Inter-State Notification! 
ITS PRINCIPLES AS DEMONSTRATED 
/ 
IN 
THE HISTORY 
OF 
YELLOW FEVER 
’ 0£yy 
AT 
BILOXI, 7 
Harrison County, Miss., 
1886. OUTBREAK OF YELLOW FEVER. 
—AT— 
BILOXI, 
Harrison. County, Miss. 
—AND ITS RELATION— 
&S7? 
—TO— \s / r, 
X^AR< 
INTER-STATE NOTIFICATION. 
NEW ORLEANS, 
1886. PREFACE. 
EXTRACT FROM THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 
SUM [JIFifflil IF STIES HE IF mill, 
Held at New Orleans, La., June 2d, 3d and 4th, 1884. 
Under date of May 12th, 1884, the following communication 
was addressed through His Excellency, the Governor of the 
State of Louisiana to the Governors of the States of the Gulf 
and to the authorities of Tennessee :— 
Office Board of Health, 
State of Louisiana. 
New Orleans, May 12, 1884. 
Dkar Sir—I bog to call your attention to the following 
resolution passed by the State Board ot Health of Louisiana 
on the Htli day of May, 1884 : 
Resolved, That the President of the Board be requested to 
solicit a Conference of Representatives from tfie State Boards 
of Health of the States of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas 
Louisiana and Tennessee, for the purpose of bringing said 
Boards into harmony and, if possible, to devise and recom 
mend improvements in the systems of quarantine in use along 
the Gulf coast, such Conference to be held in the city of New 
Orleans on Monday, June 2, 1884. 
It is earnestly hoped your honorable authorities will take 
a tavorable view of this matter and cooperate in the proposed 
Conference, 
It is my belief that much good may be done by such Confer- 
ence in establishing uniformity and precision of action among 
ourselves and confidence in the minds of the people of the 
interior. It is necessary that we should demonstrate to these 4 
that as guardians against the introduction of contagious or 
infectious diseases from abroad wTe are keenly alive to our 
duties. ‘ 
The following subjects would probably engage the attention 
of the Conference: 
The necessity for the prompt interchange between State 
Boards of Health of information ou all .subjects relating to 
the public health. 
The possibility of the introduction of infectious or contagious 
diseases is the chief drawback to the prosperity of the Gulf 
ports, it is, therefore, the duty of State and municipal author- 
ities to increase the resources and otherwise enlarge and 
strengthen the powers of Boards of Health of the several 
States bordering on the Gulf of Mexico. 
Can an effective quarantine be enforced along the Gulf 
coast ? 
How to enforce quarantine so as to produce the least possi- 
ble injury to commerce. 
Non-intercourse—under what circumstances justified. 
Period of quarantine detention. 
The proper disposal of non-infected and infected vessels 
under quarantine. Treatment of vessels and cargoes with a 
view to disinfection. 
The advisability of petitioning Congress to require cousular 
agents of the United States residing at intertropical ports 
habitually or periodically infected with yellowr fever, to cause 
all ships in such ports that are about to load for ports in the 
Unired States, to be thoroughly inspected and cleansed 
before receiving cargo, and a certificate furnished to that effect. 
Very respectfully, 
JOSEPH HOLT, M, I)., 
President Board of Health, State of Louisiana’ 
In accordance with the invitation thus extended, the Con- 
ference assembled in the city of New Orleans, at Grunewald 
Hall, Monday, June 2d, at noon. 
The meeting was called to order by Dr. Joseph Holt, Presi- 
dent of the Louisiana Board, who then moved that Dr, Wirt 
Johnston be elected Permanent Chairman and that Dr. C. C- 
Fite be elected Permanent Secretary. Carried unanimously- 
The circular letter above given w as then read. 5 
The following delegates registered their names with the 
Secretary: 
Florida—Dr. W. Fordham, member Pensacola Board; A. 
Avery, Esq., President Pensacola Board; Dr. R. VY. Hargis, 
member Pensacola Board; Dr. W. E. Anderson, Millview 
Board. 
Alaiiama—Dr. Jerome Cochrane, State Health Ollicer; 
Dr. Geo. A. Ketcbum, member State Board, President Mobile 
Board; Dr. T. Sidney Stales, Health Ollicer, Mobile, and 
member State Board. 
Mississippi—Dr. Wilt Johnston, Secretary State Board ; 
Dr. John Wright, Dr. D. L. Phares, Dr. E. P. Sale, Dr. J. W. 
Bennett, Dr. J. M. Taylor, Dr. C. A. Rice, members df State 
Board; Dr. A. Parker Champlin, President Hancock County 
Board; Dr. J. A. Mead, Secretary Hancock County Board; 
Dr. J. J. Hairy, President Harrison County Board; Dr. J. D. 
Biagg, member Jackson County Boaid and Quarantine Olli 
ter ; J. Poiteveut, member Hancock County Board. 
Tennessee Dr. G. B. Thornton, President Memphis Board 
and member State Boaid; Dr. C. C. Fite, Secretary State 
Board. 
Louisiana—I)r. Joseph Holt, President State Board ; Dr. 
L. F. Salomon, Dr. L. H. Von Gohren, Hon. Jos. H. Shak 
speare, Dr. Chas. E. Kells, Dr. S. If. Ollipbant, members 
State Board ; Edward Fenner, Esq., President Auxiliary 
Sanitary Association ; Thos. S. Elder, Secretary, Messrs. 
Henry Cinder, Jos, Simon, W. S. Wilson, S. Hernsheim, 
James Jackson, Rev. Dr. If. A. Holland, members; Thomas J. 
Woodwaid, member Chamber of Commerce; Sam M. Todd, 
member Mexican Exchange; N. D. Wallace, J. T. Brodnax, 
Jas. Flower, members Produce Exchange. 
Texas.—Dr. R. M. Swearingen, State Health Ollicer. 
A committee, appointed to draw up an order of business 
and discussion, among other subjects, submitted the following: 
Interstate and Local Quarantine. 
1. The necessity of prompt interchange between State and 
municipal Boards of Health of information on all subjects 
relating to public health. 2. The suggestion that this Conference would make as to 
the best method of preventing the spread of infectious diseases 
from one State to another. 
3. The best methods of treatment by Boards of Health iu 
infected localities for confining diseases and preventing its 
spread. 
This report was referred to a special committee, who preseir 
ted the following resolutions for the consideration of the Con- 
ference. 
Be it resolved, That each aud every health organization rep- 
resented in this Convention pledge itself to promptly fur- 
nish to each other all information iu regard to the appearance 
of cholera .and yellow fever, or suspicious cases of yellow fever. 
We recommend that for the purpose indicated in the above 
resolution the following groups of symptoms shall be consid- 
ered to indicate yellow fever and suspicious cases. 
1. The following groups of syptoms shall be considered to 
indicate yellow fever: 
Group 1.—A person after a sudden attack has fever of one 
paroxysm, attended with marked congestion or blood stasis 
of capillaries of surface, conjunctivae and gums, with a history 
of probable exposure to infection, and no history of a previous 
attack of yellow fever. 
Group 2.—A person after a sudden attack has a fever of one 
paroxysm, followed by unusual prostration, albuminous urine, 
yellowness of conjunctive or skin, and having no positively 
authenticated history of previous attack of yellow fever. 
Group 3.—A person has a fever of one paroxysm, albumi- 
nous urine, black vomit, suppression of urine, general hemorr- 
hagic tendency under circumstances where exposure to infec- 
tion is a possibility. 
IT. Suspicious cases of Yellow Fever.—The following syinp. 
toms associated with a fever of one paroxysm in a patient who 
has apparently beeu exposed to infection, and has never had 
yellow fever shall be held to justify in either of the six follow- 
ing cases a suspicion of this disease, viz: 
1. Suddenness of attack either with violent pain in the head 
and back, injected eyes and face, or with marked congestion 
of the superficial capillaries. 
2. Want of that correlation between pulse aud temperature 
usual to other forms of fever. 
6 7 
3. Albuminous uriue. 
4. Black vomit. 
5. General hemorrhagic tendency. 
<». Yellowness of the skin. 
The following cases shall also be deemed suspicious: 
7. Any case respecting which reputable and experienced 
physicians disagree us to whether the disease is or is not 
yellow fever. 
8. Any case respecting whidi eflorts aie made to eonctal 
its existence, full history and true Dature. 
In the event of death of a suspicious case a post-mortem 
examination shall be made, when practicable. Both befoie 
and after death, yellow fever is specially and preemi- 
nently characterized by the fact that it is par excclltvce a hem- 
orrhagic fever marked by capillaiy congestion and its s< quehe, 
hence, postmortem evidence of a general hemorrhagic ten- 
dency in internal organs, especially in the digestive, in prefer- 
ence to the urinary tract, shall be held to confirm the suspicion. 
The above were adopted by the Sew Orleans Medical and 
Surgical Association and the Louisiana State Medical Society. 
Respectfully submitted, 
Geokge A. Ketchum, of Mobile, 
L. F. Salomon, ot K ew Orleans. 
When the resolutions had been submitted to the conference 
for action, an interesting discussion was carried on, as to 
the good result of a careful examination of a case suspicious of 
yellow fever together with a correct und immediate report 
of the symptoms, and then one of the main objects for which 
this convention had assembled would be accomplished. 
The resolutions were then unanimously adopted as a whole. CHAPTER I. 
OUTBREAK OF YELLOW FEVER. 
—AT— 
BILOXI, 
Harrison County, Miss., 
REPORT 
—TO THE— 
Board of Health, Slate of Louisiana, 
—BY— 
JOSEPH HOLT, M. 1)., President. 
September 8tli, 1886. 10 
The Board of Health held a regular meeting on Tuesday 
evening September 8th, 1886, with President Joseph Holt, M. 
D., in the chair, and Drs. L. H. Von Gohren, S. It. Olliphant, 
C, E Kells and Messrs. J. J. Mellon, Josepn Kohu, and J. J. 
Barr present. Mr. Charles Marshall, Division Superintendent 
of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, Dr. W. W. Austin, 
Physician of that road, and Mr. D, E. Holt, of Finlay & 
Brunswig, also occupied seats near the President. 
Succeeding the transaction of routine business, President 
Holt then stated that it became his duty to report on the ac- 
tion of the Board in regard to 
THE BILOXI FEVER 
and read the following: 
To the Honorable Members of the Board of Health, State of Louisiana : 
Gentlemen—I have the honor to submit the following 
report: 
Now that a calm has succeeded the stirring eveuts of the 
last week, it is proper that,we should review the course of this 
Board in its relation to these occurrences. 
