The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-07-06
HIS MEN ON THE WATCH
THE SOUTH REPORTS SUSPlCl-
Gus CASES PROMPTLY.
RETURNING TROOPS BROUGHT NO GERMS
Measures 10 Prevent Introduction of lha Dis
ease from Cuba. Not Case in Hava-
ma Not Even Sporadic
Case Expected Here, {

Washington, July 5.-''Thcre is Mt a
case of yellow fever N the United
States"
This statement was made to a Post
reporter this afternoon by Surgeon Gene
raj Wyman. of the Marine Hospital
Service. I'VE are now well into the
first week OF July. and no case has
yet been reported, although, added the
doctor. 1T quite frequently happens
reports are not made as soon as the dis
ease appears"
But your officers are on the watch?"
Ies. and we are all the more apt to
speedily know of the existence of fever
because the people of the South are
not so averse to announcing Il suspicious
case as they used to be. They recognize
that it should be acknowledged quickly
and measures taken to prevent Il spread
of the fever, as was done ut McHenry
That was an object lesson to the Sou.h.
which learned taht by isolating all
cases promptly the danger of an eniden
ic is removed. There has been marked
change in this regard, us was illustrated
two suspicious cases In Il Louisiana
town. They were at once investigated,
the proper precautions were taken
and nothing more has been heard Of me.
trouble
Have any i'll effects resulted from the
unusual amount of communication with
Havana last winter and spring?
No" was the reply none whatever.
~
teer troops from Cuba last March anu
April. The President and Secretary
OF War both insisted that the removal
should begin early in order to avoid
all danger. and when the troops landed
in the United States every lit of the
baggage and camp equipage was disin-
fected and the men were subjected TO Il
detention Of five days. There were only
three attempts to evade the quarantine
regulations, and each of these failed.
even though the appeals reached the
President himself"
Then there is apparently no danger
to be feared from the coming home
of these troops!'
Not a bit. | am confident that not
n single germ of yellow fever entered
the United States through any of the
belongings of these $4,000 men. If any
had escaped us we would have hear!
from Them before this. And then"
continued the doctor. I'VE not only have
complete control Of the ports of this
country, but we have Il thorough grip
on the situation in Cuba. Our officers
are stationed at every port i'm the IS
land. Every piece of baggage is in
spected and labeled before it leaves
the island, and if necessary, is promptly
disinfected. At Santiago We have a
dismantled ship, called the Rough Rider,
which Is equipped with two large steam
chambers and every other appliance ne
cessary for killing fever germs. We are
not only protecting this country from
Santiago, but all the cities of Cuba as
well. SO that the disease cannot spread"
rs there any yellow fever in Havana
nowI'
Not a case"
Il do not even look for any sporadic
cases in this country" Or. Wyman
said in closing the interview. ''They
may occur, but we think we have taken
precaution TO prevent the appearance of
the disease. At any rate we can most
assuredly predict that there will be no
general epidemic. Notwithstanding the
very large amount of travel between the
United States and Cuba during the past
year"