Evening star., 1905-08-16
YELLOW FEVER SCARE
Marine Hospital Service Off,
Gals Report.
INFECTION WIDESPREAD
PRESENT SITUATION AT NEW Or
LEANS AND POSSIBLE OUTCOME.
No Doubt Fever Existed Some Time Be-
fore Reported-A Long Fight
is Expected.
INFECTION WIDESPREAD

weekly report have this to say Of the yell
low fever situation in New Orleans:
"A comprehensive understanding of the
situation at New Orleans bearing on the
possible outcome of the epidemic Is i'm
portant at the present time. 1t is evident
that the infection of the disease Is quite
widespread and not confined, as was at
first hoped, to few city blocks There Is
no doubt that the fever existed in the city
some time before it was reported The
local conditions are favorable for its spread,
New Orleans is fresh water city" 1t
has been officially stated that there are
10000 cisterns n the city. The drainage
and water supply are far from satisfactory,
though new water supply, sewage and
drainage systems are under construction.
While every effort Is being made that
science has suggested or experience die
tated. it is not improbable that the fight in
the city of New Orleans may be long
one. Indeed, with the active search which
is going on for actual cases and foci of in
fection, it is quite probable that the ap-
parent situation will for time grow worse
instead of better. To prevent the spread
of infection to surrounding states and re-
strict 1t within reasonable limits in the city
would be alone great measure of success.
The effect of the work in the city under all
the conditions so well known cannot be ac-
curately foretold, though hopefully con-
Sdered.
Prominent Incidents.
The most prominent incidents the ser
vice management of the yellow fever situa-
ton at New Orleans since the last issue of
the public health reports are the request
made to the President of the United States
by the governor of Louisiana on resolution
of the municipal, medical and commercial
bodies Of New Orleans, to have the United
States assume full control of epidemic sani-
tary measures in New Orleans; and the i'm
mediate preparation, made by the public
health and marine hospital service includ-
ing the assignment to duty of the necessary
personnel, in order to continue on a larger
scale the work already begun and to put
into prompt effect the most efficient meas
ures for the suppression of the disease
detention camps, under the supervision
OF Surgeon G. M. Guiteras are in OPERA
tlon IN Louisiana at Sltdell, on the line of
the New Orleans and Northeastern rail-
road; at Hanrahan, the Illinois Central,
and at Avondale, on the Texas Pacific The
camp at Fontainebleau, Miss In charge of
fassed Assistant Surgeon c. H. Lavinder
has not yet been put in operation, but ar
rangements are being actively pushed for
ward to that end.
For the purpose Of perfecting the coast
patrol in the infected and menaced region
Ing reports, have been adopted by the
Treasury Department. The patrol made
by vessels Of the revenue cutter service un-
der the direction of Surgeon Eugene Was
DIN has for Its object the control of the
observance of the interstate quarantine reg
ulatons. 1t is supplemented by the serv-
Ices OF certain small craft under the flag
OF the revenue cutter service and the i'm
mediate command of an officer of that
service.
"A telegram, dated August /, from Act
ing Assistant Surgeon r. H. Gray, Shreve-
port, La, states that the case of yellow
fever at the detention camp there was not
q refugee from New Orleans. The man in
question passed through New Orleans, July
~ spending only twenty minutes in that
city.
Passed Assistant Surgeon Colberger on
August 1. reported the case at Morgan City
to be an American lad, whose home was in
Morgan City. He was i'll in New Orleans.
July 9, went to Hot Springs, Ark, and left
Hot Springs July "a by the route Indicated
in telegram of July 81.
At Tampa, Fla.
Health Officer Porter, at Tampa Fla. re-
ported August 1, that he was holding un-
der surveillance several persons who had
come from New Orleans by way of Allan
ia, and requested that inspectors be placed
on trains out of Atlanta and Montgomery
en- route for more southern towns He was
informed, August ,, that Surgeon Werten-
baker would be sent to Montgomery and
Atlanta to investigate and make recon-
mendations relative to certificates to be
given all people going south from Atlanta,
showing five days absence from an infected
place
Surgeon Wertenbaker, at Montgomery.
Ala, reported August ], a case of yellow
fever in the stage of recovery. The patient
was taken sick on the night of July %, and
was removed to the country next morning.
He also reported that passengers from
Louisiana We're prohibited entry into Ala
bama. State inspectors being placed on all
trains.
Surgeon Wasdin, at Gulfport, Miss was
directed, August 2, to proceed to Fontaine-
bleau and make arrangements for a camp
to accommodate fifty or 100 persons. He
was still to retain direction of coast patrol
Fontainebleau is situated only a short dis
tance from Mississippi sound, and is on the
line of the Louisville and Nashville railroad
Surgeon Wasdin requested, August 4, that
he be given only an oversight of Fontaine-
bleau and he was informed that Passed
Assistant Surgeon Lavinder had been or
dered to take charge of the camp. Pending
his arrival, Surgeon Smith, at New Orleans
was ordered, August 4, to proceed with
Pharmacist OGorman to Fontainebleau In
order to make necessary arrangements,
nominate laborers. and begin setting up
tents in preparation for opening the camp
at the earliest possible moment.
The Coast Patrol.
I'm relation to coast patrol Surgeon
Wasdin was telegraphed August as fol-
lows: 1T is understood from your tele-
cutter has not been ordered to seize any
vessels or passengers and forcibly convey
them to Ship Island, but informs them
they will not be allowed to enter on the
gulf coast, leaving them the option of re-
turning to Louisiana, or If they desire, will