The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-08-01

DR.. Wyman from quarantine officers
throughout the United States asking wheth-
er they shall impose a maritime quarantine
against Norfolk. He has replied that there
appears to be no necessity for such restric-
ton in the case OF either Norfolk or New
port News.
DR.. Wasdin's official report Of his exam
nation Of existing conditions at the Sol
diers' Home reached DR.. Wyman to-day.
1t is dated yesterday and notes the fact that
the doctor has seen all the cases of sus-
pected disease at the home. He sums up
the history of the contagion as follows:
Early in June old soldier entered the
home for a short rest and soon afterward
appeared at the dispensary, where he in
formed the physician in charge that he was
but recently from Santiago, via a trans
port to Northern port: thence he started
for Manila via San Francisco. beat his way
to the home on a freight train and entered
with his baggage. He complained of dumb
chills and fever and was prescribed for.
He mingled freely with the inmates of the
home and a short time ago disappeared.
From this as a possible cause, the outbreak
is as follows:
Preceding Friday the 2lst inst, there
nature. The weekly death rate was as
usual. But on the 21st and 22d there became
i'll during the night, with sharp, more or
less chill, high fever, some eight or ten In
mates. men of usually good health. These
seizures, although noted as peculiar, had
occasioned no alarm until about Thursday
the 9th inst. when a death occurred, the
man becoming distinctly yellow some time
prior to death. On or about the same day
another one died, without having attracted
particular attention. He also turned quite
yellow. Autopsies were held on both by the
resident pathologist 1t was then or a little
later that the telegram was sent you asking
for expert. 1 found there we're $500 in
mates and that thirty-five had been taken
i'll since the 21st."
DR.. Wasdin says he withheld a positive
diagnosis in his first communication because
of the assertion of Surgeon Vickery at the
home that there had been no communication
Of the inmates with any Cuban soldiers re-
turned since last May or early in June
With the discovery of the probable origin
OF the Infection and the two autopsies to-
day there can be no doubt he says, about
the disease being yellow fever, and contin-
ues: II have advised Major Vickery to
empty the dormitories at once, putting the
men preferably in tents. The grounds are
closed. There has been a very free inter-
communication between the inmates and
people of Phoebus, a public house near the
grounds having been freely visited until last
night. 1 have suggested TO DIR. Pettus to
meet one or more Of the local boards of
Phoebus, and, informing them of the state
Of affairs. ask their cooperation in watch
ing the village. These inmates, as / under
stand it. do not mingle much with the peo-
pie outside of the village. From this fact
it would seem possible to confine it in the
home.''
Some data furnished by the surgeon gen.
eral shows the prompt manner in which the
authorities have taken the matter In hand.
Late Saturday night Dr. wyman received a
telegram from Surgeon Vickery at the home
asking for an expert Dr. Wasdin was or
dered there from Norfolk at once, and last
night dispatch came from him, announc-
ing the disease was genuine yellow fever.
Surgeon White was sent from Washington
to take charge of Marine Hospital affairs.
He has had large experience in yellow fever
epidemics. After a Gordon had been estab-
lished around the Soldiers Home neighbor-
ing cities were warned and advised to hunt
for any inmates of the home who might be
visiting and to keep them under close OBJ
servation. Dispatches to this effect were
sent Sunday to Norfolk, Portsmouth, New
port News and Richmond, and the Health
Office at Washington was notified. In Nor
folk a house-to-house inspection is being
made. DR.. Farquhar, at Portsmouth, was
appointed to consult the health authorities
there and at the adjoining town of Berkely
and to aid in locating army refugees.
Passed Assistant Wertenbaker, who has
been ordered from Wilmington, N. c., to
Hampton, is not an immune, but is init
mately acquainted with the locality and will
serve on the outside Of the Gordon. Surgeon
vickery at the home has been asked to pre-
pare a list of soldiers who have departed
within a month. with a view to tracing
them. To-day Dr. Wyman ordered Assist
ant Surgeon Won Ezdorf from New Orleans
to Hampton. Passed Assistant Surgeon
Smith, who Is on leave, has been ordered to
return to Norfolk. Surgeon Magruder has
been ordered from Memphis. Both Of these
have had large experience in quarantine
matters. Surgeon Pettus, in charge of the
Cape Charles quarantine, has been ordered
to assign Assistant Surgeon McClintic to
temporary charge and to remain on duty
himself at Old Point.