The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-06
NOT ONE CASE OF FEVER.
UNITED STATES Is FREE OF THE
DREAD .YELLOw JACK"
Interview with Surgeon General Wy.
man-Death of DIR. Clendennin from
the Disease ut Santiago.

WASHINGTON, July 5.-"There is not a
case of yellow fever in the United States.
This statement was made to Post reporter
this afternoon by Surgeon General Wyman,
of the Marine Hospital Service. we are
now well iato the first week of July and
no case has yet been reported, although.
added the doctor, sit quite frequently hap
pens that reports are not made as soon as
the disease appears"
But your officers are on the watch?'
Eyes, and we are all the more apt to
speedily know of the existence of fever be-
cause the people of the South are not so
averse to announcing a suspicious case as
they used to be. They recognize that 1t
should be acknowledged quickly and meas
ures taken to prevent spread of the fever,
as was done at McHenry. That was an OBJ
ject lesson to the South, which learned that
by isolating all cases promptly the danger
of an epidemic is removed. There has been
a marked change in this regard, as was IL
Illustrated this year by the prompt report
ing Of two suspicious cases in a Louisiana
town. They were at once investigated, the
proper precautions were taken and nothing
more has been heard of the trouble.
Have any ill effects resulted from the
unusual amount of communication with Ha-
vana last winter and spring.
NO. was the reply, none whatever" 1t
was very wise to remove the volunteer
troops from Cuba last March and April.
The President and the secretary of war
both insisted the removal should begin early
in order to avoid all danger, and when the
troops landed in the United States every bit
of the baggage and camp equipage was dis
infected and the men were subjected to a
detention of five days There were only
three attempts to evade the quarantine regu-
lations 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 the
troops?"
mot a bit. / am confident that not
single germ of yellow fever entered the
United States through any of the belong
ings of these $4,000 men. If any had escaped
US we would have heard from them before
this. And them" continued the doctor, I'VE
not only have complete control of the ports
of this country, but we have a thorough
grip on the situation in Cuba. Our officers
are stationed at every port in the island.
Every piece of baggage is inspected and la
beled before it leaves the island, and, If
necessary, is promptly disinfec,ed. At San
tiago we have dismantled snip. called the
Rough Rider, which is equipped with two
large steam chambers and every other ap-
We are not only protecting this country
from Santiago, but all the cities of Cuba as
well. so the disease cannot spread"
now?" on"
mot a CASE
Il do not even look for any sporadic cases
N Dr WyY,o tn
ing the interview. "They may occur, but we
think We have taken every precaution to
prevent the appearance of the disease. At
any rate. We can most assuredly predict
that there will be no general epidemic, not
withstandng the very large amount of travel
between the United States and Cuba during
the past year."
In order to make more effective the quar-
antine against the introduction of yellow
fever from Vera Cruz and other infected
Marine Hospital Service has located AS
sistant Surgeon l.. E. Golfer at the City of
Mexico. He is instructed to watch the rail-
way travel to the United States, to give
certificates to passengers and to superintend
disinfection when necessary. The reports
to the surgeon general indicate decrease
of the fever at Vera Cruz. A report has
been received from the consul at that city
saying the present epidemic followed upon
the dismantling of n number OF old houses
this report as strongly confirmatory of the
theory that the yellow-fever germ turks in
old buildings and is likely to be liberated,
to the detriment of the community, when the
buildings are demolished or repaired in the
summer season.
The Marine Hospital. Service, in its last
report, publishes statement made by II. F.
Otto, chief engineer on a Lake Michigan
steamer. expressing the opinion that the
lake steamers often take aboard water for
drinking purposes from the Chicago river,
owing to inattention to their pumps. Sur
geon Sawtele, of the hospital service, COM
menting on the report, says much of the
enteric fever reported from the Chica go
branch of the service is due to this cause.