Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1899-08-03
YELLOW JACK HERE
FORTY CASES AND EIGHT DEATHS
AT HAMPTON HOME.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2.-"Three new
cases of yellow fever in the Soldiers
home at Hampton and one death, y is
the official report received last night by
Surgeon General Wyman from General
Wasdin, the yellow fever expert on
duty at the institution. This makes to
date 40 cases which have occurred at
the home, of which eight have proven
fatal
Surgeon General White telegraphed
DR.. Wyman that in his opinion there
was little doubt there had been some
fever infection in the neighboring vii
lage of Phoebus, but there is as yet no
evidence Of positive case at that place
Should the fever develop there, how
ever, no surprise will be felt, in view of
the proximity of the place to the home.
The situation continues encouraging,
inasmuch as the disease has been kept
within its original bounds. None of the
nearby towns, other than Phoebus, has
reported the appearance of infection or
suspicious cases. The people for miles
around the home are much alarmed, but
are quiet. No restrictions have been
placed on the departure of several hun
dred visitors at Old Point Comfort.
The surgeon general continues his pre-
cautions to prevent the spread of the
disease
DR.. Wasdin's official report of his ex-
animation of the conditions at the Sold
iers' home reached DR.. Wyman today.
He sums up the history of the contagion
as follows: early in July an odd
soldier entered the home for a short
rest and soon afterward appeared at the
dispensary, where he informed the ply
sician in charge that he was but re-
Gently from Santiago via transport to a
northern port; thence he started for
Manila via San Francisco, beat his way
to the home on freight train and en-
tered 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 short
time ago disappeared.
Preceding Friday, the 21st inst,
there had been noticed nothing Of
suspicious nature. The weekly death
rate was as usual But on the 21st and
22nd there became i'll during the night,
with sharp or less pains, chills, high
fever, some eight or ten inmates, men
of unusually good health. These seiz-
ures, although noted as peculiar, had
occasioned no alarm until about Thurs
day, the 9th, when death occurred,
tho IanO,,,inrp ie-%s~
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 little
later, that the telegram was sent you
asking for an expert. found there
was $500 inmates and that 35 had been
taken i'll since the 21st.
"With the discovery of the probable
origin of the infection and the two au-
topsies today there can be no doubt, he
says, about the disease being yellow
fever, and continues: 81 have advised
Major Wicker to empty the dormitories
infected at once, putting the men pre-
ferably in tents. The grounds are
closed"
NORFOLK, Va, Aug. 2.-Yellow fever
has appeared at Phoebus, the little
town almost adjoining Hampton. The
scourge appeared among the negroes
and six cases and two deaths occurred.
Inspectors and physicians are working
day and night perfecting the quaran-
tine against Hampton and neighboring
points in the peninsula. Mayor John
son has received dispatch from Sur
geon General Wyman placing Grant
island at the disposal of this city and
Portsmouth and it will be used as de.
tention campif necessary.