Evening journal., 1897-09-21
DELINQUENT DOCTOR
New Orleans Physician Makes an
Irregular Fever Report.
THE PEST GAINS GROUND THERE,
DIR. Guiteras Reports That Two Cases
Found at Cairo, Ills, Are Mild
and Have Not Excited Much
Alarm In That Place.

NEW ORLEANS Sept. 2t-The lar
gest number of cases reported on any
day since yellow fever first made its
appearance in New Orleans two weeks
ago was recorded on the books Of the
board of health last night, although up
to a late hour not a single case had
proved fatal during the day There
were 1S cases In all.
The most sensational incident of yes
terday was the announcement from Dr.
Joseph Holt expressed to the board OF
I health that he had discovered nine
cases in his practice. the first of
which had come under his observation
on Friday. DR.. Holt wrote a letter to
President Olliphant and intrusted 1t to
/ the mail; but, fearing that the letter
might not reach it's destination in time,
/ Or. Holt sent a special messenger TO the
residence of DR.. Olliphant. giving this
| information. At the board of health,
when the Holt letter was opened, there
was first incredulty and then criticism
Of DR. Holt because he had adopted
what the board considered an irregular
I way in which to make known his cases.
Immediately upon the receipt of the
letter the machinery OF the board was
placed in motion, and inspectors were
sent to the various houses where DR..
Holt reported sickness to exist. The
places were all disinfected and guards
placed in front of them. but the board
said it had very little hope of the effect
iveness Of these measures. since all
those who desired were given an oppor-
tunity to escape from the infected
houses.
One of the houses, where are four OF
the patients. is a fashionable boarding
house. The first case to develop in this
house was at 2:S0 Saturday morning,
and the other cases in the same place
were noted on Saturday afternoon.
Those living in the house. Of whom
there were quite number knew Of the
existence of fever early Saturday morn
ing and therefore got out as fast as
possible. Some of them moved their
baggage on Saturday and others on
Sunday while IL is said some of the
boarders took a train and went to At
lanta.
Shortly after the board Of health was
made acquainted with the contents Of
the letter of DR.. Holt il held an execu-
tive conference and decided to imme-
dlately order it's board of experts tC
visit the nine cases of DR.. Holt and de-
eide whether or not they are suffering
with yellow fever. The experts attempt
ed to carry out the instructions of th'
board, but when they proceeded to tho
first house Dr. Holt entered an objection
and refused them permission to exam
inc any of his patients. taking the po
sltion that he had properly diagnosed
them and that being an expert himsel
there was no occasion for further inves
tigation.
( After the experts made their repor
t the board of health went into executiv
session and discussed at length wha
! was termed Dr. Holts violation of
city ordinance. which he himself hai
had passed, and which provides for tn
punishment by fine or Imprisonment o
any physician who fails to report
positive or suspicious case Of yellow
fever in a period like the present. Tn
board finally decided TO summon Dr
, Holt to appear before/them and ex
{ plain his alleged negligence. 1t vii
, then be decided whether or not ther
, shall be a prosecution of DR.. Holt In tn
: courts.
Last night most Of the patients in tn
city were reported as doing we'll. Trou
BILE in two cases was reported in the eff
fort to enforce quarantine regulations
Down town one man managed to es
!, cape from the infected quarter and wa
chased and arrested and after bein
. arraigned in court and frightening ev
erybody present was sent back TO hi
81 home. In the evening a report was re
> ceived that a man had appeared 4
T front of one of the infected houses u
s town armed with a shotgun and ha
y torn down the yellow fever flag an
X taken possession Of the premises.
s squad of police was sent to the scene.
The board of health has decided {
., send an appeal to Governor Foster ask
: ing him to supply the board with S25.0C
u from the surplus fund Of the state {
assist the board in prosecuting its figf
e against the fever.