Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-04-28
YELLOW FEVER.
TX = 9
Surgeon General Wyman Thinks That Our
Soldiers Might Guard Against II in Cuba.

this question. says a writer in the
Providence Journal:
In the event of a rapid campaign by
an American army in Cuba, beginning
within few days and continuing, say.
month, what are the chances of yell
low fever infection, both as it might
affect the troops themselves and the
country afterwards"
DR.. Wymans reply was: "A great
deal would depend upon the thorough
ness of the preventive steps taken;
upon the Geographical disposition OF
the troops in Cuba: upon the selection
OF proper camping sites and their thor
ough sanitation, and upon the rigid en-
forcement of modern hygienic meas
ures. The army medical officers thor
oughly understand these matters, and
the surgeon general of the army. Brig
adler General George NJ. Sternberg, has
had large experience with yellow fever.
1t is difficult to predict or determine in
advance whether such a campaign
would be very dangerous or not. 1t
has never been tried by american
troops The nearest approach to il
was the invasion of Mexico. The prob
lem can only be solved by experience.
That experience would demonstrate
whether our advanced knowledge OF
the nature of yellow fever, our modern
sanitary theories and regulations as to
the sanitation of military camps, and
our appliances for disinfection. will or
will not enable a large body of men to
conduct military operations in Cuba a
this season with reasonable safety
from the disease. II may be found that
such campaign can be Waged with
comparative immunity from fever on
he part of our troops. However. the
result is not a fore9one conclusion
of course, it should be understood
that the actual necessities and eXigen-
cies of war would necessarily interfere
somewhat with any thorough system
of hygiene and sanitation that might
he adopted. and its success would
largely depend upon the degree of its
enforcement The difference in the re-
suits accruing from a thorough en-
forcement and from only a partial en-
forcement would doubtless be import
ant. But it is believed that if the
troops ere made to understand clear
ly that the success of their arms. their
health and their very life We're depen
dent upon an absolutely rigid obser-
vance of the sanitary rules laid down,
Il Well-ngh perfect observance could be
effected. despite the eXigencies and ur-
gent emergencies of practical warfare.
4 prolonged residence in the tropics
Weakens the physical vitality and rem
ders a patient less able to combat the
disease: but with repeated RELAYS of
troops from time to time, relieving each
other, and such provision as is calcu
lated to keep them in the pink of ply
steal condition. the chances of enerva-
ton by the tropical climate of Cuba
would be reduced to a minimum.
| next asked Dr. Wyman: What
precautions could be taken to prevent
the returning army from spreading in
lection in this country?'
He answered: The troops could be
subjected to careful sanitary inspection
Immediately en- their arrival on this
side, and other precautionary meas
ures could be adopted. An army, say
of 10000 or 10000 men, could be en-
camped in the Southern uplands and
treated precisely as our smaller deten
ton camps are now treated. The
scientific principles on which these de-
tenlion camps are conducted are now
encamped upon high ground could
have attached to it d detention camp.
in which persons who have been eX-
posed to infection could be detained
under observation; and a mile further
off there could be established a we'll
regulated yellow fever camp. for the
reception of chance cases. The army
meanwhile could remain in camp for
al .5
in its ranks. and they had not been ex-
posed to Infection, particularly while
in Cuba it could then be transported
elsewhere with perfect safety and dis
persed. If the army. or parts of it,
had been exposed to infection. the
Wholesale disinfection of the troops
clothing might be necessary. We nov
have detention barracks with a capac-
ity OF accommodating over one thou
sand persons a Fishelman's island, off
Cape Charles. at the entrance of
Chesapeake Bay. and another set of
barracks capable of accommodates
eight hundred persons off Cape Henlo-
pen, opposite Delaware BreakWatcr.
We have also IA yellow fever Camp at
Fontainbleau. Miss, another at Mount
Vernon Barracks, Ala, another at
camp hutton, lItttn miles, from NEW
Orleans. La, and detention camp at
WdIneSVjllc Ga. These are samples on
small scale of what can he estab-
lished on a large scale. to meet the re
Quirements of an army"
obviously the problem of assuring
the health of the returning army and
preventing the spread Of infection in
this country is q less difficult one than
that of insurng immunity to an army
of investment in Cuba. ANY possible
clash between the local and state quar-
antine authorities in Southern ports
and the national quarantine authorities
could be readily ObViated hN the enact
ment of legislation on the lines of the
Nest-Caifery bill now pending in the
Senate; and. in the absence of such
Legislation. the plcnarv power vested
in the President in time of war could
be eNerted to insure the safety of our
people by the domino ton of Federal
over local and state regulation
Although ii is now only three weeks
time before the rainy season begins il
cuba, the adNiCeS received at the head
quarters of the United States quaran-
-t hot ( it-