Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-08-04
DIR. HOLES srATEMENr.


DIR. r. s. Hope. quarantine officer.
gave the following statement for pub
location yesterday:
"ln relation to the situation that now
exists, it is perfect folly for us to at
tempt to determine the cause and in
ception OF the outbreak at the infected
points: that is a matter that will be of
scientific md professional Importance
later on.
THE thing that we are 10 look at
is a practical situation. and that is.
that the fever. since the 30th of last
month. the date upon which it was
diagnosed. has been confined to It's zone
of inception. AS 1t is we'll known. it
only takes from three to five days for
yellow fever TO develop.
I'm the opinion of the very best men
who are competent to give opinions on
this subject. ten days at the longest.
is ample time for any infection that
may have escaped from the infected To-
! cality to develop. Our adviccs in con-
nection with the health department of
this community. reinforced by the opin-
ion Of the experts of the Federal gov
eminent, is that this ten days is long
| enough.
81 think that the people on the PENN
sula at Newport News are thoroughly
| protected By shotgun Gordon around
their town. which is absolutely effec-
tive. Old Point is an ideal place for
quarantining, as it is connected by land
by a bridge only. with Phoebus and
Soldiers Home. The management of
the situation there. as you know, is
| this:
Or. Pettus. United States Marine
Hospital representative. is IN full con-
troll with absolute powers and author
lily. The outside man, both at Phoebus
and Soldiers Home. is DR.. White. an
efficient and competent man. and one
of national reputation in this special
line. DIR. Wcrtenbnker is the co-opera-
tive man nj Newport News.
| Il think these communities can he
assured that the situation there is in
thoroughly competent hands and will
be managed with consummatc skill and
success. For our own protection, the
quarantine district. of which we are a
part Norfolk. Portsmouth and Norfolk
county, we have five tugs patrollinE the
beaches. extending from York river IL
mile beyond Newport News.
These people have authority, In
StructionS and ammunition to turn back
everything that Is coming this way
Outside of that. we have a small nap
tina launch. which is patrolling the har-
Dor and the shallow waterways on this
side. with like authority.
The beach extending from Ocean
View to Lambcrt's Point is also pa
trolled. as is the beach from Pig
Point to Craney Island. The lines of
traffic leading into this quarantine dis
! trict. both steamboats, and railroads.
are in charge OF competent men, and
with this condition of things l think
we are in a position not only to assure
our own people here, but to say to the
outside world. that the efforts we are
making to protect ourselves and to pro-
tect them are n guarantee that it will
| be done successfully.
yellow fever does not travel very
rapidly. as is evidenced by the history
of the disease. In two months our eli
mate will almost render us immune,
and I have every reason 10 believe that
the efforts being made now will be
successful in controlling this whole sit
uation for two months.
with these assurances to our own
people. and to the varied commercial
interests. both local and those with
whom we are in touch, and with the
| further assurance that we are going
| to be perfectly frank with them in
everything. even of n suspicious char
acter am sure they will sec that there
is no cause for any uneasiness.
There has been no sign OF case in
this vicinity, and I believe that the
disease will remain where ii is. and that
we are perfectly safe in Norfolk and
| Portsmouth,