The Topeka state journal., 1897-09-06
YELLOW FEVER.
TheDreaded ScourgeBreaks Out
at Ocean Springs, Miss.
A Little Town About 100 Miles
From New Orleans.
ISOLATION TO FOLLOW
Quarantine Against the Infect
ed District to Be Declared.
The Fever Has Not Yet Devel-
Oped at Amy Other Point.
Health Officials Believe They
Can Keep 1t Where 1t Is.

Jackson, Miss, Sept. 6.-Governor NC
Laurin has just received the following
telegram from the two members OF the
state board of health who went to Ocean
Springs, Miss, yesterday to investigate
the yellow fever scare:
After a most thorough investigation
in every conceivable light it is the
unanimous opinion of the representa-
tives of Louisiana, Alabama and MIS-
sisSippi state boards of health and the
marine hospital service that the FEVER
now prevailing in Ocean Springs is yell
II. HARANSON.
81 F. HUNTER"
New Orleans, Sept 6.-President Oil
phant of the Louisiana board of health
sent a telegram to that body at 10 o'clock
confirming the report that the phySl-
clans at Ocean Springs had declared the
prevailing sickness undoubtedly yellow
fever. The doctors of three states
came to this conclusion after holding an
autopsy on the body OF a person VINO
died yesterday.
Couriers are now skirmishing around
the city for sufficient members to make
up a quorum of the state board of
health in order to declare quarantine
against Ocean Springs, which is about
100 miles from this city. Rigid precau-
tionS will be taken absolutely to lSoiatS
the Springs and it is conhdently hoped
here by leading physicians that the pre-
cautions will be successful in keeping
the disease from spreading to this place.
A case in point is that OF biloxi, several
years go, when there was an epidemic
of yellow fever. Biloxi is closer to New
Orleans than Ocean Springs, but the
medical men were successful in conf1n-
ing the sickness to that city
There is little or no alarm mere, but
sojOurnerS on the coast are returning
to the city. The result of the quaran-
tine will probably be the taking or OF
the excursion and regular trains which
run between New Orleans and Ocean
Springs and which touch at the var1-
~ fvOv0i -NT7ra
The fever has been prevalent at Ocean
Springs for some time. Two weeks ago
after a careful investigation, TIE Lou
iSiana board of health declared the dlS-
ease to be dengue, which it probably
was at that time, the disease being
mild and the death rate trifiing. Dur
ing the past week, however, the dis
ease has become more virulent and has
probably developed into yellow jack
The state board of health has decided
to enforce a rigid quarantine against
Biloxi and Ocean Springs. Quarantine
will also be enforced against the other
watering places on the Gulf coast until
President Oliphant returns and more
light is obtained on the situation.
Guards are to be put on the trains and
at stations, all baggage IS to be fumi-
gated and every precaut1on is to be
taken to keep the disease out of the city.
The Louisville &. Nashville trains have
been ordered not to stop at either
Biloxi or Ocean Springs. The houses of
all epopIe who have returned to New
thoroughly funligated.
Ocean Springs, Miss, Sept. 6.-The
representatives of the health organiza-
tionS have pronounced the disease prev
alent here as yellow fever.
Mr.. Hunter, the secretary of Missis-
sippi board of health and secretary of
the executive committee arrived here
last night from Jackson via New Or
leans. The members of the Louisiana
state board of health have been hard at
work in conjunction with the represent
afi Of 10 Ic9h ia ma 1-d nd a
Mississippi organization in a determin-
ed effort TO settle the vexed question as
to the identity of the pernicious fever
which has operated so greatly to the
disadvantage of Ocean Springs. These
investigations were extensive, as the
visiting medical experts visited a large
number of persons now down with the
fever. Examinations of these persons
were made and archaeological tests
made of the blood and matter vomited.
Drs. Archinard of New Orleans and
is also an expert microscopic, were all
day making the tests, reporting from
time to time to President Oliphant of
the Louisiana board, DR.. Saunders of
the Alabama and DR.. Haranson of the
Mississippi board. In the meantime
Prof. Metz, assisted by Chief Sanitary
Inspector Woods and Superintendent |
Will collected a series of specimens of
water, we'll and ciStern, of the bay |
oysters, and also made a number of
photographs showing the existing con-
ments and drainages. Prof. Metz ap-
pears to be of the opinion that the pre-
vailing complaint is due in measure |
to a pollution of the water in the bay
fronting the town.
The drainage of Ocean Springs emp
ties directly into the bay and the rains |
wash large quantity of faecal matter |
into the water and upon the area in |
which the oysters consumed by the |
townspeople are temporarily imbedded |
1t is feared that the oysters absorb pOiS-
onouS germs and communicate them to |
the persons eating them.
Accounts vary among the citizens of |
Ocean Springs. 1t is claimed and con-
fever were noticed among number of |
Cubans here who were said to be en-
gagged in attempts to filibuSter.
These CObans recovered, but the fever |
spread. There are several cases at
New Chicago, near here.
The air of mystery which has Shroud- |
ed the several physicians has not con-
duced to the comfort of the people, al |
though pending the report of the board |
of health it would have been unwise to |
have discussed the matter. The News |
of Pass Christian declaring quar-
antine against Ocean Springs and Bill
here because in the absence of a verdict |
from the investigation committee such |
action was not warranted by the facts |
as then known.
Washington Sept. 6,-The marine
hospital service is Investigating the |
fever at Ocean Springs. Miss, and the |
information at hand inc1ines to the be- |
lief that the disease is not yellow fever, |
though conclusive information is not