NATIONAL QUARANTINE ADMINISTRATION (DOMESTIC). YELLOW FEVER PRECAUTIONS IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER OF 1893. The unsettled conditions in Cuba which prevailed at the opening of this calendar year, yellow fever being at that time in Havana and in other localities in the island, and later the grave addition to the danger of importation of that disease from Cuba by reason of the much increased communication after the inception of hostilities with Spain and the transportation of an army to the above-named Spanish province, excited very grave concern lest, in the turmoil and confusion of war, the quarantine regulations might be evaded or at least rendered inoperative. It is no inconsiderable proof of the efficiency of such regulations that, the season having passed, it is impossible to point to any case of importation of the disease from Cuba where it has spread after such importation. Officers of the Service were located in different cities along the South Atlantic and Gulf coasts for the purpose of maintaining vigilant watch with regard to the observance on the part of naval vessels and army transports of the quarantine regulations. SPECIAL REGULATIONS FOR NAVAL WAR VESSELS. It being evident that in time of war naval war vessels could not be compelled to comply with the ordinary quarantine regulations involving delay, and since every such vessel carries a competent medical officer and the vessels themselves are of iron and carry no merchandise, all on board subject to strict discipline, it was necessary to amend the regulations to meet the conditions of war, and, accordingly, Circular No. 57, March 31, 1898, was issued, permitting such necessary communication with the vessels of the Navy as the certificate of the medical officer would show was not liable to convey infection, and authorizing the acceptance of the certificates of such officers that the quarantine regulations in other respects had been complied with and permitting their entry into the ports of the United States, even if coming from infected fever ports, without the usual quarantine delay and disinfection, provided that no communication liable to infect the vessel or her crew had been held in the yellow fever infected port. NAVY REQUESTED TO INTERCEPT SMALL CRAFT AND REFUGEES FROM CUBA. As early as May, 1898, it was feared that yellow fever might make its way into the Southern States through the medium of refugees and baggage from Cuba on small craft surreptitiously seeking entrance into the United States, and for the prevention of such entrance the following correspondence was held with the Navy Department: TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., May 3, 1898. SIR: I am informed by the Surgeon-General of the United States Marine-Hospital Service that even under ordinary circumstances there has been danger of the introduction of yellow fever from Cuba into the State of Florida through the medium of small craft containing persons and baggage, seeking, for various reasons, surreptitiously to land upon the Florida coast. Under present conditions, it is believed that the danger from small craft is greatly increased. During the active quarantine season, from April 1 to November 1, it is contrary to the United States Quarantine Regulations for persons from Cuba not immune to yellow feyer to be landed at any point south of the southern boundary of Maryland without detention in quarantine from three to five days, and their baggage must be disinfected. The importance of enforcing these regulations throughout the summer is very great, and I have to request that the officers of the fleet in Florida or Cuban waters be instructed to aid in the prevention of the introduction of yellow fever into the United States by keeping vigilant outlook for small vessels of the character above described, and upon their apprehension such vessels and their personnel be taken immediately, under guard, to the nearest quarantine station for necessary detention and disinfection. The quarantine disinfecting stations in the South are located as follows: Mississippi River Quarantine Station, Louisiana; United States (Gulf) Quarantine Station, Ship Island, Mississippi; Mobile Bay Quarantine Station, Alabama; Mullet Key (Tampa) Quarantine Station, Florida; United States (Dry Tortugas) Quarantine Station. Florida; United States (Brunswick) Quarantine Station, Georgia; United States (Sapelo) Qurantine Station, Georgia (or South Atlantic); Savannah Quarantine Station, Georgia; Charleston Quarantine Station, South Carolina; United States (Cape Fear) Quarantine Station, North Carolina; United States (Cape Charles) Quarantine Station, Virginia. I have the honor to remain, respectfully, yours, The SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. L. J. GAGE, Secretary. NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, May 14, 1898. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3d instant, asking that the Navy Department, through its officers at the naval station, Key West, cooperate with the officials of the Treasury Department, in aiding in the prevention of the introduction of yellow fever into the United States, and, in reply, have to state that copies of your communication have been sent to the commandant of the United States Naval Station at Key West and to the commander in chief of the North Atlantic Squadron, with instructions to keep a lookout for and apprehend any small vessels which it is believed intend to effect a surreptitious landing on the Florida coast. Very respectfully, The SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. J. D. LONG, Secretary. NAVY DEPARTMENT TO FORBID TRANSPORTATION OF REFUGEES OR EFFECTS FROM CUBA, AND TO REQUIRE OBSERVANCE OF USUAL QUARANTINE REGULA TIONS ON THE PART OF PRIZE VESSELS AND AUXILIARY VESSELS NOT CARRYING MEDICAL OFFICERS. