The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-11
TEXAS ALONE WAS SCARED.
THE NEW SOUTHERN POLICY IN RE
GARD TO YELLOW FEVER.

Now orisans's Ono Case Was Reported and
Common sense Prevailed-Texas Authort-
tics Had n Panic-Epidemic of Quaran-
tines Worse Than One of Yellow Fever.
NEW ORLEANS. June 0.-The announcement
OF death from yellow fever In New Orleans In
May. which last summer would have caused
panic throughout the Southwest, suspended
trade and sent down values has caused the
minimum OF disturbance this year There has
been no disposition among residents TO leave
their homes and only single quarantine has
been declared This fact demonstrates clearly
that the South has recovered from the yellow
fever scares OF 1897 and 1898. The South now
realizes that q war OF quarantine is worse than
all epidemic and that the scientific methods
OF preventing the spread OF disease are better
than the old shotgun quarantine.
The losses entaied by the epidemics OF lSDI
and 1898 have been estim ated at from 100000
600 to soOOO0. 900. This is the positive and
direct injury: the indirect expenses the men,
tai an guish and suffering cannot. OF course. be
measured in dollars. In the rural districts
three tourths Of the factories were closed for
lack OF supplies. and large proportion OF the
workingmen were thrown out OF employment
In many localities the suffering from lack OF
necessaries was as great as during the civil
war. More than one country paner had to 60
back to the old war fashion Of printing on wall
paper. Groceries were scarce. and not few
towns were left without medicine. In
Biloxi and other Mississippi towns so large
proportion OF laborers were thrown
out OF employment that associations were
organized to relieve the general distress and
supply the needy with food and clothing. The
United States were applied to for rations' In
the central parts OF Mississippi where ths
scare was greatest, as many as could afford TO
do so fled to BIT, Louis and other cities sup
posed to be safe from the fever. The money
mortgage on the house or farm. and many
Miss ssippians and Louisianians will remem-
Der for years the panics Of 1897 and 1893 by
'he rg places 't to get away from home well
to-do lawyer exclaimed when the Griilo yellow
fever case was reported week ago:
Il can't refugee my family again Two sum-
msrs and falls In Chicago have ruined e., me-
the ting 81 %Ss
sentiment that something ought to be done to
prevent a occurrences OF the disastrous pani99
pass national quarantine law. but II failed to
40 so: There were great expectations, from
was failure The February blizzard was wei.
coined. although 1t entailed loss OF mil ions OF
to RaSe x Ped f the FINALLY
tine conference at New Orleans arranged an
agreement between the several Southwestern
get frightened II yellow fever should be re-
ported that they would not establish quaran-
would Ss deal honestly and fairly with one an
other and would report the first case OF yellow
The reporting 81 the nrst case was the test.
this in previous epidemtcs had wrought them
pensve. When. Therefore a case OF yellow
it was the surest test that could be placed on
the health authorities OF that city. 1T was a
6S sSp ss n n h the
last germ, II cold can kill yellow fever. The fact
that it came nearly ionr mouths in adyanese
| 1898 made IT all the morse, alarming The VIC
| tim who had died was u Miss Johanna Grille.
ment the several State Boards Of Health were
| notified of the case. and New Orlean waited
with much apprehension to o. see how the bad az,
early the next morning. Mississippi. Ala
bama and other States held to their agree
ment, refused to quarantine. but ordered their
! Health Inspectors to New Orleans to study the
The action OF the neighhoring States was
| the case OF Texas Dr. Blunt. Health Officer
of Texas. at once declared quarantine and an
snncuneei, he extended his auaraniIne even
] allow any !etters or papers from New Orleans
/ to enter Texas, There was feeble protest
remane s G Pm o He would take no mai from
New Orleans unless it was disi nfected by the
United states Marine Hospital Service. and
| ground tnat there was no reason for IT,
| On June Dr.. Blunt reented and so modified
| Texas. but still shutting out passengers. bag
gage and freight The Blunt quarantine was
estsds Of Te1ss and even that
| protested against as injurious to business
The Texas press almost unanimously de-
nounced It as hasty and ill-advsed. and the
| Boards OF Health OF Houston and other cities
| advised it's discontinuance.
| Outside OF Texas. the sentiment throughout
| the Southwest was against guarantees. scares
| and panics. Mississippi. Alabama. Florida and
Tennessee refused to quarantine New Orleans
| antined or placed the slightest obstruction
| on trade or travel. Since then the Southwest
has been con graduating itself on having passed
| successfully through the ordeal