The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-09-28


Every precaution was used
in quarantining Moore and
his family until was certain
it was not yellow fever---
DR.. James Mckee, Superintendent of
Health.
Raleigh is Just recovering from yell
low fever scare.
A very senseless fright it seems when
it is remembered that it is impossible,
because of climatic conditions, for the
disease to be epidemic in Raleigh; but
when one considers how deadly vel
low fever is and how it is now daily
finding victims in the cities South of
us, it does not seem unreasonable that
people here should be suspicious and the
health authorities ON the alert.
A. Robert Moore is a young man, just
entering his twenty-first year. lie Is
a son of a shoemaker, who lives on
Haywood street, near the corner of
Martin He left Raleigh last year and
went TO Texas Recently he claims that
he has been at work as a painter in
the shops Of the Louisville and Nash
vile Railroad at Beaumont, Texas.
On September 18th he started home.
He reached New Orleans on the 14th and
remained there until the 23rd There
was much yellow fever in the city while
Moore was there, but before leaving he
got a health certificate from DR.. Pat
ton. This he brought home with him,
though it was never once asked for in
the cities quarantined against New Or
leans He passed through Ocean
Springs, Biloxi and Mobile, all fever in
fected districts, but did not stop at any
of those places. The only stop he made
was in Atlanta.
Moore arrived here at O'Clock Sun
day morning sick. He had been un-
well since Friday, and Sunday he had
a dumb chill and high fever; ne was
bilious, sick at the stomach and had a
badly coated tongue. These are some
Of the symptoms of yellow fever and
this, together with the fact that Moore
had been in the infected districts, led
to the report that he had the disease. %
1t is said to have first been circulated
by Moore's younger brother, with mis-
chievous intent. Anyway the report
spread rapidly, there being just enough
foundation in fact to lend it wings and
give it the color of truth. By Sunday
evening all the town had heard it.
1t was about o'clock when the Mayor
called on DR.. Mckee, the superintend-
ent OF Health, and asked him to make
an official investigation. The doctor
at once visited the Moore residence and
nxr,sx, nod s,,4, T. Il. A
Moore had temperature of 103 de-
grees and all the evidences of very Sc
we're catarrhal trouble, but the promi-
nent symptoms of yellow fever were alb
sent.
The visit of the doctor yesterday morn
ing and further investigation satisfied
him beyond all odubt that the
man had no yellow fever, but a mild
case Of malarial fever. Yesterday even
ing when the News and Observer man
called at the Moore residence, he found
young Moore dressed and sitting up, but
quite weak. He said he felt much better
and hoped to be well in few days. The
family was much vexed to hear that
it had been reported that he had yell
low fever.
Malarial remittent fevers may be con
founded with yellow fevr. In Their
early stages they are very much alike.
Yellow fever is spreading continued
fever, of short duration, characterized
especially by tenderness of the stomach
black vomiting, splitting of blood and
jaundice. 1t is from this latter symp
tom that the disease gets its name
yellow fever. The splitting of blood and
the jaundice, however, may be absent
depending upon the severity of the at
tack. Mild cases of the disease, medi
cal authorities say, often present M
characteristic features whatever, and
may be readily COMPOUNDED with other
continued fevers. The black vomit il
about the only characteristic symptom
and this appears only in fatal cases.
This disease prevails in certain tropi
cal portions of North and South America
along the Atlantic coast. A high tenn
perature appears to be an essential condi
ton of its prevalence, and 1t spreads
most rapidly during periods of excessive
heat. 1t is said, indeed. that it never
spreads when the thermometer stands n
less than Y degrees. Fahr., and tha
even when it is epidemic in a section
it rarely ever attacks those who liv,
more than $500 feet above sea level
1t is infectious. 1t never arises spon
taneously, but attaches itself to formite.
and may be carried by persons, cloth
ing or other articles from an infected
town to n healthy locality.