The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-07
EXPERT SENT SOUTH.
Marine Hospital Service Not Satisfied
with DR. WnSdin's Report.

with DIR. Wasdin's Report.
WASHINGTON. Sept 6.-The Marine
Hospital service is investigating the fever
at Ocean Springs Miss, and the informa-
tion so far at hand inclines them to the
belief that the disease is not yellow fever,
though conclusive information is not yet
at hand. Surgeon General Wyman is alb
sent from the city He has been attend
ing the British Medical Association at Mon
treal and is now at Vineyard Haven on his
way back. During his absence Surgeon
Bailbache is in charge. The cases at Ocean
Springs were first called to the attention
of Mr.. Bailbache last Friday in a. telegram
from Assistant Surgeon Wasdin, who is
stationed at Mobile, asking permission to
accompany the State Board of Health to
Ocean Springs to investigate the fever. DR.,
Wasdin was directed to proceed. Yesterday
morning he telegraphed as follows:
"Of five or six hundred cases here, have
seen live; an endemic infection, spread by
carriage; mostly white; nonparoxysmal;
dlSpfoportionate in pulse; prostration;
made first autopsy on adult of sixty, said
to be typical case of fever; matter under
advisement. Doctors Oiiphant (presdent
Louisiana State Board of Health) Haral-
SON, Saunders and others viii be here
later"
A copy of this telegram was transmitted
to Surgeon General Wyman at Vineyard
Haven and he Immediately requested DIR.
John Guiteras, professor of the University
or Pennsylvania, 10 proceed to Ocean
Springs. DIR. Guiteras was formerly in the
Marine Hospital service and is the ac-
5noWledged authority on fevers in this
country. Dr. Bailbache also wired DR.. Was
din to inquire into the result of the autopsy
and consultation, to give the number of in
ber Of fatalities. DR.. Wasdin replied that
the population of Ocean Springs, which is
summer resort on the gulf coast near
Biloxi was about 1900 in winter and 1900
in He also FenOrtQd the existence
of pasmodium of malaria, condition of
the blood said to be never present in yell
low fever cases.
Dr. Bailbache says that DR.. wasdin is
making a meteorological investigation to
determine the existence of yellow fever
germs He (Dr Bailbache) believes the
disease, so far as his information goes, is
dengue, or bone-brake fever. In support of
this he points to DR.. Wasdin's report that
che fever is endemic. not epidemic, and
that the fatalities have been few whereas
yellow fever is fatal in a majority of cases.
This lack of fatalities he considers the
strongest evidence that the disease is not
yellow fever The existence of the pasmo-
dunn of malaria is another strong evidence
against the yellow fever theory. About ten
days ago he says the State Board of Health
of Mississippi Investigated the fever and
pronounced it dengue. If 1t should, how
ever, prove to be yellow fever, DIR. Bail
bache says the latenesss Of the season will
materially aid the authorities in keeping
it confined to the locality in which it has
broken out, ana gives assurances that there
will be no widespread epidemic of the
dread scourge.
The latest information received by Dr.
Bailbache, acting surgeon general of the
Marine Hospital Service, is to the effect that
the disease reported at Ocean Springs,
Ms is fr6m yeOT reon 3hs Wadn
whose regular station is at Mobile. but
who was granted permission to go to Ocean
Springs in company with other physicians.
and it is in accord with the conclusions
reached by Messrs Harralson and Hunter,
of the Mississippi Board of Health, in their
TO ToT lin OT Noc
din's dispatch is as follows: "A second
autopsy confirms the diagnosis of yellow
fever. There is general acquiescence in this
opinion. The town is nearly depopulated.
No need of great alarm"
Notwithstanding the opinion reached by
DR.. Wasdin, the officials here are loath to
believe that the disease is yellow fever.
While attaching much Importance to DR..
Wasdins conclusions, the bureau: in view
report from DIR. John Guiteras before any
action is taken. DR.. Guiteras is a Cuban
by birth, has himself a case of yellow fever,
and has spent much time in places where it
has existed 1t is felt that his opinion of
the disease should be known before any
stringent measures of precaution are taken,
especially in view of the fact that the regu-
lations incident thereto always involve
hardship and in view of the further fact
that the mortality in the present cases has
been so light as to make the officials doubt
whether there is any yellow fever at ALL II
is not known just when DR.. Guiteras VIII
reach Ocean Springs, but the assumption
is that he will start promptly for that place.
The action to be taken hereafter will de-
pend almost entirely on the nature Of his
report. If the disease is found by him to
be yellow fever active steps Will be taken
to prevent it's spread and to stamp it out.
A camp of detention will be established and
other necessary measures taken. The opin-
ion of Dr. Bailbache is that the disease can
be confined to limited area, and that it
can make but little if any headway as the
season of frost is now near at hand.
Telegrams of inquiry from physicians In
ali narts of the country are being received
by DIR. Bailbach concerning the reported eX-
istence of yellow fever