The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-13
Yellow Fever in the City
of New Orleans.
No Occasion For Serious
Alarm at Present Time.
Towns Have Declared Quarantine
Against Crescent City.

New Orleans Sept I3--Yesterday the
board Of health officially declared six of
the suspicious cases Of fever on st.
Claude street TO be yellow fever
couple Of hours subsequently the board
announced another pronounced case,
also in the lower part Of the city. but
mile or more away from the infected
square.
The announcement OF the first six cases
as yellow fever was not unexpected, al
though it was hoped from the delay on
the part OF experts that they were cases
simply Of bilious malaria. No general
alarm has resulted here, although the
news rapidly spread through the city.
The authorities do not believe that the
situation is materially worse than IL
was four or five days ago, and they are
still confident of their ability, with mod
ern sanitary appliances. 10 successfully
quarantine the infected districts.
OF the original l2 cases, all Of which
had their origin from a case that had
come from Ocean Springs, the six other
than those reported yesterday as yellow
fever were said yesterday afternoon 10
b. practically well, up and walking about
their homes. OF the six pronounced yell
low fever, four are conValescent and two
were declared to be critically i'll, one Of
these having suffered a relapse since
Saturday.
Among the suspicious cases reported
was that of a boy named Roy. Doctors
pronounced II TO be unquestlonably yell
low fever, and as having apparently had
it's origin in Scranton. Miss, or in the
vicinity Of that town.
To a correspondent, President OIL
phant said: "Of course ! have made
this announcement Of the existence OF
seven cases OF yellow feverin New Or
leans with sincere regret. but there was
no alternative left me under my pledge
TO keep faith with the public here and
elsewhere. | DO not think, however,
there is occasion for serious alarm un-
less conditions shall grow materially
worse. We shall have TO await develop
ments.
"An earlier announcement Of the
diagnosis OF the 81. Claude street cases
was not possible. The beard Of experts,
which is composed Of able, efficient and
exp, rienced physicians, had made re-
peated visits 10 these patients, but they
insisted that they should be allowed then
own time within which &c make com
plete diagnosis hey desired TO be per
fectly sure befo g. prOnounCing the sick
ness 10 be yellow fever. They reached
n conclusion as soon as was practicable,
and four days ago they warned the coun-
try that all Of the cases were suspicious
PERSONALLY ! am unable to say whether
or not these cases are Cf mild or sever
type. The absence OF mortality would
seem to Indicate that they are in the for
mcr class. That there has been no
spread would seem TO strengthen that
view. 7 have no reason to doubt how.
ever, that the complete sanitation Of the
reighbCrhood instituted by the board
and the rigid quarantine enforced have
gone long way toward restricting the
disease TO the 81. Claude street square
I'm which the cases originated. and take
hope from this fact that we shall still
he able 20 confine the fever within its
present limits. The situation Is certainly
no worse now than it was four or five
days ago. for the disease being yellow
fever then must be now.
I'VE have now had a total Of eight
cases and one death, the origin Of all OF
which may be traced TO the infected
towns on the Mississippi coast. They
may all be classed as impOrtations. |
see no occasion fer any panic in New
Orleans. The general health OF the city
is good, and 1t is rapidly being put in fine
sanitary condition. There is no present
apprehension OF an epidemic, ana have
reason to hope that we shall continue to
be masters of the situation"
Towns on every trunk line running
into New Orleans have declared quar-
antine against Louisiana. Burgs in
Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Ala
bama have declared that no people shall
get off trains at their stations who come
from this city. Some OF the cities have
adopted the most extreme measures and
have surrounded themselves with shot
gun squads Most Of the towns that
have declared strict quarantine are suf-
fering as much or a great deal more than
New Orleans itself, for they are deprived
Of their newspapers. are unable TO re-
plcnish needed supplies and are being
Tut TO great inConvCnlrce.
rtstu "