As your executive officer, upon whom rests with emphasized 
accent the mighty responsibility of protecting the health in- 
terests, involving issues of life and death as well as the mate- 
rial prosperity of the 230,000 people of this city and the pop- 
ulation of this State, I have acted in the instant of emergency 
with conclusive decisiou and have been approved and sus- 
tained by you in the wisdom of your deliberate council. 
Upon the hearsay of rumor, and finding the city of New 
Orleans and her people along the seashore of the Mississippi 
Sound reported as menaced by disaster, failing to receive a 
speedy reply to telegrams sent, with your Secretary, Dr. L, 
F. Salomon, I visited the town of Biloxi, in Harrison county, 
Miss., to ascertain by personal investigation the ground of 
alarm that yellow fever had appeared there. 
We reached the place after nightfall last Tuesday, August 31. 
The following morning, in company with Dr. T. S. Scales, 
Health officer of Mobile, who had arrived during the night, we 
made a searching and complete examination, omitting no point 
of detail, besides hearing all available testimony, including that 
of gentlemen of unimpeachable integrity and of large experience 
in all that appertains to the outward signs of yellow fever. 11 
Mindful of our official obligation, cooly and dispassionately 
we arranged Ihe testimony, and weighed it with the utmost 
rare. We tlien sent you the following telegram as the only 
conclusion deducible : 
Biloxi, September 1st, 188G. 
“ I)r. S. R. OHiphant, Hoard of Healtli, New Orleans: 
“ We, the undersigned, have made a thorough examination 
of the seven convalescents, also of one patient now ill, and 
have obtained the clinical histories of the two persons who 
died last Sunday, August 30th. The sum of evidence indi- 
cates yellow fever as the cause of illness,” 
Having furnished you in full a detailed statement, let us now 
briefly gereralize the evidence. 
During the latter part of August, on the seashore of the 
Gulf of Mexico, a universal highway, in a town at the time 
perfectly healthy, and whose citizens have proclaimed, as a 
special inducement, their singular exemption from malarial 
fevers of any kind, a white lad, apparently in perfect health? 
went to bed as usual, and about 11 o’clock at night was seized 
with a chill, followed by fever of one paroxysm and three 
days’ duration. Headache, pain in hack and limbs, nausea, 
subsequent convalescence and no further trouble. 
In the same house, within a period of seven days later* 
five other persons were stricken, all of them presenting a 
combination of symptoms identical with the first, ditferiug 
only in duration, intensity and result. 
During the same period, and in another house, twenty-five 
yards distant, four persons were taken ill in quick succession, 
in precisely the same way. 
Six days later, a lady in a house closely neighboring, who 
had nursed the sick and prepared the dead in the smitten 
families was also taken in the same manner. 
The evidence, therefore, embraced the history of eleven 
white persons who had never had yellow fever, living within 
a few yards of each other in the enjoyment of good health, 
suddenly and without apparent cause, taken with a fever of 
one paroxysm, lasting from thirty to seventy hours. 
This fever while in several cases mild, was in others re- 
ported as intense. It was ushered in generally with a slight 
chill, declaring itself in many of the cases between the 
hours of 0 in the evening and 6 in the morning, and was iuva- 12 
riably associated with pains in the head, back and limbs, 
nausea, sometimes peisistent vomiting. 
In the severer cases the convalescence was characterized 
by great feeblenesss and a peculiar calmness and languor. 
The pulse of a convalescent adult was, at the time of our 
visit, sixty per minute. 
A red-edged and pointed tongue, a yellowish tinge of skin 
and conjunctiva was manifested to our eyes. A girl of 15 had 
the fever three days. She would take no quinine, the doctors 
said. The fever passed off itself. After passing two days in 
a calm stage, with no fever, she died. Parents state she lay 
in a drowsy condition, but could be aroused by the doctor. 
In the neighboring house, at the same time, a lady was 
taken, at 11 o’clock at night, with violent headache, pains iu- 
back, in limbs, high fever, She had nausea, vomiting and de 
liriurn. Fever was said to have passed off after two days’ du 
ration, after which she had two convulsions; vomited one co- 
pious ejection of black matter and blood, which was expelled by 
a convulsive action of the stomach, without apparent effort of 
vomiting, immediately before her death, which occurred on 
the fourth day of illness, After death, jaundiced and ecchy- 
motic patches about face and neck. 
We obtained this information, a plain recital, from her hus- 
band and brother, We also saw sheets of her bed, liberally 
soiled with dark red and the peculiar dirty black spots unfor- 
tunately familiar to our eyes, and declared to be the matter 
vomited. 
The husband and brother testified of this lady, and several 
citizens of both patients, that they were decidedly yellow after 
death, 
biuce the date of our report seven persous have been taken 
ill with the fever, fortunately of a mild type. 
Of the ten cases which signalled the outbreak of the dis- 
ease, and previous to disinfection, two died. Of the eighteen 
cases nine were of one household, four of another, and the two 
houses, as stated, only twenty-five yards apart. 
In every particular the outbreak has been a perfect repeti* 
tion of the sudden illness which appeared among the children 
of Mr, EJyricli, in the Fourth District of this city, in 1870. 
The entire household fell ill in quick succession, but so mildly 
that the medical attendant, a gentleman of eminence, consid- 13 
ered it malarial until a death in a neighboring family unmis- 
takably revealed the real nature of the trouble. 
The cases presented in every instance a schedule of symp- 
toms exactly corresponding 1 of this report. About 
this centre occurred seventy-four cases and thirty-five deaths. 
It repeats the experience of ltfTfi, beginning in the children 
of Mrs. John Stout, of our Fourth District. There were seven 
cases, all of the same character, but so excessively mild as to 
hold in suspense the opinion of one of the most acute observ- 
es in our piofession. 
The diagnosis was presently revealed in the case of the 
young girl, Louisa Creel, who assisted in nursing them ; and 
when on the way to visit her family near Mississippi City was 
also seized with a chill and fever, accompanied by the general 
symptoms already detailed. 
Four days later she had convulsions, threw up black vomit 
and died. From this followed the other cases in her own and 
a neighboring household, six cases in one house, and two 
deaths. 
While this was being enacted outside, here in the city the 
disease continued its nature in forty-one cases und nineteen 
deaths, including Gen. Hood, wife and child. 
Seldom has an outbreak of yellow fever occurred on shore 
without a history of intemperate denial. This has always oc- 
curred and probably always will. 
While men, moved by divers and contrary interest have pot- 
tered and fumed and bandied words in learned discussion, 
the pestilential spaik has gatheied strength, presently to 
burst upon the people iu the irresistible fury of an epidemic. 
All the meanness, the sordid selfishness of the human heart 
in the basest aspect of our fallen estate, is first made manifest 
in the desire to cover up, to deny, to conceal; and then, 
when the blaze ot conflagration can no longer be suppressed, 
the most groveling of all the passions takes the lead and 
terror rides the hour. This pestilential brand sweeps the 
gamut, sounding every key iu the human soul. 
While the opinions and judgment of men may shape them 
selves, to square with personal interest, with all these 
we, the State officers constituting this Board, have positively 
nothing to do. Representing the whole people, we care nothing 
for affirmation or denial not emanating from ourselves, aud, 
above all, we have asked no opinions. 14 
By virtue of responsibility, placed high above the incentives 
of self, and untouched by the contradiction of men who re- 
ceive their bread at the hands of those they tear to offend, we 
owe allegiance only to this city and State and our covenant 
with States. 
In the present instance, so long as the people of Louisiana, 
of the Mississippi Valley, Texas and Alabama, have escaped 
being outrageously hoodwinked and the consequent forfeiture 
likely of hundreds of lives and millions of money, the Louisi 
ana State Board of Health is content iu the consciousness of 
duty, promptly, boldly and thoroughly performed. 
Having emptied the infected town of our citizens, and 
caused a vigilant cordon to be thrown around t he centre of 
danger, together with immediate and unsparing disinfection ; 
and now that the pestilence seems suddenly quenched, we are 
willing to relegate the entire matter of diagnosis to any grand 
sanhedrim of doctors and shopkeepers ready to take it up, 
“ sift it to the bottom,” and give us a name for this disease. 
u Bilious remittent fever of a mild type, and nothing of a 
malignant or contagious character ;” or, “ probably mumps 
or, as one has suggested, u Spanish fever,” contracted, no 
doubt, from the Spanish mackerel, so abundant iu those 
waters. 
I would suggest next week—or better still, next Christmas— 
as an excellent time to begiu. The cases will be in better con- 
dition for examination than when we saw them, fresh in con- 
valescence. The simple people, too, will be better coached, 
each in their little part. 
The attending doctor will be better up in his, also; for this 
gentleman told us that he had taken no notes nor kept any 
clinical record, not dreaming of any such thing as yellow 
fever in cases so obviously plain and simple; however, he care 
fully examined the urine for albumen, he declared. 
When asked by myself what test he had applied, he in- 
formed us that, having at the time no special appliances about 
him, he held the vessel up to a bright light, but could see 
nothing unusual. 
All of which was eminently satisfactory to his confreres in 
consultation, who contemptuously ignored the idea of yellow 
fever as uncalled for and false, u to be ridiculous and unjusti- 
fiable.” 15 
The doctor had seen nothing vomited of a dark kind, except 
a little wine he had giveu, which had slightly stained the sheets. 
He used the thermometer constantly, he said, particularly 
on one patient who had “a high fever.” “The instrument indi- 
cated trout one hundred to one hundred and one; may be one 
hundred and one and a half degrees.” 1 am simply giving you 
his clinical data as furnished us. 
Neither lie nor his associates in observation saw any yellow- 
ness of the cadavers nor other circumstances, to justify the 
notion of yellow lever. 
The sudden outbreak of a fever of one paroxysm aud o 
comparatively short duration, from thirty to seventy hours, 
and with it as invariable concomitants, pain in head, back, 
limbs, nausea ; the abrupt takiug otl of two persons after the 
fever had subsided and about the tiiue a patient is usually 
considered convalescent; the convalescent pulse too of sixty 
per minute; the fact of the seizure of ten persons in two 
houses closely neighboring, and an eleventh in the person of 
one who had nursed the sick; the hour of seizure in 
repeated instances during night; the huge black spots 
on the sheets; at least, said by the family to have been 
vomited there; in uoue of these glaring signs was there to 
them any testimony “save of bilious remittent fever of a mild 
type, and nothing of a malignant or contagious character.” 
1 present you here a circular scattered broadcast in Biloxi, 
along the lake coast and here in the city : 
“NO YELLOW FEVEB.” 
“There haw beeu an uncalled for aud false rumor that yel- 
low fever has made its appearance in Biloxi, much to the 
alarm of visitors and citizens. There is absolutely no founda- 
tion for such a rumor, and no fever of any kind here, save a 
few cases of bilious remittent fever ot a mild type, and noth- 
in'; of a malignant or contagious character.” 
