The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-07
YELLOW FEVER EPIDEMIC.
IL DEATHS AND MANY CASES
IN OCEAN SPRINGS, MISS.

u.,,th onncers or tho Government and Three
s,ntes Declare II the Genuine Fever-1t
ueran With n Mild Form or Illness in July
and 900 Persons IInd I-Viruiont stage
uc,cLed Last W~ccE-Neariy 1000 Persons
ua,o Fled fro,u the Iown-One Death In
N.v OrleauS-0u rnntine Established by
numerous cities AGAINST Each Other.
New ORLEANS. La. Sept. 6.-The associated
phy sicians OF the United States Marine Hos
n,t,l service and the Louisiana, Alabama, and
Mississippi Boards of Health, who for two days
have been examining tho suspicious cases OF
tver prevailing at Ocean Springs, Miss, q
ANAL town on Mississippi Sound and the Louis
vile and Nashville Railroad. about eighty-iive
miles from New Orleans and sixty from Mobile,
IN day pronounced the disease yellow fever.
III. examination was complete. Two autopsies
were made, assisted by the microscopic and
bacteriologists who accompanied the party.
The result was n unanimous verdict by the
musicians, all experts, that the disease was
yellow fever, although 1t presented several
characteristics not heretofore noticeable in the
disease. The announcement of the news caused
m uneasy feeling along the Mississippi
Sound and in tho neighboring towns,
FOR the reason that the verdict OF the
doctors came Us u ullIIoC. No NV was
prepared for it. Some 800 people who have
been in Ocean Springs and exposed to the dis.
ease during the .ast few days have scattered in
ali directions. going to Mobile, jackson. Mont
roncry, 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
refugees.
Quarantine proclamations few right and left
to-day, but it was very much 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 a pretty seaside
summer resort of about 1900 people During
the summer its population is increased by
l.5OO 10 1000 visitors from Mobile, New Or.
lens, and other cities. 1t is on the site OF the
original settlement OF Bienville in Louisiana.
having been established under the name OF
Biloxi in 1893. The settlers. however. moved
over to the present town OF Biloxi a century
and a half ago on account OF an epidemic.
In July an outbreak OF fever occurred In
Ocean Springs. 1t was pronounced by tho local
doctors to be dengue, "breakbone," dandy"
or bucket fever. a very mild disease, not
much worse than a severe cold, and which
does not kill one person In 100. 900
cases. 1. spread rapidly and there
were some 600 people, or about one
quarter of tho population, down with the disease
a. the same time. No one thought OF leaving
Ocean Springs because of it and visitors con-
;:a1si N come 10 ard lcave the hotels. The
fever was treated as d joke, and was the general
subject OF conversation.
Have you had the fever Yeti" was tho usual
morning greeting.
You better hurry up everyday else has it,"
would be the reply often.
0All through August tho socalled dengue pre-
vailed in Ocean Springs Never once did a sus-
picion attach TO it until the very end of the
month. The disease meanwhile had become
more %virulent. Dengue is the most innocent of
fevers. and never kills persons except those
very aged or extremely delicate. Several
deaths, however, occurred in Ocean Springs.
Finally the deaths numbered ten. and although
this was a small mortality for 600 cases it was
unprecedented in the history OF dengue.
This aroused some anxiety, anu a commission
OF fever experts from New Orleans were
asked to examine the epidemic and report OH it.
The commission came, examined. and pro,
nounced it dengue- 1t is difficult to understand
how this mistake was made. 1t is possible
that there was dengue prevailing In Ocean
Springs side by side with the yellow fever. and
that the doctors saw only cases Of the former,
or that this yellow fever presents new charac
nristics as compared with former epidemics,
and thus confused the doctors.
The experts had no sooner returned to New
orleans than the Ocean Springs fever suddenly
assumed a virulent type. One OF the examining
physicians himself, DR.. Bemiss, died with evil
denee Of black vomit." A second conference
was called for. and the United States Marine
hospital service and the boards of health oil
LOUISIANA, Alabama and Mississippi sent repre-,
low fever.
Ascare In the meantime prevailed In Ocean
f fbp.rag r. and the entire visiting, population left
thsoSr u from or well E. The railrosd coaches cams
sight and this morning, all packed with refugees
rom OCEAN springs Biloxi. MississiRPl CITY,
eama Board OF Health proclaimed the disease
solow lever last night and quarantined Ocean
View Orleans senss o io.lo%sG sdit this this mSrning: md
eulon Intercourse with the Mississippi Sound
resorts. Pass CHRISTIAN 1uarantined Biloxi. Sc
dong the IoaisviIIs and Sash WI si RaiiToa ,dT be-
tween here and Mobile, have quarantlned each
sSssno, get GET o sas 'G Ths Lo up lie e ena Sa ss iRHT
nSaroad VIII stop at none OF the stations. Pas
IN nnt tSs arc SLOWED to go there. but are put of
hanl. A o"N va
oIhe chief apprehension now felt is as to the
Xeean Springs refugees, who are scattered in a
Sossn different towns, Suspicious cases are re
tSrted from several places. Tho several State
H. a aG Of Health are cooperating, TO stamp on
wake complete charge OF ocean springs.
I've louisiana board offers 10 give relief ant
ss 49, In the way OF physicians, medicines
M PROVISIONS to any town that may need them
10y, vLh"hces are that some Of these towns. beinl
Etaod up DV the numerous guarantees, MAJ
~ actual need o.: help or food.
tue origin OF the fever still remains q matte
- pGrpleIity. Some attribute 1T to the larg,
SSMoer OF Cubans who locked to the town Il
fSSIy 70 arrange for q hlibuster expedition; som,
~n tho oysters may have spread II, but III,
Eoet preVa! ent belief ID that the disease wa
f.Haght on from the quarantine station at Shil
EAAhu, only we've miles away and believed q
thoroughly isolated. but with which, 1t |
nteroeu, the fishermen have kept up a regula
s1MohlLE, Ala. Sept. Cup to last week Ocear
nns.anSs was crowded by visitors: now 1t |
EbuouGaIly deserted, and a Sun correspondent
snS was at Ocean Springs up to the time tn
~ entlhe Vas declared learned from tho rail
H. omcials that fully 900 persons had lef
soo, own since thr scNre commenced. IL wa
IN atnuel Wy local doctors that the fever was o
type known as dengue, and a formal inauir
ofsion 1n heailh authorities resulted in q de
Loni.s week u suspicious death occurred fl
a. NN n. = and a telegrsphic inquiry was mad
VA orieans as to the patients history. II
eetSsrs 10 Ocean Springs. and the Louisiana
Eas 10 again became alarmed. A conferenC
Nbich."leu al Ocean Springs on Snturda $
dr. WAS attended by DR.. w. H., Sai
Wa alabama State Medical Officer; hi
at Nj Marine Hospital service ~statione,