The age-herald., 1897-09-07

IS prepared 10 spend Sl,OUU,UUU IO etdH1p it out and we are at work. People ought not to get frightened. The United States has taken charge and such scientific information has been ap- piled as to warrant the feeling that we shall soon be able to stamp out the dis sease. We shall send out a circular to evsry practising physician in New Orleans commanding him ito report to the board of health every suspicious case of fever. We have made arrangements to act promptly in every case and if unfortunately othsr cases of yellow fe- yer should be brought to our atten- ton we should immediately notify the world through the Associated Press of the facts. -.
 There has been at least four eases in addition to the Gelpi one of people suffering from fever who have come to New Orleans from Ocean Springs. Ten of the most prominent physicians of New Orleans have been pressed into ser- vice. and we gave the closest attention to these cases, making in every case meteorological examinations which showed the existence of malarial germs and yellow fever microbes. I am well
  that the Gelpi case is the only one of yellow fever in New Orleans up to this time and I am sure we have the city we'll covered.
 During the week ending August 12 reports reached President Oliphant of the board of health of the prevalence of sickness at Ocean Springs, the na- ture of which was in doubt. Later pr. Oliphant, with member of the board of health went there and learned that there had been up to that time some 400 cases. Of these there had been only one or two deaths, but in two cases the symptoms were so suspicious as to give rise to the belief that the fever was of a virulent type.
 pr. Oliphant then brought on Drs. Czarnowski and Solomon of the board of health, and pr. Patton, secretary of the board of health, all experienced in yellow fever They examined eleven cases, and after careful examination unanimously reached the conclusion that the fever was dengue. The physi- clans observed that none of the cases up to then exhibited symptoms that would lead to supicion that the disease
 
 All these physicians have had experi- ence in yellow fever epidemics and are eminent in their profession and their unanimous conclusion was that the fever at the time spoke of was of mild type. During the past week, however, yellow fever of a virulent form appeared at Ocean Springs. The quick death of Bemis aroused suspicious, and soon the boards of health of Mobile and New. Orleans were in possession of facts that yellow fever was prevalent at Ocean Springs. Representatives of the boards of health of Louisiana, Alabama and, Mississippi and a representative from. the marine hospital service went .onl Saturday to Ocean Springs. They were; soon convinced that their gloomy ap- prehensions were not unfounded. Care ful examinations were made, and aside from Dr. Saunders of Mobile, the ex- perts were disposed to await a further and complete autopsy to remove all doubt before making official announce ment to the world of the appearance of the scourge.
 Last night another pa.ientt, a wo- cnan, died, and this morning an autopsy was held. It's result was to dispel all previous doubts. Acting President Walmesley, of the Louisiana board. said this evening:
 '4There was scarcely a doubt as to the first diagnosis. At that time beyond doubt genuine yellow fever prevailed. Out of 600 cases the death rate was only one-hlaf of 1 per cent. In epidem- ics of yellow fever the death rate is in- G,,ff ffo1x T,, however, yellow fever has gotten into Ocean Springs. This is proven by both the rapid death rate and the diagn3s.s which the physicians have made. NO o.har outcome could have been made for the reason tfliat prior to the hast few days there was no yellow fever exts stenls in Ocean Springs"
 pr. Walmsley was disposed to hold the representatives of the Marine Hospital Service and line Mississippi board of health to some responsibility for the in vas.orh IIe said that the fever had un- questionably been communicated by the constant intercourse of Ocean Springs with Ship 1s1and, where there is a United States government quarantine station. Ships from all portions of the world touch there, a large number from the tropics, where yellow fever is in- digenpus There has been steady and comurdcation between the island and these coast towns, and Dr. Walmsfey has little or mo doubt that this has been the means of bringing into Ocean Springs the deadly germs of yell low fever. If a rigid quarantine had been maintained between the island and the shore he believes that Ocean Springs would now have Nttle Ito contend with than dengue fever Immunity from epi- demic has a tendency to breed careless- ness. and the penalties are to be found in the calamity that has now befallen Ocean Springs.