The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-27
WOOD THROTTLES FEVER.
HAS srLMPED OUT YELLOW JACK
AMONG THE TROOPS

turn-His Drastic Methods Successful
Present Condition of tho City's Health
SANTIAGO DE CUBA. Aug. 1a-when Gen
Wood sailed from Boston, on his return from hi,
visit 70 the States with Mira Wood and tho chill
dren. which was unduly cut short by the outbreak
OF yellow lever among tho American troops doing
garrison duty here, he told his friends that III,
yellow lover situation at Santiago" would not con
tinuo q very great while alter his arrival Ho has
kept his word He turned tho town upside down
and inside out and he has. made soldiers and civ
ilians alike walk chalk line Tor q spoll but he
throttled tho outbreak before II could assume
dimensions which could ontito II 70 the dignity OF
bong DESIGNATED 90 spidomio Not new case
OF pronounced yellow fever has boon reported IRON
ths soldier enoampmenis for some time now, and
thsre very few casoa among the citzena The
stdetest discipline Is still maintained but merely
a. q safeguard. Ills no part Of Gen Woods bust
mess 70 have another outbreak osult from careless
ness
whon The General .rri,od the situation was be-
ginning 70 look a bit grave. There were number
OF soldiers down with the disease, the death rate
was beginning TO assume uncomfortable proper
lions and tho lover was undeniably making some
hoadwsy. Moreovez, the troops becoming
domonalirud, which was bad. any one who has
Lived through yellow fcvcr epidemic In New Or
leans tn Mexioo or Central America will know.
Ths nedioA oorps was . bit green, Most OF the
surgeons who had had experience at Siboncy
during Gen. ShaItcr's campaign and here In SAM
hngu, after tho surrender oil Gen Tornl, had long
sinoo gms back 10 the Statea There wero no
such experienced hands as Major Robinson, chief
medical ofnoer OF Ono department last iall, and
CAPTAINS II s wooodson and William Stephen
son Of the regular army medical corps and W. f
Parker Of Now 0LesnA hero 70 tackle the trouble
whom u began and stamp Il ont Tho situation
BOON got beyond the control Of Maiors Valery and
Lawrence G Carr. hampered as they were by
inexperienced hdpcra required tho hard com
mon sonse and indomitablo will OF Gen. Wood 10
stop n Con Wood arrived In tho nick Of time
much benonted BY his stay In the northern climate
and nairh refreshed By his TIP down from Boston
ana Addressed himself 10 tho task with character
tsie pEomptitude
We've got 70 ret this business in hand quickly
no ,old his Assistants, because there arc other
things 70 do Two promised them back In tho
Statas chat NO would not have any trouble In pay
Ing - NE Cuban soldlecs at this end OF tho island
and We mnst 300 to II that there Is nome
Cen Wood has a way Of enlising enthusiast
tic cooper atom among his subordinates In any
Job he undertakes and the medical force rein forced
by experts from Havana sent on for tho emer-
Eenry. sct 70 work with renewed vigor Tho
Fifth Infantry companies CHARTERED In tho old
Spanish barracka which, II IL beloved.
became infected with the disease during tbs winter
wore broken up into small detachments and sent
TO healthfu places In the hills after all tho
Suspicious cases had been wooded out; the old
yellow fever hospital on Rat Island which had
long before boon abandoned. was cleaned up
and prepared anrE for patients; q thorough clean
Ing OF the streots and tho collection and burning
Of garbage every day instead OF every three days
as was tho custom under normal conditional was
resumed: daily house 10 house Inspections were
instituted In order that stricken citizen might
escape the attention Of tho medical corps, and tho
most stringent orders wcro issued 70 prevent tho
carrying Of contagion from place TO place by cit-
zens domestic animalA
DOGS AND CATS KILLED
The experience of last year having taught that
dogs and cats wero active agents OF oontagion
attention was paid to them first Housoholdcrs
wero ordered to keep their animals indoors after
a certain day and all found In tho streets after
that wero caught and killed Men with shot guns
were also stationed al tho places where the garb-
ago Of the city is burned 10 prevent tramp dogs
from rummaging In Il Tho tramp dogs were all
shot pitched into the heap and burned along with
the other garbage
Tho yellow fever hospital was placed In tho
charge OF Major Carr, and the caro- OF the sick
In the city proper was assigned to Acting Assistant
Surgeons Il. f. Mendoza and j. Il NuneL who
being Cubans themselves were thorough yfamil-
lar with tho habits and customs OF the people
Their ability 10 speak tho language was their
best qualification for tho work Con Wood was
not hamperod this he was last year.
through tho inability Of his physicians TO under
stand the people or to mako themselves under
stood and accordingly tho work progressed smooth
ly and tho results have boon quick and sausfac-
tory. Acting under Gen Wood = orders Surgeons
NuneI and Mendoza established themselves
in two tents on ono OF tho Las Cruces Hills, about
throo miles 70 tho south OF tho city on the Moro
trail and tho site OF tho encampment OF Col. Sar-
gents Fifth Immune regiment last fall This
camp hos boon their homo since carly in July
II is also tho homo Of tho corps OF hospital assist
ants under their orders They have not visited
their own homes since they began their work,
nor have they entered any other residence public
house. restaurant or barroom In tho city except
in tho pursuit OF their official calling Tho badge
OF their service Is yellow brassard worn on tho
left arm Thor assistants wear the Same kind
Of insignia only slightly smaller in size The
ambulances carry yellow flag and are not used
for any other than yellow fever patenta When
Nunez and Mendoza are summoned to tho depart
ment headquarters by Gen. Wood, they have to
disinfect themselves before entering tho building,
No other medical officers OF tho army are allowed
to enter tho yellow tover ambulance visit the vel
fever hospital. or go near tho camp Of Nunez
and Mendoza al Las Cruces unless especially
ordered to do SO by Gen Wood himself Whom
such visits arc made on rare OCCASIONS the visitors
arc required thoroughly 10 disinfect themselves
before rosumng their regular duties.
This disnfecting Is done at tho Marine Hos
pisal ship which Is at a small wooden pier which
projects far out into tho bay near tho old Nautical
hospital about quarter OF mile below tho main
pier. Al tho land end OF this pier. situated on
the Alameda broad macadamizod road which
runs along tho water front from ono end Of tho
city 70 tho other, Is the detention camp II was
at hrst merely a big hospital tent but the tent
was replaced some time since by a plain house
OF airy dimonsions made of upright boards with
flagstaff at each angle OF tho roof from which
a yellow flags floats Tho detention camp il
fitted with thirty comfortable cots and is guarded
night and day by immune police
The men who form this GUARD are tho best men
Of the local force They form constant semi
circle around the detention camp and keen per-