“ We feel called upon, injustice to visitors aud citizens, to 
make this statement.” 
«J. B. Maybin, M. D. 
J. J. Lf.mon, M. D. 
Attending Physicians. 
With the testimony and the distinct physical evidence we 
were enabled to obtain within a few hours of assiduous labor, 
and trembling under a weight of responsibility, we needed no 16 
three days for the resurrection of an idea or to formulate a con- 
clusion, but instantly threw into full action every battery of 
defence, and crowded the fight aggressively, knowing that the 
only field possible for victory was Biloxi itself; the only time 
for hope, that instant; and the only means, absolute isolation 
and disinfection. The fight was made ; the means were used 5 
the disease seems suddenly to have disappeared; and so ends 
all connection of this Board with the matter. 
The momentous eveut of the past few days has now ceased 
to agitate the public mind, and has crystalized into definite 
form as history in the transactions of this Board. 
In dealing with the menace of catastrophe which has just 
been averted, the Louisiana State Board of Health has risen 
to the comprehension of its own position as a guardian of an 
outpost. 
We have left to others the patient task of searching among 
the ashes of a threatened conflagration; for these, having 
small responsibility outside themselves, and with whom time is 
an element of no importance, can abundantly devote investiga- 
tion to the inquiries: “Was it a true alarm ? Was it spon- 
taneous combustion or the work of an incendiary ? How far 
would it have spread had it not been put out V' 
The maturely formed opinions of these, while of no practical 
use or consequence further than as historical curiosities of an 
archaeological kind, are a laudable reward for the gratuitous 
adventure of research. 
While these have small things to gain and nothing to lose, 
this Board rests under a staggering weight of moral account- 
ability to five millions of people and as the conservators of 
hundreds of millions of dollars. 
Rather than the sacrifice of one more life to that which we 
saw in Biloxi we would repeat a thousand times the action of 
last week! 
In closing my testimony, I wish to correct here an un- 
fortunate reportorial error, in which I was made to charge 
delinquency and failure to comply with the terms of the com- 
pact to the Mississippi State Board of Health. Such an as- 
sertion would not only have been absolutely untrue but grossly 
unjust. 
I made the charge against a separate organization, distinct 
from that of the State, but party to the pledge, the health 17 
authorities of the Gulf coast having jurisdiction over Biloxi. 
Respectfully submitted, 
JOS. IlOLT, M. D., 
President Board of Health, State of Louisiana. 
At the close of the report Mr. Mellon arose and said that 
the able exposition of the action of the President and Secreta. 
ry and the ground for their action in relation to the recent ap- 
pe irance of fever, as set forth in the report .just read, had 
earned the gratitude and confidence of the community and 
was fully appreciated by the Board, and he desired that a 
formal expression of thanks should be made to the President 
and Secretary in the premises, which was done. 
Mr. Mellon called for any late report of an official nature 
that might have been 
RECEIVED FROM BILOXI. 
Dr. Watkins had made no report, save to give a detailed his- 
tory of each case as it daily occurred under his observation 
from the time of his arrival there on Friday last to the time 
ho left there on Monday last. There were no deaths 
and no new cases. 
The report of Sanitary Officer, L. D. Allen, showed that 
he had burned bedding used by the sick who had died or 
recovered. lie had cleansed the infected premises and 
had disinfected them, using ten barrels of mercuric chloride 
solution, in a strength of eight ounces to forty gallons, 
Total population inside the cordon—eighty persons of whom 
eighteen were affected and two died. The remainder have 
recovered, with the exception of three now convalescent. 
Dr. L. F. Salomou, Secretary, read a 
COMMUNICATION FROM TIIE MAYOR 
transmitting the following: 
Biloxi, Miss., September 7, 1886. 
Hon. J. V. Gnillotte, Mayor of New Orleans : 
Dear Sir.—As you were instrumental in having quarantine 
placed upon us without any cause, no contagious disease being 
here at any time, will you not use your good office in our behalf, 18 
and thus in some manner make amends for the great wrongs 
inflicted on Biloxi ? 
J. A. Bousquet, Mayor. 
Chas, Pelaez, M. D., 
J. W. Maybin, M. D., 
J. J, Lemon, 
Attending Physicians. 
Mr. Barr, in connection with the claim made in the telegram, 
that quarantine had been declared at the instance of the 
Mayor, offered the following which was adopted : 
Resolved, That the telegram from the Mayor and citizens 
of Biloxi to his Honor Mayor Guillotte, and by him referred 
to this Board, be received and tiled, and that our Secre* 
tary be instructed to write to the Mayor and citizens of Biloxi, 
that they have done Mayor Guillotte great injustice, for he was 
not in the least degree instrumental in causing this Board to 
take any steps toward quarantining Biloxi, as the Board acted 
from its own high sense of duty toward the public, not consid- 
ering the Mayor’s letter until the quarantine had been ordered. 
After some further discussion it was resolved to delay action 
until Saturday next, when, it the facts at Biloxi are all favor' 
ble, quarantine against Biloxi will be removed on the pledge 
of the authorities there, that the infected district at Point 
Cadet is to be kept cordoned and they are to make faithful 
and prompt reports of any recurrence of disease. 
The Board then adjourned. 19 
BOARD of HEALTH; 
AT A SPECIAL MEETING THE EXTINCTION OF THE 
FEVER AT BILOXI IS CLAIMED. 
AND QUARANTINE RESTRICTIONS ARE REMOVED—BILOXI IS 
RELEA8ED FROM THE BAN. 
Tho Hoard of Health held a regular meeting on Saturday, 
September 11, soon after noon, with President Joseph Holt, 
M. D., in the chair and the following members present: 
l)r8. S. R. Olliphant and C. E. Kells, and Messrs, J. J. 
Mellon, Joseph Kohn, and J. J. Barr. 
Dr. Holt stated that the day which had been fixed by the 
Board for the consideration of the quarantine at Biloxi had 
arrived, and it had been made a condition of the question of 
consideration that the Mayor and the health authorities of 
Biloxi should give prompt and frank reports of any develop- 
ment of suspicious fever which might occur there in connec- 
tion with the recent outbreak. There had existed at Biloxi a 
fever capable of producing death in four days, it what 
they may, and it was the duty of this Board to exercise every 
precaution to prevent a spread of the disease. The testi- 
mony now seemed to show that the disease had been 
stamped out by the prompt action of the Board. 
Mr. L. D. Allen, sanitary officer of the Board, who had been 
sent to Biloxi at the time of this visit of Drs. Holt and Salo- 
mon, provided with proper chemicals, with orders to disinfect 
the premises where the fever had appeared, had remained 
there attending his duties until Saturday morning. He had 
just returned from Biloxi and was present at the meeting, 
ne reported that the fever had entirely disappeared from the 
infected district, which he had thoroughly disinfected during 
his stay there. 20 
Dr. Salomon, the secretary, stated that, in pursuance of a 
resolution passed at the last meeting, he had sent copies of the 
following communication to the Hon. J. A. Bousquet, Mayor 
of Biloxi, and to Dr. J. J. Harry, President of the Harrison 
County Board of Health. 
Office Board of Health, 
New Orleans, Sept. 8, 1886. 
Dear Sir—I am instructed by tlie Board of Health of the 
State of Louisiana to inform you that it is the desire of said 
Board to remove the quarantine restrictions now existing 
against the town of Biloxi at as early a date as is consistent 
with safety. 
With that end in view, you are requested to assure said 
Board of Health that you will keep it informed as to the occur- 
rence of any new cases of sickness in the infected district at 
Cadet Point, or neighborhood, and also that said distiict shall 
be kept isolated, and no communication allow ed between it and 
the rest of Biloxi until such time as all danger of infection has 
passed. 
Very respectfully, 
‘ LUC1BN F. SALOMON, M, D., 
Secretary Louisiana State Board of Health. 
Mayor Bousquet replied to this on September 9, as follows: 
u In answer to communication of 8th instant, I beg leave 
to report all cases at Cadet Point well. 
Quarantine restrictions and sanitary measures are being 
kept up by the State of Mississippi. We promise to keep the 
district quarantined and rejort any other case ivhich may occur in 
that neighborhood. 
In reply to this, Dr. Holt sent the following: 
u Upon the promise set forth in your telegram, the Beard 
will take action at 12 o’clock Saturday next. Your telegram 
is satisfactory.” 
Dr. J. J. Harry replied as follows : 
Handsboro, September 9, 1886. 
Dear Sir—Yours of the 8th to hand ; contents noted. In 
reply will say that w e are very glad to know' that the quaran- 
tine against Biloxi will be raised at so early a day. I will 
promise your Board, as we have done herttofore, to inform you ij we 
do have any yellow fever or cases resembling the same, but I do not think that you need tear any outbreak of yellow fever in 
Biloxi, for I am positive there are localities along our coast 
that have the same fever every summer, and with the history 
of those cases that have occurred before me, am sure they 
are not yellow fever. Isolation, therefore, will be useless, 
but we propose to keep a watch over them until Saturday 
next, at which time, unless there is some cause to prolong our 
notice of them, all restriction will be removed. 
Very respectfully, 
(Signed). J. J. IIARRY, M. D., 
President Harrison County Board of Health, 
Dr. Holt called the special attention of the Board of Health 
to this communication, and said : 
Notwithstanding the widespread assurance given out to the 
whole country that this coast is at all times wonderfully free 
from fevers of any kind, yet here we have, from the highest 
source, official declaration that as ati occasion of no uncom- 
mon occurrence the people are liable to invasions of this fever, 
just such as we saw, attacking at times whole families, and 
which has proven itself under our eyes, in this instance, potent 
to kill, and that within three or four days, even after the fever 
had left the patient. However mildly those who are accus- 
tomed to the visitation are pleased to regard it, to our think- 
ing, it ranks with an African jungle fever in some of its fea- 
tures, and is too dangerous to be trifled with by Mobile and 
New Orleans. 
We will accept it under the name given it by the United 
States Marine Hospital Service, according to a recent tele- 
gram, as a new disease, called “Spanish Fever,” and demand 
that to the list of small pox, cholera, and yellow fever, as quar- 
antinable diseases, this “Spanish Fever” be immediately 
added. 
Some of its symptoms, particularly the fevers of one parox- 
ysm, its decline, and subsequently convulsions, black vomit 
and death, are sufficient for us. 
The following telegram and communication were also read 
and filed: 
Biloxi, Miss., September 10, 1886. 
To Pr. Joseph Holt : 
All patients in infected district well. No new case. 
J. A. BOUSQUET, Mayor. 
21 22 
Biloxi, Miss., September 11, 1880. 
To Dr. Holt: 
Patients in infected district well. No new case. We look 
forward to a favorable action from your Board. 
