The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-26
HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
/ The HeaaIsl Repest II the Stste Health
0elicer.
ONLY ONE CASE Of YELLOW FEvf'
smaIlpox was Reported from Sever.
Al Places. but IL Was Not OF
vsruIent Character.

The following Is the biennial report Of
tho State health officer:
To His Exceliency, Charles A. culbcrson,
Governor OF Texas
Quarantine Department. Austin, Texas,
December 4, lsss.--sIr: respectfully sub
NIT the following report of State quaran
tine for the years 1s97-lsss:
regret that, owing to the death OF our
distinguished, beloved and lamented DR..
r. M. Swearingen, am not in possession
of data that would enable me to make .
full and complete report from this depart
ment h, sst
The past two years have been most try
Ing on our present system Of quarantine,
and tho results have been very satisfactory
aud afforas ample proof that, with good
and we'll enforced quarantine laws, contag-
ious diseases can be kept out OF the State.
No changes have been made OF Quaian-
tine inspectors, and the men commissioned
by your excellency are still on duty.
QUARANTINE OFFICERS.
Mr.. J. c. Mayneld, stationed at Calves
ton
DR.. A. N. Perkins, stationed at Sabine
Pass.
DR.. A. s. wolff, stationed at Browns
Vile
DR.. e. s. weisiger, stationed at ouintana
| (Velasco)
DR.. W. 3. Pugh, stationed at Rockport
(Aransas Pass).
Dir. T. j. Mcfarland stationed at Pass
cavallo port Lavaca).
QUARANTINE INSPECTORS.
DR.. w. NJ Yandell stationed at Ell Paso.
Dr.. It. ]. Turpin, stationed at Laredo.
Or. A. II. Evars, stationed at Eagle Pass.
Drs. Yandell Turpin and Evans have
been in the service many years.
The quarantine officers appointed and
commissioned by your excellency entered
upon their respective duties May OF each
| iheved, respectively, November Is and No
| vember of each year, with the exception
OF the officer at Galveston
| The stations at Brownsville, Velasco,
Pass Cavallo. Arkansas Pass and Sabine
Pass, were closed on the 18th OF November,
1897, and on the 1st OF November, 1898
| The Importance OF Galveston as com
meroial port AMI the danger Of introduce
| tion OF infection from foreign ports, render
| 1t necessary. In the interest OF public
health, to maintain an inspection service
at that port during the entire year.
| There being SO much danger of smallpox
on the lower Rio Grande, at the close OF
ville), October Is, 1897 Dr. Wolf, having
been appointed by your excellency. spe-
c'al inspector, was placed in charge of the
district OF Brazos de Santiago
| AT the Rio Grande stations inspectors
were kept during the winter. to guard
against smallpox DR.. w. NJ Yan,iell at
Ell Paso: DR.. T. J. TurEiu at Laredo. and
Or. A. n. Evans at Eagle Pass These
gentlemen have been in the service many
years and they are valuable men to the
Quarantine department, faithful and untir-
ing IN their devotion to duty.
YELLOW FEVER.
Early In September, 1897, yellow fever
made Its appearance In louisiana Missis-
sippl and other Southern States, and al
though every precaution was taken by the
State health officer, people became
alarmed, through fear that the disease
would be imported by rail into our State,
and shotguns and local quaran tine were In
vogue, and existed for time In many
| places.
Finally, however. public alarm subsidized
and order was restored. with the result
that no fever was imported during that
| season.
In 1898, owing to the warm winter the
fever germs appear TO have lain dormant
IN Louisiana, and made their appearance on
September in Franklin. La. strict and
vigorous quarantine was put In operation
at once, which seemed to inspire confidence
and instead OF a panic. every city seemed
to have perfect confidence In our State
quarantine. and with their united and
hearty support, together with that OF the
railway officials, In the enforcement of
the state Quarantine laws, the fever was
Kept out OF the State. notwithstanding the
fact that we were surrounded on every side
with yellow fever; on the east, with half ..
dozen railroads running out of infected
districts into our State. and on the south
ana west from Mexico and Cuba. heavy
travel and traffic had to be intercepted
ana Inspected, am glad to report that
NOT single case OF fever was imported and
but one case developed In the State. This
was found In the barracks at Galveston,
having come from the effects OF n soldier
from Cuba, We should be thankful for TN,
success with which our efforts have been
crowned. and more thoroughly satisfied
with our present effective system OF quar-
antine, as there Ia nothing more convInc-
ing than success.
SMALLPOX
while there have been some cases of
smallpox In the State during the last two
years, and still exist In two or three To-
calities, II is gratifying to note that the
prevalence OF this disease Is gradual1y
growing less every year.
The following cases have been reported TO
this office:
Cases. Deaths.
At Laredo. In 1897 and 1898. 80
AT ri Paso, in 1SeS............22
AZ Columbus. in 1897, about. 40 Several
AZ Temple. in 1898. ......a few cases.
At Cameron. In 1898. ......,SO 2
At Granbury. In 1898. .........
At Pecos. In S9S......... o
INTERNATIONAL SANITATION.
Whenever this office received informa-
tion Of the appearance OF case. or even
| q suspected one az fnfectdo,,s di.easa On.