The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-06
People Mt the Famous Health Resort
Not willing to Admit that the Dis
ease Is the Imported Article.
QUARANTINES ESTABLISHED
EXAMINATIONS MADE BY DOCTORS
AND BACTERIoLoGISTs,
And the Sickness Pronounced Yellow
Fever by n State Chemist-Oys-
ters Said to Be Infected.

OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss, Sept. 5. - Dr.
Hunter, secretary of the Mississippi Board
of Health and secretary of the executive
committee reached here tonight from
Jackson, via New Orleans. The members
of the Louisiana State Board of Health have
been hard at work all day long. working in
conjunction with the representatives of the
Alabama board and the Mississippi organ
ization in a determined effort to settle the
veXed question as to the identity of the
perncious fever which has operated so
greatly to the disadvantage of Ocean
Springs. These Investigations were exten-
sive, the visiting medicos visited a large
number of the persons now down with the
disease. Examinations of these patients
were made and archaeological tests also
made of the blood and matter vomited.
Drs. Archinard, of New Orleans, and Was
dine, of the Mobile United States medical
service who is also an expert microscopic,
were all day making the tests, reporting
from time to time to President Olphant of
the Louisiana board, DIR. Saunders of the
Alabama board, and DR.. Haralson of the
Mississippi board
In the meantime Professor Metz, assisted
by Chief Sanitary Inspector Woods and SUI
perintendent VIII, collected a series of
specimens of water, well and cistern of the
bay oysters and also made q number of
photographs showing the existing condi-
ton of the towns sanitary arrangements
and drainage. Professor Metz appears to
be of the opinion that the prevailing COM
plant is due in measure to a pollution
of the water in the bay fronting the town.
The drainage of Ocean Springs empties di-
rectly into the bay and the rains wash a
large quantity of fecal matter into the
water and upon the area on which the
oysters consumed by the town people are
temporarily bedded. 1t is feared that the
oysters absorb poisonous germs and COM
municate them to the persons eating them.
The result of the Investigations of Pro-
fessor Metz will not be made known until
his return to New Orleans, as his analysis
will not be made until then. There has
been an extensive inquiry into the history
of the persons who have died and also as
to the inception of the fever.
Accounts vary among the citizens Of
Ocean Springs. 1t is claimed and contrar
dicted that the first cases of the fever were
noticed among a number of Cubans here
who were said to be engaged in attempts to
flibuster. These Cubans recovered, but
the fever spread. There are several cases
at New Chicago, near here. An investiga-
ton will be made tomorrow.
The air of mystery which has shrouded
the several physicians has not conduced to
the comfort of the people, although pending
the report of the Board of Health it would
have been unwise to have discussed the
matter. The news Of Pass Christian de-
claring quarantine against Ocean Springs
and Biloxi occasioned considerable surprise
here, because in the absence of a verdict
from the Investigation committee such ac-
ton was not warranted by the facts as
then known The condition of the sick to-
day has not developed anything at all ex-
citing or suggestive.