J. A. BOUSQUET, Mayor. 
Office State Board of Health, 
Jackson, Miss., Sept 10, 1880. 
Dr. Joseph Holt, President Board of Health State of Louisiana : 
Please accept our thanks for the full and complete manner 
in which you have corrected the erroneous report of your 
remarks. We desire to inform you that our inspector at Biloxi 
telegraphed us on the 8th inst., that all the cases of fever 
were well, that the work of disinfection had been most thor- 
ough and complete and all other sanitary measures had been 
carried out. He expresses the opinion that there is no neces- 
sity to continue our quarantine of the infected district. We 
have replied that we deem it best to keep those who have 
been exposed under surveillance until noon Sunday next, 
which will be the tenth day since the last case occurred, when, 
if no new case occurs, the restrictions may be removed. 
Very truly yours, 
WIRT JOHNSTON, Secretary. 
Mr. Allen, who had been representing the Board at Cadet 
Point, being present, reported verbally that he had left Biloxi 
last Friday night, and that the sanitary condition of Cadet 
Point was good. There had been ten houses all together in 
which the disease had appeared, and all had been thoroughly 
disinfected. 
All the sick were up and around except Mrs. Elder, who 
was still an invalid. There had been no recurrence nor had 
there been any new cases. 
On the assurances of the Mayor and those of Dr. Harry, Mr. Barr 
olfered the following resolution, which was unanimously 
adopted: 
Whereas, there have been no new cases of fever at Cadet 
Point, Biloxi, since September 3d ; and 
Whereas, Sanitary Officer L. D. Allen reports that there 
are no sick in the lately infected locality; and 
Whereas, this Board has the pledge of his honor the Mayor 
of Biloxi, to immediately inform it of the occurrence of any 
new cases of suspicious fever in said district; therefore be it 23 
Resolved, That the quarantine restrictions recently imposed 
by this Board against the town of Biloxi be and are hereby 
removed. 
The Board then adjourned and Dr. Holt sent the following 
telegram to t he Mayor of Biloxi and the health otticers of the 
various Southern States: 
Quarantine restrictions of New Orleans against Biloxi are 
removed by order of the Bourd of Health, State of Louisiana. 
JOSEPH HOLT, M. D., President. 
Resolutions of the Citizens of Biloxi. 
Biloxi, September 15, 1886, 
Pursuant to a call issued for a mass meeting of the citizens 
of Biloxi to consider the action taken by the Louisiana State 
Board of Health, over 200 persons attended at Firemen’s Hall 
last night. 
A committee of three was appointed touscertain, if possible, 
who sent the telegram to Dr. llolt asking him to visit Biloxi 
and examine cases of yellow fever. 
The following resolutions were read and unanimously 
adopted: 
Whereas, the New Orleans Times, Picayune and States, 
in their editorials commenting upon the report and action of 
Drs. Holt, Scales and Salomon, are apt to mislead the public, 
and a great wrong and infamous action condoned and made 
to appear as a judicious and wise measure—not saying the 
editors of the named papers are responsible for this subter- 
fuge, but desirous that the blame should rest upon the princi- 
pal and the veil of deception be raised ; therefore be it 
Resolved, That to Drs. Holt, Scales and Salomon, by their 
action in refusing to credit the opinions and diagnosis of Drs. 
Lemon and Maybin, physicians of our town, and placing reli- 
ance and trust in the opinions of two or three persons un- 
known to us, thereby discrediting members of their profession, 
are justly due the censure and opinion formed of them by this 
community, and the great outrage perpetrated, perhaps wil- 
lingly or otherwise, should be visited with the severest penalties, 
and our regret is that such heinous offenses against the pub- 
lic welfare are not provided for by law. 24 
Resolved, That the casual observations made at the sup- 
posed infected locality covering perhaps two hours in all (as 
the gentlemen arrived on the 7 P. M. train on Wednesday, 
the 1st, and remained at the Montross Hotel until 7:15 A. M„ 
on the 2d, and returned at 10 A. M. same morning from their 
examination), was not sufficient time to form an opinion, other 
than conform one already in a fair state of preparation, gives 
no credit to the gentlemen themselves or their profession. 
Resolved, That the injury inflicted upon the visitors by the 
false report, forcing them at a moment’s notice to fly the town, 
will long be remembered by our friends in the Crescent City, 
and whom we ask to sustain the great head of a badly 
damaged Health Board, and thus encourage such feats as at- 
tempted in New Orleans in 1883 and again in 1885 and re- 
peated here in 1886; while we encourage the right and under no 
circumstances would shield the truth, we care not to be made 
the martyrs of any man’s or men’s pet schemes. 
Resolved, That we call attention of the good people of this 
entire section to the report of Drs. Maybiu, Lemon, Pelaez, 
Aldrich, of Biloxi; Dr. Harry, Handsboro ; Dr. Formento, 
New Orleans; Dr. Godfrey, Louisville, to attest to the truth- 
fulness of our statement that no signs or trace of jellow fever has 
been found in our poor, unfortunate, condemned town, always 
noted for its health, and which to-day compares favorably 
with the most favored spot of God’s green earth. 
Resolved, That the other towns on the coast may not be in- 
flicted with a visit from the gentlemen in search of germs, 
especially when they figure in the imagination, and reason 
gives way to prejudice, as was our cause. 
Resolved, That the citizens of Ocean Springs, to whom we 
extended the hand of fellowship in the memorable year of 1878, 
are entitled to the disgust and contempt of every citizen of 
Biloxi, aud their meritorious shotgun brigade will not soon be 
forgotten by the men, women aud children of their own coun- 
ty who were forced from their firesides and homes upon the 
cold charities of tne world for plying their avocations in 
Biloxi prior to and a few days after the establishment of that 
infamous order. 
Resolved, That the working people of Biloxi, in being de- 
prived of many day’s work by the refusal of the manly element 
of Ocean Springs in permitting fishing upon the shores of 25 
.Tackson county and cutting off the base of supplies, thereby 
shutting down the factories, will ever bear in mind this 
kind and humane treatment, and hope no good will ever come 
to the doers of this w rong. 
Resolved, That the thanks of this community be extended to 
Drs. Lemon, Maybin, Pelaez and Aldrich, of Biloxi; Dr. 
Harry, of Handsboro; Dr. Formento, of New Orleans; Dr. 
Godfrey, of Louisville, for the interest taken in behalf of a 
wronged oommuuity, and for the earnest attention shown in 
establishing the truth as to the character of the sickness 
reported in Biloxi. 
Resolved, That the Mississippi State Board of Health in 
ignoring the opinion of the resident physicians and giving 
credence to that of the visiting gentlemen, cast a slur upon 
the character of their profession, and assisted thereby in 
giving color to the false report, and instead of assisting us, as 
in duty bound, lent a helping baud to the cruel and unmistak- 
able outrage, and we desire to call the attention of the citizens 
of the whole State to this unprofessional and unjustifiable 
wrong perpetrated upon the citizens of this town, with the 
hope such actions in the future may not be added to the glory 
of our State Board of Health. 
Resolved, That the papers of the South, North, East and 
West publish these resolutions and accept in payment the 
thanks of an injured community. 
On motion, the above \resolutions were ordered printed in 
the New Orleans Picayune, Times Democrat, German Gazette, 
Jackson Clarion, Biloxi Herald and Mobile Register. 
THE VIEWS OF DR. FORMENTO. 
The following dispatch to the Picayune, from a distinguished 
physician of this city, w as received last evening: 
Biloxi, Miss., September 1, 1880. 
At the request of Drs. Lemon and Maybin, attending Phy- 
sicians, I visited to-day several cases of fever at Point Cadet, 
near Dunbar’s Shrimp Factory. I found nine persons—five 
adults and four children—up and about, who were presumed 
to have had yellow fever, and one child of four years, taken 
sick this morning with symptoms of ordinary malarial fever. 
None of the nine convalescents presented any marked symp- 26 
toms of'yellow fever, black vomit, hemorrhage of suppression 
of urine. The disease lasted from eighteen to twenty-four 
hours, the patient recovering without relapse or accident. 
One woman, seven months pregnant, recovered in forty-eight 
hours. There were two deaths last Sunday, occurring in deli- 
cate, sickly women, presenting the same symptoms, who re- 
fused taking either purgatives or quinine in sufficient doses. 
From all this I concur in the opinion of the attending physi- 
cians, of malarial fevers, and believe quarantine against Biloxi 
to be ridiculous and unjustifiable. 
Dr, F. FORMENTO, , CHAPTER II. 
HOW TIE PLEDGE WAS KEPT 
—AND— 
THIS ZELZESTTX/TS- 28 
QUARANTINE. 
The prevailing sickness at Biloxi leads the Board of Health to again de- 
clare Quarantine against Harrison County, Mississippi. 
A Careful Examination of the Facts. 
The Board of Health held a special meeting on Sunday, Oc- 
tober 17th. Dr. Joseph Holt, President, was in the chair, 
and Drs. S. K. Olliphant and C« E. Kells, and Messrs, Joseph 
A. Shakspeare, J. J. Barr, J, J. Mellon and A. Voorhies were 
present. 
The President upon calling the meeting to order stated 
that he had heard from a number of different sources 
of the prevalence of a fatal fever in Biloxi, which had, 
within a very short period, attracted public attention and 
public apprehensions, not only in Biloxi, but in neighboring 
towns, and it was reported to be yellow fever. He then called 
attention to special telegrams which he read from the morn- 
ing Picayune, giving information of the death of several per- 
sons from this fever at Biloxi. Following were the telegrams: 
Biloxi, Miss., Oct 1G. 
[ Special to the Picayune.]—Mrs, S. S. Lemon, a most esti- 
mable lady and wife of Dr. J. J. Lemon, died in Biloxi this 
morning at 1 o’clock, after an illness of eight days, and 
was buried this afternoon. 
Another death occured yesterday—that of a man named 
Sweeny. Both cases were of the type of illness which has pre- 
vailed to some extent since the middle of August. 
Mississippi City, Oct, 1G. 
[ Special to the Picayune.] Mr, L. J. Sumpter, of Biloxi, 
Miss., died of bilious fever this morning, near the Barnes’ 
hotel in this place. He was taken sick some days ago, 
but being absent from his home, he did not have proper 
attention and diet until it was too late to benefit him. 
He was a tin and sheet iron worker, and made his liv- 
ing going from door to door seeking work where he could 
find it, exposing himself to all kinds of weather, and sleeping 
wherever night would catch him, consequently his constitu- 
tion was in a wrecked condition. 29 
t)i\ Holt also announced that Mr. William G. Walker, the 
representative of the Times-Democrat, resident at Mississippi 
City, was present, and the Board could hear a statement 
which had been made by him on the subject. 
