fourteen years old, spent the summer at
Ocean Springs, and came home sick. His
case was not regarded as suspicious. An
autopsy proved 1t to be yellow fever. The
board decided to send inspectors to each OF
the towns, and, where the health was found
to be good, to reopen communication. The
board Is confident Of its ability to keep out
disease. New Orleans was quarantlned
against Galveston, by sea, because OF the
Gelpi death.