The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-09-17
ON fHE INCREASE
YELLOW FEVER SPREADING IN
THE GULF TOWNS

YELLOW FEVER SPREADING IN
THE GULF TOWNS
Four New Cases In New Orlesns-NewCases
ut Ocean Springs and BHoxf-Ths Situa
ton Considered Serious, Though Not Dsa
Eerous-A Case Of Yellow Fever at Psnsa
c~ola-SendiDg Refugees to Atlanta-The
Epidemic at Barclay
New Orleans. September 14-At nigh.
fall the books of the board of health
showed the following r~ecapitulations
of the days developments in the yell
low fever situation:
There had been reported to the board
for investigation 26 cases which the at
tending physicians considered sus-
picious. OF these, 13 cases had been
found suffering with a harmless fever
and 5 cases were regarded as suspicious,
but necessary to be further investi-
gated before a definite report could be
made on them. There were no reports
as to 4 cases, and 4 cases had been pro-
nounced genuine yellow fever, though
IA ia NhS 3oNtSA "0S SAASo~N q" "
mild type. The most serious of the
four yellow fever cases is located in the
neighborhood of the French market.
The locality is far from a clearly one,
is populated by a poorer class of peo-
pie, many of whom are foreigners, n
might be considered dangerous ground.
For that reason, special pains were
taken by the board Of health to quar-
antine the infected houses. Officers
from the police force were detailed to
take charge of the neighbOrhOOd. A
restaurant, a bakery and a shop next
door to the premises is which the sick
ness was found were closed up and a
large quantity of disinfectant was sent
to the scene to be used. OF course, the
report of new cases daily is creating
alarm in some quarters, but thus far
the disease has shown but little malig-
nancy, there being but one death out
of fourteen cases.
The same rigid attention is being
given to the suspicious cases as obtains
in the treatment of those which are de-
clared to be yellow fever. Guards are
stationed about the premises, the
streets are kept clear, pedestrians are
warned, and liberal use is made of dis
infectants; for h authorities have
come to realize that the situation,
while not alarming, is certainly serious,
and that only watchfulness n vigi-
lance will master the scourge.
One of the features developed during
the day is hat people of maturer age
have been attacked. Heretofore, the
disease has been confined principally
to children of tender age, and boys and
girls not yet grown to manhood and
womanhood. Two of the latter cases
show that old people LAY been stricken.
A conference was held this afternoon
at the St. Charles hotel. Members Of
the board Of health, representatives OF
the Paris Medical Society and. city Of
ficials, including Mayor Flower, were
present. The situation was discussed
in all it's phases for. two hours behind
closed doors, and a resolve was made
to spare neither effort nor money in
controlling the disease
Under instructions from the superin-
tendent of the railway mail service,
the postOffice authorities today fumi-
gated all outgoing mail in order that
letters and packages be not sent a
by the authorities of quarantining
cities and owns. Complaints have been
reaching here from many points of de
hays in getting mail, but it is thought
this system of fumigation will in the
uture relieve all sources of complaint
of this allure.
The Louisville and Nashville ran a
train today to Atlanta, giving PeOple
on the coast an opportunity to go to
the Gate City. The train look about
twenty ladies and gentlemen from BIZ
loxi, and a number have left New Or
leans for that point. The railroad
company, however, refuses to allow
passengers to take baggage Of such a
nature as to be a good hiding place for
germs.
This afternoon a new case Of fever
was reported at Barclay. Out of a
population of twenty-five, only three
persons in Barclay have not had the
sickness, and the percentage Of deaths
has been what is usual in yellow fever
epidemics. There were several new
cases reported today at Ocean Springs,
and of h number ill at Biloxi fifteen
were reported as suffering from yellow
fever. At Ocean Springs, DIR. Wasdin,
of the marine hospital staff, is receiv-
ing the best of attention, and it is
hoped he will pull through in a few
days
Surgeons Carter and Dunn left Ocean
Springs for Pensacola today. A case
of yellow fever exists at that point.
A number of immunes at Ocean
Springs are to be sent to Cincinnati in
a special car. Surgeon White has been
at the detention camp for the past two
days experimenting it's construction.
As soon as it is ready a large number
of people will be taken from Biloxi and
Ocean Springs.