The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1899-08-02

Total of Thirty-Seven Cases-Every
Effort Being Taken to Control the Dread
Disense-A Strict Quarantine Has Been
Established.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-The last
official advices received show a total of
81 cases and seven deaths from yellow
fever at the Soldiers home at Hamp-
ton, Va. Thus far the disease has been
confined to the home. but all surround
ing towns are excited and a vigorous
quarantine is being maintained. DR..
Wasdin, of the Marine hospital SER
vice, is in charge of affairs at Hamp-
ton and has strengthened the Gordon
about the town of Phoebus, which he
reports is in very bad sanitary condi-
tion. The fact that only one new
case appeared during the past "a hours
is encouraging to the officials here,
who are taking every measure to pre-
vent a spread of the disease.
DIR. wasdin's official report of his
examination of existing conditions at
the Soldiers home sums up the history
of the contagion as follows:
Early in July an old soldier entered
the home for a short rest and soon af-
terward appeared at the dispensary
where he informed the physicians in
charge that he was but recently from
Santiago, via a transport to a northern
port; thence he strated 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 pre-
scribed 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 Fri
day, the 21st, there had been noticed
nothing of a suspicious nature. The
weekly death rate was as usual. But
on the 2lst and 22d there became Ill
during the night with sharp or less
chill, high tever, some eight or ten in
mates, men of usually good health.
These seizures although noted as pecu-
liar had occasoned no alarm until
about Thursday the 9th, when a
death occurred. the man becoming dis
tinctly yellow some time prior to death.
On about the same day another one
died without having attra cted particu-
lar attention; he also turned quite yell
low. Autopsies were held on both by a
resident pathologist.
1t was then or little later that the
telegram was sent you asking for an
expert. II found there were $500 i'm
mates and that 80 has been taken i'll
since the 21st.
DR.. Wasdn says he withheld a posi-
tive diagnosis in his first communica-
ton because of the assertions of Sur
geon Vickery at the home that there
had been no communication of the in
mates with the Cuban soldiers returned
since last May or early in June. With
the discovery of the probable origin of
the infection and the two autopses
later there can be no doubt he says
about the disease being yellow fever.
DR.. Wasdin. Assistant Surgeon Won
Ezedorf from New Orleans to Hamp-
ton, Passed Assistant Surgeon Smith,
who is on leave has been directed to re-
turn to Norfolk. Surgeon Magruder
has been ordered from Memphis. Both
of these have had large experince in
quarantined quarters. Surgeon Pettus
in charge of the Cape Charles quaran-
tine, has been ordered to assign his
assistants. Surgeon McClintlc to tenn
porary charge and to remain on duty
himself at Old Point.