Mr. Walker, in reply to questions, related the circumstances 
of the death, on Saturday, of J. L, Sumpter, a tin and sheet 
iron worker at Mississippi City. Sumpter had been at that 
place for some weeks repairing and putting up stoves. He 
had some children at Biloxi, and, on last Sunday, the 10th in- 
stant, Sumpter had gone to Biloxi to look after one of his chil- 
dren reported sick. The child died, and after his return 
on Thursday morning last he was on the streets complaiuing ot 
sickness. During the day he had a chill, accompanied by 
intense fever. That evening he was placed in charge of 
nurses by order of the President of the Harrison County 
Board of Health, and although every medical attention was 
given the patient, he died Saturday morning, after having 
black vomit. The general belief is the man died of yellow 
fever. 
Mr. Keith, one of the nurses, said he died from yellow fever. 
Mr. Walker also stated that there had been throughout an ev- 
ident disposition on the part of the Board of Health of the 
county to suppress information with regard to the character 
of the disease prevailing at Biloxi, and that when he had 
questioned Dr. Harry as to the nature of the sickness of 
which Sumpter died, the reply was that his death was occa- 
sioned simply by a case of aggravated malarial fever. 
Mr. Walker said that there were reports of a great many 
cases of fever at Biloxi, autl that it was understood to be in 
almost every family. He would say that he had heard of 200 
or 275 cases, but to be moderate he would say 100 cases with 
tbitty or forty deaths. It had been reported that Dr. Pelae/. 
had treated 100 cases alone. He mentioned the death of Mrs. 
Dr. Lemon also. He further stated that citizens of Missis- 
sippi City were much wrought up on the subj ect and they 
wished the sickness at Biloxi investigated so that measures 
for protection could l>e taken, if necessary. It was impossible 
to get information from the Health Authorities at Biloxi. 
The witness was questioned by Dr. Holt, Capt. Mellon and 
other members of the Board. 
At this juncture, Mr. Charles Marshall, Divisiou Superiu- 30 
tendent of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, who had been 
sent for by the Board, came in. President Holt told him that 
there were reports of a serious and suspicious fever prevailing 
at Biloxi, in which his road was interested, and he had been 
requested to be present at the meeting. 
Mr. Marshall was asked if he had heard anything of this fe- 
ver. He replied that, on the receipt of the notification, he had 
at once had a telegraphic conversation with the operator at 
Biloxi on the subject. He had just heard, through the opera- 
tor, of the prevalence of this sickness which had become a sub- 
ject of alarm and anxiety. There were reported to be some 
thirty or forty cases of fever at present, and there had been a 
personal difficulty between the two prominent physicians, 
Drs. Maybin and Lemon, on the propriety of declaring the dis- 
ease to be yellow fever. 
Dr. Holt called attention to the specific and formal agree- 
ment made with the health authorities of Harrison county 
that they were to give immediate and faithful information of 
the first appearance of yellow fever or of suspicious fever in 
their borders. This pledge had been totally disregarded and 
violated. The Board of Health of Louisiana stands as a bul- 
wark between the people of the great Valley and this danger. 
This Board was bound to do its duty, let come what may, and 
that in his judgment the Board should act at once. 
Dr. Olliphant thought that, in view of the situation, prompt 
steps for protection should be taken, and, after some dis- 
cussion, it was resolved to declare quarantine against Biloxi, 
to take effect at once, and to take measures to investigate the 
disease there. The following offered by Mr. Shakspeare was 
adopted as an official communication to the authorities of Har- 
rison county, in which Biloxi is situated: 
Board of Health, 
State of Louisiana, 
New Orleans, Oct. 17, 188G. 
To Florian Seal, Sheriff, anl Police Authorities, Harrison County, Missis- 
sippi : 
Gentlemen—The numerous reports of a fatal form of fever 
prevailing in Biloxi, believed by informants to be yellow fever, 
the asserted spread of the disease to localities beyond that 
town, including the recent death from fever of a man in Mis- 
sissippi City, shortly after his arrival from Biloxi, compel the 31 
Louisiana State Board o f Health, in behalf of public safety, to 
take cognizance of current report*, and to act with decision 
in the performance of a duty. 
You are hereby respectfully notified that from and after 
this date no person, baggage or freight will be permitted by 
rail or otherwise to enter this State from Harrison county, 
Miss., pending a thorough and satisfactory investigation of 
the truth as to the prevalence of a fever in or about Biloxi at 
present or at any time since September G ult., and if true, the 
full history and exact nature of the same. 
This action of the Louisiana State Board of Health will not 
be reconsidered except upon an official report from the Com- 
mission of Experts for the diagnosis of cholera and yellow 
fever—a body duly authorized and commissioned by the 
health authority of Louisiana. 
An invitation for an investigation of the alleged fever, ema- 
nating from yourselves and extended to the said commission, 
coupled with a guaranty of friendly reception and of vigorous 
and unrestrained assistance in obtaining testimony, will re- 
ceive instant attention. 
By order of the Board of Health, State of Louisiana : 
[Signed]. JOSEPH HOLT, M. D., 
President. 
The following communication was addressed to the Mayors 
of Bay St. Louis and Ocean Springs: 
Board oe Health, 
State of Louisiana, 
New Orleans, La., Oct, 17, 1886, 
To His Honor the Major : 
Sir —You are hereby resect fully notified that on account 
of the reported existence of yellow fever in Harrison County, 
Miss., the Board of Health of the State of Louisiana has this 
day proclaimed quarantine against that county pending an 
investigation. 
You are further notified that in the event of persons being 
allowed to enter your town or its incorporated vicinity, by 
tail or otherwise, from the said Harrison county during the 
continuance of the aforenamed quarantine, the health author- 
ity of Louisiana will impose upou your town the same quaran- 
tine restrictions, preventing communication with Louisiana, 
By order of the Board of Health State of Louisiana: 
JOSEPH HOLT, M. D., President, 32 
Notification of quarantine to commence at the close of the 
17 th of October was given to Railroad Superintendent Marshall, 
and the President was empowered to place health inspectors 
on all trains bringing passengers into the city by way of the 
railway from Biloxi. 
The Board then adjourned. 
BILOXI. 
OVER 300 CASES AND 18 DEATHS SINCE AUGUST 20. 
THE DIFFERENCES OF THE DOCTORS—THE EXODUS OF SUM- 
MER BOARDERS TO NEW ORLEANS. 
Biloxi, Miss., October 17. 
[Special to the N, O. Picayuue.J — For the past week there 
has been considerable talk and comment on our streets about 
the prevaling fever which has existed in Biloxi since about 
the 20th of August. 
From information received from two of our local physicians 
your correspondent learns that there have been over 300 cases 
of tever up to date, with a mortality from all causes of about 
eighteen. The two physicians interested decline to give a 
positive opinion as to the nature of the disease and there is 
considerable division of opinion among those citizens who have 
come in contact with it. Another local physician is emphatic 
and positive in his declaration that the disease existing is 
malarial bilious fever, while still another contends that it is 
yellow fever. 
To-day no new cases have been reported, while those now 
sick are getting along favorably. In some cases there is a 
lack of proper nursing and attention, and a meeting of the 
Board of Aldermen and the Mayor was called this afternoon 
for the purpose of devising ways and means of furnishing 
proper assistance to the indigent sick. Owing to some mis- 
understanding the Board failed to meet, but a committee was 
afterwards appointed to act. 
In order to get at the bottom facts in the cases of fever, a 
member of the Board of Aldermen left for New Orleans this 
afternoon for the purpose of getting an expert to come here 
and investigate the disease, and it is hoped that Dr. Holliday 
will be induced to come. 33 
Dr. Wilkinson, President of the Pass Christian Board of 
Health, was here yesterday and visited the children sick in 
the C ox family. He pronounces the disease to he yellow fever. 
The opinion of another local physician, emphatically ex- 
pressed, is that the disease is bilious malarial fever, while 
that of still another is that it is yellow fever. 
Ocean Springs, through a mass meeting of her citizens 
to-day, also established a shotgun quarantine agaiust this 
place to take effect at onoe. 
THE DISEASE OFFICIALLY PROCLAIMED TO BE 
YELLOW FEVER. 
Handsboro, Miss., Monday October 18, 1886. 
To Joseph Holt, M. D., President of the Board of Health, State of 
Louisiana: 
I have examined to-day two cases offever at Biloxi, uni pronounce 
them yellow fever, 
J. J. HARRY, M. D., 
President Harrison County Board of Health. 
The following reply was sent: 
We have l>een sufficiently informed, since Saturday last, 
that you have seen two cases of yellow fever. 
JOSEPH HOLT, M. D„ 
President Board of Health. 
DR. nARRY’3 OFFICIAL DECLARATION OF YELLOW 
FEVER AT BILOXI. 
which justifies dr. holt in iiis present attitude. 
The following letter was received at the office of the Hoard 
of Health yesterday. 
FROM DR. J. J. HARRY, 
President of the Board of Health of Harrison County, Miss.: 
Handsiioro, Miss., October 18. 
Dr. Joseph Holt, President Louisiana State Hoard of Health, Newr 
Orleans, La.: 
Dear Sir—Your communication of the 17th inst., addressed to Hon, Florian Seal, Sheriff, was handed me to-day, on my 
return from Biloxi. We would have gladly welcomed the 
Committee of Experts when the first suspicious case occurred) 
and have wondered why you did not desire them to visit the 
so-called intected town, but now I deem it unnecessary. 
I reported to you this evening by telegram the result of 
my visit. I was astonished when I visited the town to learn 
of the large number of cases that had occurred of this lever, 
and which had been undoubtedly suppressed. From all sour- 
ces I estimate there have been about three hundred cases and 
eighteen deaths. The disease has spread all over the town 
and is of a very mild type and yields readily to treatment. 
In reference to the man that died at Mississippi City, I saw 
him only a few hours before death and obtained a very im- 
perfect history of the case. He was in Biloxi Friday, Satur- 
day and Sunday evening, and came to Mississippi City on the 
excursion train. He had a chill next morning, followed by 
high fever which was repeated every day until Friday evening 
about 4 o’clock. When I first saw him he was in a drowsy 
comatose condition, but could be aroused. He had had no 
medicine at all nor any attention. At my visit, there was no 
fever, entire suppression of urine, tongue black, hard and dry, 
and breath very offensive. I took charge of him, placed a 
nurse with him and a guard around the house with instruc- 
tions to allow no one to come near. He died a few hours after- 
ward and I had him buried very soon, all bedding and clothes 
burned, and the house thoroughly fumigated. I do not say the 
man died of yellow fever, but I thought it necessary to use the 
above precaution. 
