The Portland daily press., 1899-08-02
THE YELLOW FEVER.


Cafes OF yellow fever In the Soldiera'
home ut Hampton and one death Is the
official report received tonight by Sur
geon General Wyman from Dr. wasdin,
the yellow fever expert ON duty at the
Institution. Added to DIR. Wasdin's fg-
urea sent TO DR.. wymnn yesterday this
makes up to today, 40 cases In all which
have occurred at the honie.of which eight
have proved fatal. Surgeon White toduy
telegraphed DIR. Wiman thai In bis opin-
ion there was little doubt that there had
been some fever infection In the neigh
boring villoge OF Phoebus. hut the sur
gson general said tonight that this ds-
spatch had not been followed by any evil
dence Of a positive case at that place.
Should the fever develop. however, no
surprise will be felt In view of the prox-
unity of tho place to the Soldiers' home
and the mixing Of the inmates OF the In
stltution with the people of Phoebus Its
appearance at Phoebus, DIR. wyman
thinks, under the circumstances, would
be simply a coincidence The opinion 7
was expressed tonight that the situation
continues encouraging. as tbs disease
has been kept within its original bounds.
None OF the nearby towns other than
Phoebus has reported the appearance of
Infection OF suspicion cases. The people
for miles around the home are very much
alarmed. but are quiet. No restrictions
have been placed on tho departure of the
several hundred visitors at Old Point
Comfort. but DIR. Pettus, who has abso-
lutte supervision OF those who may leave
so as to avoid danger OF their communi-
eating the disease. This will apply also
to she soldiers now stationed on the gov
ernment reservation there ami who have
been ordered to proceed to battery Point.
Del. Word reached the surgeon general
today that arrangements hal been made
for the transportation OF these men
through the army quertermaster at Phila-
delphia. They will bs taken by boat TO
Cape Charles and thence by train to their
destination.
Battery Point Is an isolated place and
DIR. Tyman has no fear that the soldiers
viii carry any Infection.
The surgeon general continues his pre-
cautions to prevent the spread of the
disease and is despatching help to the
surgeons now on the ground. DIR. Baker
will remain at Newport News for the
present and Will supervis, matters along
the line Of the railroad between that city
and Richmond. Hospital Steward
Kobe, who Is q yellow fever immune,
now at Norfolk, has been difested to re-
port to DIR. wh.te and render what SER
vice he may be called on to perform.
Z DIR. White viii remain in charge at
Hampton though he is not to visit the
home, as his immunity from the disease
is doubtful. Surgeon Frioks. now at
South Atlantic quarantine station, has
been ordered to Norfolk and Passed AS
sistant Surgeon Simpson, now at st.
Louis, has teen directed to report at Old
Point. Arrangements have been made
for the disinfection of mail matter sent
by the inmates nf the home to their
friends. Two suspect veterans who have
been at the Hampton home, have been
retained by the local authorities in this
city. but they appear to be all right and
no alarm is felt over their presence in
Washington.
THREE NEW CASES IN HAMPTON.
Hampton, Va, August 1.-The most
important development OF ths day in the
yellow fever situation was the discovery
Of thres cases in the town of Phosbus ad-
joining the soldiers home Pol iceman
Joseph Mastin Is one OF the victims. He
believed he had yellow jaundice and
while walking about the streets today
was SOON by Surgeon White of the marine
hospital service who pronounced the dis.
ease yellow fever. Policeman Mastin re.
turned to bis home which was ouaran.
tined. The other two victims are old
soldiers who were found in saloon.
They were sent to the hospital at the
home. 1hess are the only cases reported
at Phcebus. although many wild rumors
have been in circulation. Tho repos5
that two negroes died Ia erroneous
Hampton, this morning. quarantinsd
against Phcehus. Business here has been
almost entirely suspended and 1t is prac-
tically dead here.
NO CHANGE AT NORFOLK.
Norfolk, Va, August l.--There Is no
change In the local situation except that
this authorities have rsdoubled their vigil
ance to prevent yellow fever being intro
duced into this city from Hampton or
elsewhere. The mayor, chief Of police
and patrolmen are doing is hours daily
and special officers. inspectors aad physi-
clans are working day and night. perfect
Ing the quarantine against Hampton and
other points on the peninsula. The au-
thorities are confident of their ability to |
keep the disease out. Reports from |
u hoo fgx, fr.t.N
yellow fever had been found and that |
there had been two deaths among the |
negro population of phoebus, adjoining |
the home. ~