Democratic Sentinel, Volume 21, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 September 1897 — REAL YELLOW FEVER. [ARTICLE]

REAL YELLOW FEVER.

Disease Preyaleat at Ccean Springs Mia*., 1* So Declared. The member* of the Mississippi State Board of Health, who were designated by Gov. McLanrrin to investigate the yellow fever scare at Ocean Springs, officially report to the Governor that it is the unanimous opinion of representatives of Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi State Boards of Health and the marine hospital service that tfie fever is real yellow fever. Ocean Spring* Is a surf-bathing resort near New Orleans. For some day* the disease has been epidemic there and has caused much alarm, as many were certain it was yellow fever. Official »n----firmation of this was lacking until this report. Acting on the supposition that yellow fever had broken out some of the neighboring cities proclaimed a quarantine against Ocean Springs. There have been 600 eases and ten deaths. Owing to the small percentage of deaths physicians were loath to believe that the disease was yellow fever. Prof. Metz, assisted by Chief Sanitary Inspector Woods and Supt. Hill, has collected a series of specimens of water, well and cistern, of the bay oysters and also made a number of photograpns showing the existing condition of the sanitary arrangements and drainage at Ocean Springs. Prof. Metz appears to be of the opinion that-the prevailing complaint is due in a measure to a pollution of water in the bay fronting the town. The drainage of Ocean Springs empties directly into the bay, and the rains wash a large quantity of substance into the water and upon the area in which the oysters consumed by the town people are temporarily bedded. It is feared that the oysters absorb poisonous germs.