The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-01
IN A RIGID QUARANTINE
Trying to Stop the Spread oi
the Yellow Fever.
CAUSE OF THE OUTBREAK
An Old Soldier From Santiago Supposed
to Have introduced It-One More
Death at the Home-Every Pre-
caution Has Been Taken.

Washington, July s1.-The latest Off
cial advices received up to o'clock
tonight show a total of 3S cases and
seven deaths from yellow fever at the
soldiers home at Hampton, Va. One
new case developed at the home to-day
Thus far the disease has been confined
to the home, but all surrounding towns
are excited and a vigorous quarantine
is being maintained. DR.. Wasdin of the
marine hospital service is now in charge
of affairs at Hampton and is working
in cooperation with the local boards
of health He has strengthened the
Gordon about the town Of Phoebus,
which he reports in very bad sanitary
condition.
The fact that only one new case APP
peared to-day is encouraging to the
officials here, who are taking evNy
measure to prevent spread of the dis
ease. They feel that the fact that the
affected locality is in the hands of the
government and under one manage
ment will be of great value in dealing
with the scourge and enable better re-
suits to be obtained than where cpl
denies break out in commercial places
Already a number of inquiries have
quarantine officers throughout the
United States, asking whether they
shall impose a maritime quarantine
against Norfolk. He has replied that
there appears to be no necessity for
such restrictions in the case of either
Norfolk or Newport News.
DIR. Wasdin's official report of his ex-
animation of existing conditions at the
soldiers home reached DR.. Wyman to-
day. 1t is dated yesterday and notes
the fact that the doctor has seen those
suspected of the disease at the home.
He sums up the history of the con-
tagion as follows:
EARLY in July an old soldier enter
ed the home for a short rest and soon
afterward appeared at the dispensary,
where he Informed tie physician in
charge that he was but recently from
Santiago via transport to northern
port, thence he started for Manila via
San Francisco, beat his way to the
Home on freight train and entered
with his baggage. He complained of
dumb chills and fever and was prescrib-
ed for. He mingled with the inmates of
the home, and a short time ago dis
appeared. That is regarded as a possi-
BILE cause of the outbreak.
Preceding Friday, the 21st instant,
there had been noticed nothing of a
suspicious nature. The weekly death
rate was as usual. But on the 21st and
22d there became ill during the night
with sharp chills and high fever some
eight or ten inmates, men of usually
good health. These seizures, although
noted as peculiar, had occasioned no
alarm until about Thursday, the 9th,
when a death occurred, the man being
distinctly yellow for some time prior
to death. On or about the same day
another one died without having at
tracted particular attention. He also
hntnnSipfs he
both by the resident pathologist. 1t
was then, or a little later, that the tel
egram was sent asking for an expert.
found there were $50 inmates and that
35 had been taken i'll since the 21st.'
DR.. Wasdin says he withheld a posi-
tive diagnosis in his first communica-
ton because of the assertion of Sur
geon Vickery at the home that there
had been no communication of inmates
with any Cuban soldiers returned since
last May or early in June.
With the discovery of the probable
origin of the infection and the two
autopsies to-day, there can be no doubt,
he says, about the disease being yellow
fever and continues:
There has been a very free inter
communication between the inmates
and the people of Phoebus, a public
house near the grounds having been
freely visited until last night
After Gordon had been established
around the Soldiers Home. neighbor-
ing cities were warned and advised to
hunt for any inmates of the home who
might be visiting and to keep them
under close observation. Dispatches to
this effect were sent Sunday to Nor
folk, Portsmouth Newport News and
Richmond and the health officer at
Washington was notified. In Norfolk
house to house inspection is being
made Surgeon Vickery, at the home,
has been asked to prepare list of SOL
diers who have departed within
MONTH with view to tracing them.