I regret exceedingly that the circumstances have changed 
and will not bear me out in my former letter to you, for I did 
not believe it yellow fever until to-day. The local physicians 
still disagree. Hr. May bin denies that it is yellow fever. Dr 
Pelaez concurred with Champlin and myself but would not 
publicly pronounce it jellow fever. I am sorry to have been 
deceived by the local authorities, all of whom promised to in- 
form our Board if there were other cases, but not a single case 
has been reported to us. 
Dr. Pelaez claims to have contended that it is yellow fever, 
and privately stated the fact to me, and will not even now ac- 
knowledge it publicly. I am of the opinion that it has been 
34 35 
suppressed by the physicians through fear. Pelaez, I believe 
to be a competent physican on whom I have relied for inform 
ation, but he is physically and morally a coward. 
Yoprs very respectfully, 
J. J. HARRY. 
In reference to the above Dr. Ilolt states that ‘‘ the letter 
needs very little comment, for according to Dr. Harry’s own 
admission there has been a willful and studied violation of all 
pledges made to the Board of Health of Louisiana. 
“Dr. Harry himself treated a case in Mississippi City in 
which he found it necessary to take all the precautions follow- 
ing upon a death from yellow fever, and yet in the face of his 
written promise to report even a single case of fever resem 
bling those of the first outbreak of the disease,” “nothing was 
said of this case by him until to-day, long after its occurrence 
was known from other sources. 
“ Dr. Harry’s statement that there have been at least three 
hundred cases in Biloxi shows to what length the criminal 
efforts at concealment were carried. It is too late for Dr. 
Harry’s admission and attempt to cover his fault long after 
the facts given in his letter are known.” 
This is the position now occupied by the Louisiana Board 
of Health, and explains why Dr. Holt as its executiv e officer 
positively refuses to recognize or have anything to do in any 
manner whatsoever with the authorities of Harrison county. 
TIIE BILOXI AUTHORITIES INVITE THE EXPERTS 
TO COME OVER. 
Dr. Holt’s Reply. 
Last night the following telegram was received at the office 
of the Board of Health from the municipal authorities at 
Biloxi : 
Biloxt, Miss., October 20, 1886. 
Dr. Joseph Holt, President Louisiana Board of Health, New Orleans : 
At a special meeting of the Biloxi Town Council, held to-day 
it was unanimously resolved that the Board of Mayor and 
Aldermen respectfully solicit that, the Commission of Experts 36 
appointed by the Louisiana health authorities, visit Biloxi at 
their earliest convenience and investigate the prevailing ill- 
ness now existing in Biloxi. The Board guarantees that every 
courtesy will be shown them and assistance rendered them 
w ithin the power of the Board. 
PHIL, McCABE, Acting Mayor. 
New Orleans, October 20, 188G. 
Dr. Holt returned the following reply: 
To Phil. McCabe, Acting Mayor, and Aldermen of Biloxi, Miss.: 
In reply to your invitation I must state that the duty of the 
Louisiana State Commission of Experts is specifically limited 
to the diagnosis alone of cholera and yellow fever. 
The diagnosis of the Biloxi fever has been completed by 
your State and county authorities and announced as yellow 
fever. 
This precludes the possibility of complying with your 
request. 
JOSEPH HOLT, M. D„ 
President Board of Health State of Louisiana. 
PETTI ION OF CITIZENS OF MISSISSIPPI CITY, MISS., ASKINCr 
THAT QUARANTINE AGAINST THAT TOWN BE 
RAISED, AND THE REPLY OF 
DB. JOSEPH HOLT. 
President Board of Health, State of Louisiana. 
The following petition from the citizens of Mississippi City 
to the Louisiana State Board of Health was answered yester- 
day by Dr. Joseph Holt in the letter published after it : 
State of Mississippi, 
County of Harrison, 
Mississippi City, Oct. 22,188C. 
To the Board of Health of Louisiana, New Orleans, La.: 
Gentlemen—Feeling that it is due the citizens of Mississippi 
City and vicinity that quarantine be raised against us by 
your Board, having no sickness of any kind here, and no sick- 
ness of any kind having occurred here, of even a suspicious char- 
acter, except that of the man Sumpter, who had been to Biloxi, 37 
and who died here one week since, Ihe facts of whose case 
have been reported to your Board, we desire to pledge our- 
selves to keep up and maintain the rigid quarantine established 
against the town of Biloxi and to further pledge ourselves to 
report any and all cases of even a suspicious character to your 
Board w hich may occur in our midst, and ask that the quaran- 
tine established against us be raised. 
Respectfully, etc,, 
Calvit Rotarts, 
H. P, Atkins, 
II. Lienhard, 
das. DeRu vs, 
Liddle & Hand, 
U. Hayward, M. D,, 
W. G. Evans, Jr., 
U, Taylor & Co., 
J. T. Liddle & Son, 
T. J. Stewart, 
C, M. Liddle, 
,, W. B. Hayward, 
L. H. Hayward. 
Charles Smedes, 
F. Taylor, 
Jas M. Win Ship, 
C. Phelps, 
W. T. Prince, 
S. D. Moody, 
Office Board of Health, 
New Orleans, Oct. 25, 1886. 
To Messrs. Calvit Roberta, W. G. Evaus, Jr., T. J. Stewart, atul others. 
Citizens of Mississippi City, Miss.: 
Gentlemen—I have the honor to acknowledge the 
•at this moment, of your communication of the 22d instant. 
The same shall be duly submitted to the Board of Health of 
the State of Louisiana at its next regular meeting. 
In the meantime it is proper that I should hereby address 
you on the question presented, being thoroughly informed of 
the sentiments in relation thereto entertained by the gentle- 
men comprising this Board. 
(Permit me to remark here, parenthetically, that I send this 
reply as a duty, and not unmindful of my own sensibilities in 
behalf of friends among you, closely related in my affections.) 
In the first place, and while disclaiming any intention of 
reflection or criticism aimed at you personally, you surely 
recognize the prime fact that, as a body, you are not repre- 
sentative of any department of your State or county 
governments. 
Being simply citizens, in an individual capacity, irresponsi- 
ble and, therefore, not legally invested with powers to treat, 
you are not competent to negotiate with the State of Louisi- 
ana, an independent sovereign ; certainly in all that appertains 
to its own interior police regulations. 
In whatever light you may be pleased to regard this matter 38 
in the line of your own behalf we, as an organic element of 
this government, are compelled to guide ourselves, not by 
personal inclination, but by diplomatic usage, such as pre- 
vails in all of our relations, international and interstate. 
In the case presented by you we can treat only with the 
lawfully constituted authorities of Mississippi. 
A brief explanation will answer the question whether or 
not we can entertain propositions from the authorities of Har 
rison county, Mississippi. 
On the 3d day of June, 1884, in the City of New Orleans, 
the five States of the Gulf and Tennessee and the three sea- 
shore counties of Mississippi (the latter included because of 
some anomaly in your State regulations), each represented by 
commissioners duly appointed and sitting in conference, 
entered into a covenant, binding themselves to furnish each 
other an immediate notification of any case of pestilential 
infection, or of one reasonably suspicious of pestilential infec- 
tion, which might at any time appear within their respective 
borders. 
1 his treaty was distinctly defined in a series of resolutions 
drawn with great care. The spirit and letter of these resolu- 
tions were clearly expounded and thoroughly understood. Their 
simplicity rendered it impossible for them to be misunderstood. 
Louisiana, at great momentary inconvenience and sacrifice, 
has repeatedly fulfilled every jot and tittle of the law. 
Upon the very first occasion of a test, however, Harrison 
county has not only failed in obedience in the fulfillment of 
its obligation, but the identical authorities, party to the com- 
pact, have countenanced and have conspired in the conceal- 
ment of pestilential infection by process of equivocation and 
suppression of truth, so persistently and so successfully main- 
tained, as to have fostered an epidemic of yellow fever, until 
the disease became a widespread conflagration, too glaring to 
be longer hidden from the outside world. 
As the result, the entire mercantile movement of Louisiana 
has been injuriously disturbed; her people kept in instant 
jeopardy of ther lives ; the whole country, from the Bio Grande 
to the great lakes of the North, agitated with grave apprehen 
sion, and universal discomfort made to prevail. 
Transmission of a few cases of yellow fever from your cen- 
tres of infection to New Orleans would cost us millions of dol- 39 
lars, parulyzb g our industries and entailing upon the fam- 
ilies of an energetic and hard-working people incalculable 
misery ; not to speak of the lives of our citizens, which we 
esteem above the price of money. 
Mississippi on the North $ Alabama, Florida and Georgia 
to the eastward, are in like predicament with ourselves. 
Not only have the poorer classes of your own county been 
reduced to sudden want, but innocent and defenceless lives 
of women and children have already been sacrificed, need- 
lessly, wantonly and with a heartless indifiereuce perfectly 
appalling. Suffering and sorrow have been accounted as noth- 
ing against the grasping of a few dollars. For illustration 
and reflection, see the following: 
ANOTHER DEATH FROM THE FEVER AT BILOXI. 
w Biloxi, October 21,1886. 
[Si >ecial to the Times Democrat]—Mrs. Fdwards, wife of Mr. 
Henry Edwards, Superintendent or Manager of the Barataria 
Canning Factory, died this morning, atter an illness of about 
ten days, of the prevailing fever. This is the first death that 
lias occurred since the 16th instant. The deceased lady was 
from Cleveland, O., where she had been spending the summer" 
and had returned home only two or three weeks ago. Mi. 
Edwards, it is said, had been assured by advisers, on whose 
opinions he relied, that the prevaling disease was not of an in- 
fections or dangerous character, and on the faith of this advice 
had sent for his family to return home.^V 
In the tragic events of the past nine weeks all that has hap- 
pened, and is yet possible to happen, is the outcome of a cool, 
calculated, deliberate falsehood, invented by convenient and 
superserviceable agents dominated in the local interests 
of Biloxi, represented in barrooms, liostelries, boarding-houses 
and other real estate. 
This falsehood was adopted as the policy of the Town Coun- 
cil of Biloxi, and was finally accepted and endorsed by the 
Harrison County Board of Health in the series of resolutions 
here appended : 
Board of Health, 
Harrison County, Miss., 
September 8, 1886. 
Whereat, at its last session, Saturday, September 4, 1886, 40 
the Board of Health of Harrison Comity, Miss., not yielding' 
its own opinion iu the raitter, but in deference to the excited 
condition of the minds of the citizens of Mississippi City aud) 
vicinity, reluctantly declared quarantine against Biloxi, not 
as a quarantine against yellow fever, but asa quarantine against 
the stoppage of trains at Mississippi City and other stations 
and 
Whereas, iu view of the fact that the local physicians of 
Biloxi have maintained from the beginning the non-existence 
of that disease in their town, and have been backed by the 
opinion of Eh*. Formento* yellow fever expert, aud later by 
that of Dr. Godfrey, of the United States Marine Hospital 
service; and 
Whereas, incalculable aud irreparable damage has been done, 
not only to Biloxi, but to our whole sea coast by the waver- 
ing, uncertain opinions of visiting physicians therefore, be it 
Resoloed, That with regret we view the course that public ex- 
citement has forced us to take against Biloxi and deplore the 
u conscientious pledge” of Dr, Holt to report all cases of “ suspi- 
cious” fevers to the world, a upledge” that will quarantine us 
every summer, for ususpiciousv fever can be found anywhere 
without much effort. 
