Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-31
TwtNN-SEyEN NEW CASES REPORTED
hree Deaths for Day, with Total Of Fifty.
Seven 10 Date,
STATEMENT FROM CITY HEALTH OFFICER
Disease Discovered First in Crowded italian
District.
PROMPT STEPS TO CHECK THE SPREAD
Federal, state aud Local Authorities,
Medical and Business Men Are
United, with Plenty of
Money for Campaign.

NEW ORLEANS La. July So.--New
cases reported up to p. m today q.
Total cases to date .......................2S
Deaths today ......................,.....
Deaths TO date 3! .
new, Loci '''''.'''..''''''''
Iotal II
Though this was Sunday the work Of sani-
tatlon, fumigakion, oiling and screening
went on just the same, and will continue
daily until the city has been thoroughly
screened and made mosquito proof The
record for today shows little change from
that Of yesterday, except in the reduction
of the number OF deaths. The decreased
number of new foci is also again source
Of encouragement
new complication was discovered today
when Superintendent Surran of the New
Orleans & Northeastern railroad announced
that two passengers who had remained the
required length OF time in the Slidell deten-
ton camp and sought admission into
Mississippi had been turned back. II the
Mississippi health authorities now refuse
admission to holders of certificates of de-
tention issued by the Marine hospital SER
vice. It will result in the government
abandoning those camps, and then travellers
will have to either stay here or go to points
in the north and east and spend ten days
before they can return to Mississippi.
The location Of the Louisville a Nashville
camp has not yet been secured, but Dr.
Guiteras hopes to get in communication
with Adjutant General Fridge of Misss-
sippi, who is i'm charge Of the state quar-
antine on the gulf coast and finally arrange
the matter. The Mississippi troops are
now doing guard duty on the coast.
Health Authority statement.
City Health Oficer Kohnke, who is in
immediate charge of the situation in the
city and who has been subjected to some
criticism from various sources. today gave
out the following statement, which shows
how the authorities handled the infection
as soon as it was discovered:
The first intmation of yellow fever in
New Orleans was had on July l3, when
ness resembling yellow fever, which cases
were submitted 70 the president OF the the
health officer of the city was summoned
being already dead al the time. They were
actual yellow fever, and the premises were
treated accordingly; that is, the disnfec-
judged a matter for later consideration.
the health officer Immediately instituted
pected of Infection and this investigation
disclosed evidence pointing TO prior cases
in the same neighborhood.
Among the Italians.
All measures were employed against yell
low fever infection wherever suspicion
| pointed. in few days II was learned that
! several squares were infected apparently
10 a degree tustfying the fumigation of
every house FOR the possibly existing in
! fected musquito. The neighborhood OPP
! Grated on is almost wholly Inhabited by an
] Italian population, many of whom are con-
nected with the handling of bananas and
the unloading OF such cargoes from fruit
ships arriving from central American ports
persuasion to brutal force. to reach in
/ rIa nd q W
was in progress during period OF ten days
! or more during which period an autopsy
which must have begun at some time dur
! ing the second half OF May.
From the infected neighbSrhood, at vary
ing times residents removed their domi-
Giles to other sections of the city, and in
persons infected not only in the Italian
district, but residing in other districts at
the time of the appearance Of the FIRST
I persons not connected in any known way
/ with the infected district, and all cases Of
, the disease known to exist are isolated and
( subjected to the proper measures OF pfeven-
| tion based on the mosquito law of yellow
fever transmission
Check the spread.
! The spread of the disease has not been as
great as was at first feared and hope is
I entertained that IL may be controlled. Be-
! sides the sanitary work done by the au-
/ thorities in the neighborhoods containing
4 cases of the disease, the citizens generally
are engaged in Kidding The he eity city, OF Il the ye-
1 surfaces and the fumigation OF dwellings.
the object of this being TO render barren
of yellow fever Infection the sections at
present containing no cases OF the disease.
Quarantine methods against fruit vessels
have been made more stringent 10 prevent
the Introduction from Central America and
the fruit ports generally of additional yel-
practically unlimited amount has been
guaranteed and Is being furnished TO the
health authoriueis VINO are G ssssted oy OF
pital service, representative members OF
the medical society and representatives OF
| the monled interests. The situation Is
| recognized as one Offering an opportunity
| for the people of New Orleans TO demon
! strate their willingness, determination and
ability to care for yellow fever after its
! introduction, and no EFFORT OF energy or eN-
psi o,,lts en- "a far as is nov, Lno,tn
no infection has occurred from the cases
outside Of the infected district, and organi-
zaton will, II Is thought, be 50 complete
in a short while that the stamping out OF
any such secondary Infection Is not un-
The impression that the authorities with
held information as 20 the extent OF In
lection Is occasioned by the necessary de-
lay incident TO the investigation upon the
result Of which the official report is based.
Reply 10 vardamaB.
President Souchon OF the State Board OF
Health has also taken cognizsnce OF Gov
ernor Vardaman's comments about eva
sion and dissmulation and today gave out
the following statement;
/ most emphattCally deny the assertion
made by Governor VaTdaman OF Mississippi
that / knew there were a great many
cases Of yellow fever In New orleans be-
fore the announcement OF the fact was
made The assertion Is false and erTatlc
and quite in keeping with the well known
! temperament OF Governor Nardaman. The
first case came upon me like a bolt Of
thunder from clear sky. had not heard
OF rumors. AS soon as l had seen four
suspicious cases, which all came TO my
| knowledge within four days. / wrote the
following letter and sent the following tel.
egTam to DR.. Hunter OF Mississippi, Or.
Tabor OF Texas, DR. Sanders Of Alabama
and Dr. Wyman Of the marine hospital
| service
DR.. souchon then quotes his letter and
telegram notifying them OF the presence
: OF cases presenting symptoms OF yellow
| fever.
This forenoon, in response 10 the call
, of DR.. Souchon, conference was held 10
discuss freight and passenger regulations.