Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-14
YEEIOW-FENEk.

The news OF yelOW-leNer "iio"e w"
soldiers in Cuba is very unwelcome IN
teligence indeed. True, there have not
been many cases, yet serious appreheh-
sion has been aroused, and may not be
auayed for a good while to come.
or course no thoughtful man DeleNed
Il would be possible for us TO make a
campaign in Cuba without having 10
hattie with this disease as well as win
the Spaniards. but its appearance was 50
long delayed many persons had come 10
believe we would escape it altogether
But not So
We are now brought face TO face with
the necessity for adopting the most rlgid
precautions against it's spread III our
camps and against having 1t INTRODUCED
into our southern ports. II the re-
sources of science be what is claimed
for them this we may easily do. Our gov
ernment has plenty of money, plenty Oh
physicians and nurses. and il ought to
snare nothing that it has or can get TO
stamp out the disease.
From all accounts our men In CUBA
have been anything but prudent. FER
hans they could not be prudent, but at
any rate they have not been boiling the
water; they have been sleeping upon the
naked ground and in numerous other
WAYS obey have been quite indifferent 10
consequences. No wonder, then, that we
hear of the presence of cases OF FEVER
The only wonder is that there have not
been more cases, especially when we con-
slider the hordes of refugees from SAN
tiago that have come into our lines. How
ever. all that is of the past. The present
smperative duty of our government Is 10
SOC that our troops are more careful IN
the future and that properly isolated hos
pitfalls are established.
Should yellow-fever spread In our camps
n may be expected that 1t VIII be propsh'
into this country, particularly into the
norris of the Southern States. There
arises another trouble. Our ports VII
have TO quarantine against vessels coming
from cuba, and the eventual result MAY
he that communication with our army
I'm Cuba will have 10 be kept up through
the ports of che North.
The situation does not seem 10 be alarm
ing. but 1t is such as demands unceasinl
vigilance and vigorous precautionary
measures. And we must keep a cios'
watch upon all the sick men coming bach
from Cuba. They may bring yellow-fevei
with them, and If they do they may
spread H.
AS we have said, double duty is now
thrown upon our governmental stamI
out the disease in the army and preven
ais importation into this country. o.
course. II may be necessary TO establish
fever hospitals in some localities here bu
that may be done without imperilling The
public health.
The discovery of yellow-feyer cases
among our men will. we suppose. have
the effect Of causing our generals to make
all haste possible. There has not beef
hitherto much unnecessary delay in oul
military operations. but now we may ex
pect them 90 be hurried with the utmos
speed.
When Santiago is taken we shah be a
liberty to make such disposition OF ou
troops as will best conduce 20 theil
health and comfort. As things now stanC
they are sleeping in the trenches and are
exposed 10 pouring rains and burning
suns. which could not but sicken many
even though the yellow-fever were not 4
Factor IN ba vackoned with.