Resoloed, That the foregoing resolutions be published in the 
New Orleans Times-Democrat and Picayune. 
A correct copy. 
These falsifiers, including all who aided and abetted them, 
in the adroitness aud rare skill exhibited in the execution of 
their specialty as experts, have betrayed a natural aptness 
aud order of ability not to be found except in the trained mas- 
ters of their art. All fair-minded persons are compelled to 
accord to them the hearty recognition and acknowledgement 
of their claims to true genius in the possession of a trait so 
predominant, indeed, as to suggest iu their case that singular 
law of compensation sometimes shown in great mathemati- 
cians and philologists, unfitting them for other occupations in 
life. They have commanded the wonder, if not the admira- 
tion, of the world! 
Under the counsel aud direction of the authorities aud more 
energetic citizens of Biloxi, the salutary measures of isolation 
aud disinfection inaugurated by the Louisiana State Board of 
Health, on September 1, ultimo, at the time of the original 41 
outbreak of yellow fever, were discontinued, and the pesti- 
lence, although successfully quenched iuthe locality of prima- 
ry infection, was allowed, subsequently, to take its own course, 
without the slightest eft >rt to stay its progress. 
When the pestilential sp»rk appeared in the town proper, 
as we had forewarned the authorities and doctors it was likely, 
nay, almost certain to do, on account of the free communica- 
tion which had existed with the distant area of infection; in 
the face of the most solemn promises of notification, isolation 
and disinfection, if such should occur, immediately, when our 
backs were turned, active measures of repression by the usual 
course of concealment, denunciatory denial and intimidation, 
commoidy called “ bulldozing'1 were substituted for the more 
rational and safer methods already established, 
The disease spread, because they did nothing to prevent its 
spread, but on the contrary, they selected the unfortunate 
course, most likely to accomplish that result. 
Now, gentlemen, to re.turn to the subject of your letter, or 
proposition. In order to consummate an agreement, a word of 
pledge or word of honor is essentials 
A word of itself alone is mere breath until spiritualized by 
a moral force. A mans word squares exactly with his morality. 
Those authorities cannot give a pledge, for they have no 
word; it has been destroyed. Having pledged their honor 
and forfeited the pledge, they stand helpless and pitiable in 
their relations to their fellow men. They fail to recognize 
promises such as would be held inviolable, even by barbarous 
tribes. 
With the repetition of such conduct as this Biloxi matter, it 
is useless for States to make appropriations and devise ways 
for the protection of the public welfare; it is ustdess for mer 
chants to unite in a “Shipping and Industrial League,’’to 
open up new avenues of trade ; it is useless for progressive 
capitalists to talk of investments in manufacturing enterprises 
along the Gulf coast and in contiguous regions; and, above 
all, it is useless for the vast working populations of these Gulf 
cities and towns to hope for an established improvement in 
steady occupation for the future, if their only' hope of defmce 
is to be broken down and destroyed by inns, barrooms and 
oyster shops. 
The people of the Mississippi Galley look to this Board of 42 
Health for protection to the full extent of human power to 
give ; and, knowing our whole duty in behalf of these millions 
of people, we wage relentless war upon enemies who would 
betray them to overwhelming disaster. 
Failing to find in the broken pledges of those authorities, 
of those legally appointed officers, the assurance which our 
necessity demands, the State of Louisiana v\ ill now seek from 
the protecting hand of the 
“power on high” 
the guaranty vouched for when “ He scattereth the hoar-frost 
like ashes. He casteth forth his ice like morsels.” 
The time for our renewed association is, therefore, referred 
to the “ Higher Power.” 
As to those who have brought this about, it is not my prov- 
ince, nor does it belong to the Board of Health, to sit in judg- 
ment upon the actions of these men. 
While it is sufficient for us to protect ourselves, it is well to 
remember that an indignant nation calls them in criminal 
arraignment before the bar of public opinion, a court whose 
utterances are imperative, and from whose decision there is 
no appeal; and may the Lord have mercy on their souls ! 
I will not pain you longer, gentlemen, by a continuance of 
this unhappy letter. Many of you are my near personal 
friends; and all of us, who constitute our Board of Health, 
deeply deplore the situation. 
Closing this letter, we can only do so with the renewed as- 
surance of our sustained sympathy and quarantine. 
Yours very truly, 
JOS. HOLT, M. D., 
President Board of Health, State of Louisiana. 
“ To suggest such a thing was to incur the risk of personal denunciation 
and even of ugly and unseemly threats.” 
An Editorial from the 
Biloxi Herald, Oct, 23d, 1886. 
After the alarm, caused by the outbreak of fever uear Point 
Cadet, iu latter part ot August, and the death of two persons 43 
on the 20th of that month, had subsided, and the quarantine 
imposed on Biloxi had been removed, there was no excitement 
nor uneasiness felt for some weeks. All the original cases, 
except the two just referred to, had recovered, and it was 
fondly hoped that the danger was all over. Gradually, how 
ever, other cases of sickness began to appear in various parts 
of the town. Most of these were of a very mild, and many of 
them of a trivial sort. They occurred chiefly among children 
—in some cases young infants. Although, perhaps, this cir- 
cumstance really rendered them more suspicious, as showing 
that adults protected by a previous attack of yellow fever, 
were comparatively exempt, yet it was not so regarded. Some 
lew deaths began to occur, but a majority of the local physi- 
cians attributed these to “ malarial” causes, and hardly any- 
body was willing to admit the possibility that yellow fever ex- 
isted, To suggest suck a thing teas to incur the risk of personal 
denunciation, and even of ugly and unseemly threats. 
It must be admitted that there was some pretext for all this 
in the extraordinary mildness ot the cases, the very slow speed 
of the disease—whatever it might be,—and the fact that Dr. 
Godfrey, of the Marine Hospital Medical Corps, had thrown 
the weight of his opinion into the scales in behalf of a denial 
of the infectious character of the fever. Under these circum 
cuinstances, nobody, physician or layman, was williug publicly 
to suggest that there was any yellow fever among us. 
The death of a man named Sweeney on the 15th inst., and 
of Mrs. Lemon on the l(!th—the very first adult cases that had 
ended fatally since the 29th of August—seem to have been 
the first things to give rise to a reaction of public sentiment 
or opinion, both at home and abroad. Quarantine was re- 
newed by New Orleans on the 17th—not only against Biloxi, 
but against the whole of Harrison County. Thereupon Missis- 
sippi City and Pass Christian, in an excess of superserviceable 
zeal to take part against their afflicted neighbors and brethren 
—like birds that peek at the wounded of the flock—made 
haste to take the same step against Biloxi. Pass Christian 
succeeded in getting a repeal of the sentence against herself, 
but Mississippi City has accomplished nothing tor her own 
relief by her ungenerous and unnecessary hostility to her 
neighbors. She is still out in the cold. She has the court- 
house, but people from Biloxi cannot visit it, because they are 44 
excluded by a 6 shotgun quarantine people from Pass Chris- 
tian cannot go there, because their own town would not 
permit them to return home; and people from other parts of the 
County, because they are afraid of the whole coast! Voila tout! 
We have heard in other years of the existence of u shotgun 
quarantines7’ in the interior ot the country, where people had 
the excuse of knowing nothing about yellpw fever and of being 
maddened by fear beyond all sense of humanity or decency. 
But no community, heretofore, has had the brutality or the bad 
taste to give this barbarous and cowardly action an official 
recognition and with brazen cheek to proclaim it to the world 
as a u shotgun quarantine.” 
To return for a moment to the statistics of the existing 
fever. It is impossible, in the absence of any regular official 
reports, to give the number of cases. They have been roughly 
estimated at 300, from the beginning to the present time in- 
cluding all that is possible to include, but we have little doubt 
that this estimate is much exaggerated. 
The deaths, from all causes, within the last two months, have 
been variously reckoned from 16 to 18. The sexton of the 
cemetery declares that only 15 graves have been dug within 
that period, and two bodies weie carried to New Orleans. 
This gives a total mortality of 17. Of these, one was caused 
by consumption, one by chronic laryngitis, one by teething, 
and one was a stillbirth. Certainly, therefore, supposing all 
the rest to have died of the fever, the number cannot have 
exceeded 13, of which more than half were at least doubtful. 
This has been stated more than once before, and yet news- 
paper and other statements abroad, in speaking of the deaths 
from fever, invariably give them as 18—exaggerating to the 
extent of possibility. 
The following are some of the dispatches telegraphed from 
this place to the Picayune, in reference to the fever. 
Biloxi, Miss., October 18, 1886. 
Dr. A. Parker Champlin, of Bay St. Louis, arrived here to- 
day under instructions from the State Board of Health, and in 
company with Dr. Harry, President of the County Board of 
Health, who also arrived this morning, visited the two pa- 
tients in the Cox family. They were also accompanied by Dr. 
Pelaez, one of our local physicians. After an examination of 
the patients in the Cox family, and also Capt. Wm. Patten, 45 
in another vicinity of the town, Dr. Champliu, together with 
Dr. Harry, unhesitatingly pronounced the disease to be marked 
yellow fever. 
In an interview with your correspondent, Dr. Champliu 
stated most emphatically that there was not a single symptom 
wanting to confirm him in his opinion that the disease was yel- 
low fever. Dr. Harry agrees with Dr. Champliu in liis diag- 
nosis of the cases. 
Notwithstanding the declaration of Drs. Harry aud Cham- 
plin that the disease existing in Biloxi is yellow fever, two of 
our local physicians decline to give an opinion as to the nature 
of the disease. 
COMMUNICATIONS RELATIVE TO TI1E EXISTENCE 
OF FEVER AT BILOXI AND THE STEPS 
TAKEN BY THE HEALTH 
AUTHORITIES. 
The following communication was received yesterday by 
Dr. Joseph Dolt, President of the Board ot Health : 
Jackson, Miss., November 4, 188(5. 
To Dr. Joseph Holt, President Board of Health State of Louisiana, New 
Orleans, La.: 
Dear Doctor—The following telegram was received last 
night: 
Biloxi, Miss., November 3, 188G. 
