The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-14
Steps to Protect Health
K OF Soldiers.
CHECKING YELLOW FEVER
Disease Confined to a Single Point
In Mississippi.
REGULATIONS TO BE ENFORCED.

washington. June 1.-THE dispatches
received by the marine hospital service
Monday on the yellow. fever situation
were all gratifying in that they showed
neither new cases nor new "foci," as
points OF Infection are officially termed.
So far there have been nine cases OF
fever Camp Fontainebleau. the deten-
tion point OF the fever victims and sus-
poets at McHenry Miss. was put into
operation under federal supervision. All
cases and suspects about McHenry will
be received at that camp. Train inspec-
tors have taken up their duties between
New Orleans and Mobile and on the Gulf
Port and Ship Island railroad.
Surgeon Generals Sternberg OF the
army and Van Reypen of the navy have
taken every precaution to protect the
neither Of them has received any report
OF contagion In either branch OF the
service, nor do they feel that the present
conditions give ground for serious ap-
prehension. In the case of the navy,
DIR. Reypen mapped out careful plan
before our ships went into Cuban waters
1t took into account every fever point
in the harbor Of Havana and there
abouts. These points are well known by
the sanitary experts, being located main
iy at the mouths of the sewers which dis
charge the filth of Havana Into the har-
bor. These points are marked on all
naval charts and care will be taken that
our ships keepv clear Of them. Ger
tain wharves and warehouses along the
harbor also are established points for
breeding fever, and these too are being
guarded against. The same precaution
ID taken at all Cuban ports where our
warships are called Into action.
In an official bulletin issued recently
by the state department II was stated
that yellow fever existed at Santiago the
year round. The fearful unsanitary oon-
dition OF the city Is also pointed out. the
bulletin stating that dead cats. dogs. ETC.,
are thrown into the cutters, where they
remain with the offaI and surface sewer
age to pollute the atmosphere.
This report has come to the attention
OF the army and navy medical corps.
and has increased the vigilance the au-
thorities are exercising. 1t was feared
at one time that the Spanish authorities
might willingly lend themselves to the
spread of yellow fever among our SOL
diers and sailors. and the possibility OF
this has been guarded against. For that
reason no small craft bearing suspicious
goods. such as old clothing which might
contain yellow fever germs, have been
seized. Suspicious derelicts of this kind
have been sunk rather than take the
chances of capturing fever laden goods.
Surgeon General Sternberg issued a
general order sometime ago giving de-
tailed instructions for guarding against
yellow fever, and for treating the fever
should II occur. The order gives rigid
Instructions for the sanitary arrange
ment of all camps Immediately they are |
established on Cuban soil. Specific d. |
rection Is made for the frequent change
'f trenches, for the boiling of ali water
'erycd the troops. and the fumigatien
md washing Of all exposed garments
ma material. With our troops actually
IN Cuban soil these rules will be rigidly
nforced by the surgeons accompanying
aah regiment.