The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-04
ORIGIN OF THE FEVER At HAMPTON
DR.. Doty Replies to the Allegation That
the Disease Rencheh There Via New York.

DR.. Doty Replies to the Allegation That
the Disease Reached There Via New York.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sjr: What is
claimed to be an authoritative statement re-
garding the cause OF the outbreak of yellow
fever at the National Soldiers Home at Hamp-
ton. Va. appeared in the press of yesterday
Tho substance OF the statement is "a follows:
An elderly inmate OF the home obtained leave
OF absence and visited Santiago. aud on his
return he brought with him some extra cloth
ing. In some way he passed New York Quar-
| antine without an examination and disinfcc-
ton Of the clothing. and subsequently reached
Hampton and died OF yellow fever outside the
| institution.
A statement OF this character. unsupported
by facts. is hardly entitled to serious consider
| alton. Since May l every passenger arriving
| at this station on vessels from Cuban ports has
| been held at Quarantine for n period OF five
days from the time OF embarkaton. unless he
,, she presents an immune certificate issued
| by a representative Of the Marine Hospital Ser
vice at the port OF departure. Not ono excep-
ton has been made. II the passengers
| arrive on a United States transport. the
vessel Is detained at Quarantine with
| the passengers on board. under the con-
| slant supervision Of a member OF the
| medical corps OF the United States army At
the expiration Of five days from the time OF
| embarkation and after report from the sur
| geon In charge that all are well. the passengers
are brought to the deck and personally OK
| amined before the vessel Is released. In the
| case OF merchant vessels all passengers who
| do not hold immune certificates are removed
TO Hoffman Island and detained there under
the Observation OF the officers Of this depart
ment unit the completion OF the above period.
| and are then only released after careful in
| Bpection.
| 1t is believed that five days is the maximum
| period OF incubation OF yellow fever. This
statement has the Endorsement OF Den, George
we'll IA others who have had long experience
| with yellow fever and are competent to decide
the SECOND or third day. The statement occa:
siopally made that the period Of incubation Of
accepted BY those Who 'S are familiar nil T"y With the
| disease. Therefore II careful inspection at
the end Of five days after leaving, an infected
ne" menace to the public health. AT" rule ,st ems -
| this department.
6 The clothing and effects, Of those leaving
and this is tn" only safe and practical way ;
ptherwise presumably infected material may
Is performed at Santiago by representative OF
The Marine Hospital Service have accented
reason 10 believe that this work has been care
fully and properly performed. rnder, the ex-
bs fs9 ,Ha9 aES
fever when he reached Hampton. or that he
| carried with him infected clothing. The
| statement does not say how long after
leaving Quarantine he REACHED Hampton. or
| whether he was was not i'll when he arrived.
II he was i'll when he reached the institution
and his disease was yellow fever. and promptly
recognized such and proper precautions
taken, there could not have been serious out
break OF the disease in the Soldiers Home A
It has been stated that no special precaut ions
were taken. it Is evident that his symptoms
did not arouse the suspicious OF the physicians
in charge. Inasmuch as it is alleged that the
patient is dead. and presumably buried. It is n
| little latc now to make Il positive diagnosis of
| his case
If facts and scientific evidence ara not to be
| used in the investigation as to the cause OF
this outbreak. it can as well he claimed that
| the Federal quarantine station. which com =
| parativey is in close proximity to the infeotcd
| locality. and which is moro or less in constant
| communication with Santiago and other Cuban
ports. is the avenue through which the in lee
| ton reached the institution. From the rathe r
| strained and unscientifc statement referred to
above, however. | believe it may be safely as
| sumed that the true cause OF tho outbreak at
the Soldiers Home has not yet been discov-
| cred. ALvAH H. DuTY.
Health Otficer. Port OF New York.
NEW YORK. Aug g.