To Wirt Johnston, Secretary : 
The last case within my knowledge of the epidemic of re- 
lapsing fever which has prevailed here was that of Miss Fannie 
Lemon, October 24th, 188(5. She is now well. Miss A. Cox 
was taken sick three days before and is convalescing. I be- 
lieve relapsing fever is the proper name for the fever which 
has prevailed here. 
CHAS. PELAEZ, M. D. 
The above statement of facts is correct. I am of opinion 
that the fever which has prevailed here is relapsing fever, as 
stated by l)r. Pelaez. 
J. J. LEMON. 46 
As j’ort tire perhaps aware we have Jackson county, which 
is under our jurisdiction, quarantined against Biloxi, and 
Hancock county has a like quarantine, which was established 
by the Board of Health of that county and which is conducted 
by them. I will state in this connection that it has been our 
intention to protect the points beyond those counties by in- 
structing the Board or Health of Jackson county to admit no 
person, baggage, freight, etc , from Harrison county into the 
limits of their county, even destined for points beyond, and a 
similar request was made of the authorities of Hancock county. 
We would be glad if you would communicate to us your 
views as to when the quarantine restrictions against Biloxi 
may, with safety, be removed. 
Very truly yours, 
WIRT JOHNSTON, Secretary. 
In relation to the above telegram to Dr. Wirt Johnston, Dr, 
Holt said to a Times-Democrat reporter, concerning this latest 
diagnosis ot “ relapsing fever “ The nomenclature of fevers 
is almost exhausted in this Biloxi business ; the disease hav- 
ing already gone through the list of “ remittent,” “bilious re- 
mittent,” “ malarial fever of a mild type, with nothing infec- 
tious or dangerous,” “shrimp fever,” “ Spanish fever,” and now 
“ relapsing fever.” The same Dr. Pelaez in a conversation 
with Dr. Salomon and myself, on the occasion of our visit to 
Biloxi, told us that he had carefully examined the cases of 
illness at Cadet Point, having been requested to do so by the 
proprietors cf the Canning Factory. He (Dr. Pelaez) stated, 
that he was thoroughly familiar with yellow fever and compe- 
tent to recognize it, particularly since his experience in the 
last great epidemic; all of which we knew to be true. He 
then declared to us that the cases he had recently seen at 
Cadet Point were as clearly marked and as certainly yellow 
fever as any he saw in 1878. He then informed us that we 
must understand his position in the matter; that were he 
openly to coincide with us he could not live in Biloxi twenty-four 
hours. He further said: “ Now, gentlemen, you must under- 
stand this, and not be surprised when you see my name as a 
signature to a circular which is being prepared for all the 
doctors of Biloxi to sign, positively denying that the disease 
is yellow fever.” 
Now, that this man unblushingly thrusts himself forward 47 
in a deliberate attempt to mislead the health authorities of 
Mississippi, and particularly to practice upon so upright and 
thorough a gentleman as Dr. Wirt Johnston, who is making 
every effort in the public behalf, it would be criminal in me to 
hold my peace in a matter of such great importance. As for Dr. 
Lemon, of course, he follows the lead of one he knows to be 
really a qualified physician. These telegrams and a few other 
similar transactions are beginning to change the features of 
this Biloxi tragedy by such amusing tricks and antics to the 
frivolous character of a farce, in which doctors are playing the 
part of “ low comedian,” and playing their part badly. 
REPLY TO THE INQUIRY OF DRS. WIRT JOHNSTON 
AND A. r. CHAMPLIN, RELATIVE TO REMO 
VAL OF QUARANTINE FROM BILOXI. 
In answer to tlie inquiry of Dr. Wirt Johnston, dated Nov. 
4tli, “as to when quarantine restrictions against Biloxi may, 
with safety, be removed,” the following letter was sent, under 
date of November 5th : 
In reply to the closing request in your letter, I will state 
that nothing short of a carefully conducted house-to-house in- 
spection by thoroughly competent and trustworthy officers, 
appointed and directed by the health authorities of Mississip- 
pi, could possibly furnish the reliable information, such as 
would permit at this time, or until established cold weather, 
the city of New Orleans to be thrown open to free communica- 
tion with Biloxi. 
1 otter this, not in the spirit of suggestion as one competent 
to give advice, but simply in response to your request and as 
a candid expression of the opinion of the Louisiana State 
Board of Health in relation to a very delicate, but strictly 
practical, question. 
Yours, very truly, 
JOSEPH HOLT, M. 1)., 
Prosiilent Board of Health, State of Louisiana• 48 
Office Board of Health 
State of Louisiana, 
New Orleans, Nov. 7,188(1. 
A. PARKER CHAMPLIN, M. D., 
President Hancock County Board of Health. 
Dear Sir—In reply to your letter of the Oth iust., I will state 
that it is impossible for the Louisiana State Board of Health 
to consider the advisability of removing quarantine from 
Biloxi, until this can be done intelligently and upon reliable 
information rts to the actual health status of that town. 
The question has simply resolved itself to this: shall the 
policy of self-protection inaugurated by the States of the Gulf 
and Tennessee, be set aside and put underfoot, by the will and 
obstinate resistance of a few real estate owners and persons 
interested in local business in Biloxi ? 
These have set out upon a career of desperate determina- 
tion to maintain the old method of secrecy and repression ; 
and, in order to uphold them in their purpose, have resorted to, 
and are still enforcing a system of personal intimidation or 
bulldozing, as threatening and as effective, as ever known in 
any community. If they succeed, they also succeed in estab- 
lishing successfully a precedent, which must utterly destroy 
the confidence now existing between the States, and must com- 
mit to overwhelming disaster, including the universal sweep of 
pestilence, the people of the Southern States. Their success 
simply means the repetition of the scenes and of all the conse- 
quences of the epidemic of 1878) not restricted to the one 
pestilence, yellow fever, but equally insuring the propagation 
and general spread of smal 1-pox and cholera. 
In maintaining the position compelled by the deliberate 
action of a few men of Biloxi, the Louisiana State Board of 
Health is not onlv performing a painful duty and one re- 
stricted to a simple line of action, but is upholding and vindi- 
cating a principle upon which the whole commercial and indus- 
trial future of these Gulf States depends. 
The question at issue I repeat, is simply this: Shall this princi. 
ciple be upheld and the development of Southern resources pro- 
gress, even if Biloxi must remain qurantined until the whole 
truth may be known and action safely takeu, or shall obstinate 
denial and resistance to the salutary policy of outspoken truth 49 
and open investigation, now adopted under a solemn pledge 
by a majority of the States of the Union compel these States 
to submit to a destructive policy of concealment dictated by 
four or five men in Biloxi, in the local interests of themselves ? 
We will see ! ! ! 
I can assure you positively that the .quarantine restrictions 
against Biloxi will not be maintained one hour longer than the 
public safety absolutely demands. 
Very respectfully, 
JOSEPH HOLT, M. IX, * 
President Board of Health, State of Louisiana. 
INITIAL STEPS OF QUARANTINE REMOVAL. 
At the regular monthly meeting of the Board of Health of 
Louisiana, held Tuesday, November 9th, Mr. Shakspeare off 
ered the following resolution, seconded by Mr. Barr, which 
was unanimously adopted and ordered telegraphed at once to 
Dr. Wirt Johnston: 
“Resolved, Thatthe Louisiana State Board of Health will 
remove Quarantine from Biloxi as soon as Dr. Wirt Johnston, 
Secretary of the Mississippi State Board of Health, will give 
us assurance of the absence of infectious disease.” 
DR. CHAMPLIN ARRIVES AT 1JILOXI TO INVESTIGATE THE 
HEALTH OF THE TOWN. HIS INSTRUCTIONS IN- 
VOLVE A HOUSE TO-IIOUSE INSPECTION. 
Biloxi, Miss., Nov. 11. 
| Special.] Dr. A. P. Champlin, of Bay St. Louis, represent- 
ing the Mississippi State Board of Health, arrived here to-day 
for the purpose of making an investigation of the health of 
Biloxi. In order to make a thorough investigation, he will re- 
main several days, and will he assisted by Sanitary Inspector 
Allen, of New Orleans, who is also here. 
In company with Mr. Allen, Dr. Champlin this afternoon 
visited three houses at Point Cadet, where the sickness first 
made its appearance, and reports finding no sickness there 
now. Tomorrow morning the work of investigation will be 
commenced in earnest. 50 
The following communication was received by Acting May- 
or McCabe to-day: 
• Biloxi, Miss., Nov. 11. 
Capt. Phil. McCabe, Mayor City of Biloxi, and Members 
Town Council: 
Gentlemen—By request of the Mississippi State Board of 
Health, I have visited your town for the purpose of investiga- 
itug the actual state of sickness which has been prevalent for 
some time. 
I have not as yet received explicit instructions as to what is 
desired of me, but I think I am expected to visit each house in 
which any sickness has been or may now be. I wish to quietly 
and rightly attend to this matter, and trust each and every 
citizen will assist me; but let me emphatically state that if I 
find anyone trying to evade the truth I will publish it to the 
world, and cease my investigation at once, and let the blame 
rest where it belongs. 
A. PARKER CHAMPLIN, M. D., 
Inspector State Board of Health. 
Acting Maj or McCabe assured Dr. Champliu that he would 
not be interfered with in the discharge of his duty, and fur- 
ther promised him that any assistance or information the 
Board of Aldermen could render him would be cheerfully and 
willingly given. 
QUARANTINE RAISED. 
There was a special meeting of the Board of Health of the 
State of Louisiana November 17th, 188G, at 11 o’clock. 
It was convened lor the purpose of considering the question 
of raising or maintaining the quarantine against Biloxi. 
The following communication from the Secretary of the Mis 
sissippi State Board of Health was read. 
Jackson, Miss., November 1G, 188G 
I)R. JOSEPH HOLT, 
President Board of Health State of Louisiana, 
New Orleans, La. 
Dear Sir—The following telegram has been received from 
Dr. Champlin: 51 
“ Biloxi, Miss. Nov. 10, 1880. 
“ To WIRT JOHNSTON, Secretary State Board of Health.1' 
“ Inspection finished for Biloxi. I again unhesitatingly 
“ state that it is safe to remove quarantine restrictions at once. 
“ No new cases. Father Chevallier will notify me of any new 
“case. Were two cases in Biloxi river, Capt. Holly and 
u brother, some time ago. Know of no new cases there. An 
il swer wishes.” 
A. PARKER UHAMPLIN, M. D., 
Inspector Mississippi State Board of Health. 
I telegraphed you to-day, this Board has decided to remove 
quarantine restrictions against Biloxi at once. 
Very truly yours, 
WIRT JOHNSTON, 
Secretary Mississippi State Board of Health. 
On the reading of the above, Col. J. J. Mellon moved that the 
quarantine restrictions against Biloxi be removed, from and 
after this moment; and the motion was unanimously carried.