The San Francisco call., 1897-12-06
Surgeon = General VIZ
man Submits His
Annual Report.
Excellent Services of the Ma
rine Hospital Corps In
the South.
Pacific States in Constant Danger
From Plaques Raging In
the Orient.
Special Dispatch TO The CALL
CALL OFFICE, RIGGS HOUSE,
NV ASHINGTON Dec n

CALL OFFICE, RIGGS HOUSE,
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3. {
Surgeon General Wyman OF the Marine
Hospital service has su omitted his annual
report to Secretary Gage. 1t shows that
during he fiscal year ending J uue 80
1897, the total number of patients treated
at hospitals and the dispensaries con-
nected with the service was 81, III. Al
though the total number of patients
treated was GA In excess ot those treated
during the previous fiscal year, the ex-
penditures were $538 $50, which is $21, 600
less than for the previous year. The num-
Der Of Immigrants Inspected by officers of
The service at the various ports aggre-
gated 232 147.
The surgeon-general says:
The necessity OF legislation to secure proper
shelter Tor deck crews Western rivers, TO
which attention was called in the last report,
was met by the act OF Congress approved
March 3, 1897, requiring every steam boat
plying upon The Mississippi River and its
tributaries to furnish an appropriate
place tor the crew with protection from the
weather. This subject is one that has long
engaged the attention of the marine hospital
surgeons, who have made frequent reports
thereon, and this action OF Congress Will be
productive OF much relief although the act
does not take effect until June 30, 1898.
To meet the growing demands Tor the
service new regulations have been prepared
and viii shortly be issued.
The surgeon-generalinv invites attention TO
the excellent work done by The officers of
the corps during the recent visitation OF
yellow fever In the South. Medical Off
GERS were assigned to duty in injected dis
tricts, and although number OF them
were not immune 10 yellow fever, never
Iheless they responded with alacrity and
per.ormei their duties with judgment
and efficiency. Three officers contracted
yellow fever and one lost his life by acci-
dent in the line OF duty.
Under the head of Public Health Ser
vice" the surgeon-genetal discu- ses The
SUBJECTS OF cholera, smallpox and yellow
fever. The appearance Of cholera in
Japan and China, he says, is now mat
ter OF greater moment to the United States
than any previous time, owing to the
rapid growth of commerce between those
countries and the Pacific Coast. Small
pox is reported as having appeared in SIX
teen States between n OVEN Der l, 1896, and
November l, 1897. In ihe year previous it
appeared in twenty-five States.
The prevalence OF the bubonic plague IN
the Eastern hemisphere has offered new
problem for the consideration of the
health authorities OF the United States
The disease Is reported as inCr .asing at
present in Northern India. 1t has also ap-
peared in certain portions OF China and
Japan. Special quarantine regulations
were issued with reference to this disease
and a regular officer of the marine hospi-
tai service was sent TO the ports of Janan
and China during the summer of 1897 to
obtain more accurate knowledge of the
health conditions at these ports and the
liability of contaEion extending to the
United States. One vessel injected with
the plague was received and properly
treated at he United States station a. San
Francisco.
The report of the in terms rational lepro,y
for IN, IN,
gives q somewhat imperfect statement of
the mum Der Of cases OF leprosy in the diff
ferent countries OF The world, there being,
approximately 130 600 in India, 20, ,00G in
Japan, 2500 in Hawaii, 1900 in Rus ia, 70l
in Calcutta and $50 in the United States.
Yellow lever has been unusually preYa-
lent throughout the island OF Cuba during
the past year. In the port of Havana
alone from Novem ber !, 1896 to Novem Der
1, 1897, there were 1905 deaths. The dis
ease has also prevailed extensively
throughout the West lnuies. A history
OF the recent epidemic of yellow fever in
the South is also given, with statistics.
The operations of the Marine Hospital
services were conducted through expert
enced officers. This expert service, DIR.
Wyman says, was of great value 10 The
determination OF the existence of the dis
ease, without which the neces- ary precau-
lions would not have been taken by local
authorities.
The surgeon-general states that there is
little doubt that the work which was done
had a marked effect in controlling tn e
spread OF the isease and preventing a
much more extensive epidemic.
The total number of cases OF yellow
fever reported 10 The bureau up to Novem-
ber 20 was 4I98, and the mum ber of deaths
423. OF these there were 1922 cases and
244 deaths in New Orleans.
The report gives a full account OF the
eleven
tines and the measures taken to enforce
the national regulations at San Francisco
and Sabine Pass, Tex, where DR.. Wyman
SAYS, by reason of local inadequacy inter.
ference was necessary.
Attention i called to the fact that an
effort was made more than a year ago to
supplant the national quarantine station
on Ship Island with a State quarantine OF
the same character on a neig hboring
island nearer the shore, but DIR. Wyman
says it failed. Reference is made TO the
attempt to excite concern regarding the
Ship Island station on account of its
alleged proX nifty TO the coast, which the
surgeon-general says has bean falsely
given as five miles, whereas it is twelve
miles away.
equipped, and the efforts by interested per.
sons TO connectit with the recent outbreak
OF fever are not supported by e single
fact. The national station was removed
from Chandler TO Ship Island in 1894
after the destruction OF the Chandler sta
tion by a storm, which swept the II os pitaI
out to sea and drowned five people. Its
transfer was legalzed by the approprIa-
ton act of 1895
The surgeon general again refers to the
necessity OF more strict national quaran-
tine law, which he has made the suoiect
of special report in the past two years
and he makes recommendations looking
10 the siren Gthen ming OF the law both ia
prevent the spread of disease and inter.
ference with interstate regulations during
the times of epidemics.