The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-11-06
SOURCE OF INFECTION.
Stated That ship triand Is Rcsponsi-
blc for yellow Fever.

hnut IMP LHtanu - btcgpODtt-
bile for yellow Fever.
Mobile Register.
Testimony is accommodating that the
yellow fever this year entered the .oun-
try by way of the National quarantine
station at Ship Island. DR.. j. w. Belden
Of New Orleans bears testimony to the
sa,ct. He was taken sick at Ocean
Springs. Miss, on the mainland opposite
the National quarantine station in the
month of May last. He had sudden chill
nausea, and severe pains In the back, and
for two days high fever. His eyes became
~n1aundSced and he Is convinced now
that he had genuine case OF yellow fever.
At that time he had never seen the disease.
Since he has seen many cases, and be-
lieves that his case was precisely like
the cases he has seen. Further. ne de-
scribes his symptoms to DIR. Matsas, 4
yellow fever expert: and gave him history
Of the case. and DR.. Matsas decided that
the fever as OF the genuine yellow fever
character. DIR. Belden proceeds TO tell
where he contracted this fever He holds
with DR.. Wilkinson of New Orleans that
Ship Island has long been considered a
menace TO the health OF the country,
more especially so as there are, so TO
speak. no restrictions in communl eating
with the vessels. and any one who so
desires can board any OF the vessels in
Ship Island harbor or visit the quaran-
tine hospital on the island. The harbor
is noted place for fishing. especially for
Spanish mackerel. and thither many OF
the visitors 10 the summer resorts of b.
ioxi, Ocean Springs and other of the coast
watering places repair in search OF good
sport These fishermen are at liberty TO
wander wheresoever they list ON the island
ana the physicians and nurses on the island
mingle with the visitors from the main
land without considering the danger to
which they subject these people.
Having described the existing conditions
at the island, the doctor adds
Il did go over to Ship Island during
the month of last May and contracted
a case Of yellow fever. l usually spend
my vacations every summer over at
Biloxi and have place over there.
am fond Of piscatorial sports and as the
fishing in Ship Island harbor is fine,
usually go over there to fish Spanish
mackerel. During the month Of May !
made four excursions over to Ship
Island, and on the occasion OF my last
visit, late in the month of May, met
two of the nurses from the quarantine
hospital and they informed me that they
had several yellow fever cases in he !
hospital. ! asked them If they did not fear
spreading the disease among the people |
who were present on the wharf where |
the DumDoat from biloxi usually landed. |
The nurses laughed and said there was
no fear. as they had had bath just before |
they Joined the party Of excursionsts. but
was at the time of the opinion that this |
was not sufficient. as their clothing had |
not been disinfected. I said nothing at the
time. and day or two afterwards came
10 this city"
1t was nine days after this episode that
the chill struck him. and he was pros
trated with the fever. He adds, from his
information, that the quarantine
regulations at Ship Island have been very
lax and that there was free communi-
cation with the mainland. On one visit
which the doctor made to Ship Island,
there We're thirty-two vessels lying in
.he harbor waiting to load lumber and the
.ug or bumboat made three trips daily
rom the mainland to the island, carrying
large number OF passengers each trip.
On the wharf where the tug landed its
passengers. the nurses from The hospital
Is well as the employees, and Outlines the
'rews or the vessels, resorted to hear the
news of the day ca to enter into conversa-
ION with the people from the mainland.
The Doctors statement shows two things:
lie had the fever, and he could have gotten
he infection from the island. What could
Happen 70 him could as easily happen 10
thers-and all because OF the loose way
u conducting the National quarantine
Why, therefore. extol the National Quar-
milne as our only possible means of sal
alton from the yellow fever? 1t seems
0 us to have been the special agent for
living this country the fever