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., June 8, 1898. SIR: I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of May 14 stating that, in reply to the request made in my letter of May 3, the commandant of the United States naval station at Key West and the commander in chief of the North Atlantic Squadron have been furnished with copies of my letter, and have been instructed to keep an outlook and to apprehend any small vessels which it is believed intend to effect a surreptitious landing on the Florida coast. In addition to this precaution, I have to request that the proper officers of your Department be directed to forbid the transportation from Cuban or other ports liable to be infected with yellow fever, on any of the vessels under the supervision of the naval authorities, of any refugees, also baggage, clothing, merchandise, or other material capable of conveying infection, which is not strictly military or naval in character. I am informed by the Surgeon-General of the Marine-Hospital Service that there is little apprehension of danger with regard to regular vessels of the Navy, but that unusual care is necessary with regard to prize vessels and auxiliary vessels which do not carry medical officers, and I have to make additional request that through the proper officers orders be given that the quarantine regulations relating to the disinfection of suspected vessels and contents, and detention in quarantine of persons who have been exposed to yellow fever, be strictly complied with. This matter has been placed before Commodore Remey at Key West, who concurs in this recommendation. I have the honor to remain, respectfully, yours, The SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. L. J. GAGE, Secretary. NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., June 10, 1898. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 8th instant, requesting that orders be issued by this Department directing that the transportation of refugees, baggage, clothing, merchandise, or other material capable of conveying infection be forbidden from Cuban or other ports liable to be infected with yellow fever, and that the quarantine regulations relating to the disinfection of suspected vessels, and the detention of persons who may have been exposed to yellow fever, be strictly complied with, and in reply, have to inform you that orders have this day been issued to the commanders in chief and commandants of naval stations to comply with the suggestions contained in your letter. Very respectfully, The SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. CHAS. H. ALLEN, Acting Secretary. CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE WAR DEPARTMENT REGARDING TRANS PORTS. The same danger existed also in the case of transports of the Army, as these vessels plying between the ports of Cuba, which were presumably infected with yellow fever, returned directly to some United States port, where they were reloaded with men and supplies. Consequently the following correspondence, directed to the prevention of this danger, was had with the War Department: TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., May 31, 1898. SIR: I have to invite your attention to the precautions deemed necessary by this Department to prevent the introduction of yellow fever from Cuba during the coming summer and fall through vessels engaged in transporting troops and supplies from the ports of New Orleans, Mobile, and Port Tampa. Each summer and fall, even under ordinary conditions, the greatest care is exercised by the national, State, and local quarantine authorities with regard to vessels entering the southern ports of the United States from Cuban and other tropical ports, and it is believed to be practicable to enforce, with regard to these transport vessels, the regular quarantine regulations which, by the act of Congress approved February 15, 1893, it is the duty of this Department to enforce. I have, therefore, to request that the proper officers of your Department be directed to instruct masters of these transport vessels that they are forbidden to bring refugees from Cuba on their return to ports within the United States, and are also absolutely forbidden to bring any bundles of clothing, baggage, or other merchandise capable of conveying infection which is not strictly military in character. This provision will not only serve to protect the ports of the United States from yellow fever infection, but will also tend to prevent the infection of the transports themselves, which, if infected, might convey the disease to the troops en route to Cuba, and it is supposed these transports will each make a number of trips back and forth. I have further to request that an order be issued requiring the masters of these transport vessels to submit to the regular quarantine examination and necessary restraints on arriving at any port in the United States. An order to this effect (copy of which is inclosed) has already been issued by Major-General Shafter at Tampa, Fla., and it is requested that a similar order be issued through the proper officer at New Orleans and Mobile, or at other ports where troops may embark. Respectfully, yours, The SECRETARY OF WAR. L. J. GAGE, Secretary. WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S Office, SIR: Acknowledging the receipt of your letter of May 31 last, inviting attention to the precautions deemed necessary by the Treasury Department to prevent the introduction of yellow fever from Cuba during the coming summer and fall through vessels engaged in transporting troops and supplies from the ports of New Orleans, Mobile, and Port Tampa, and requesting that the proper officers of this Department be directed to instruct masters of transport vessels that they are forbidden to bring any refugees from Cuba on their return to ports within the United States, etc., and also requesting that an order be issued requiring the masters of these transport vessels to submit to the regular quarantine examinations and necessary restraints upon arriving at any port of the United States, I have the honor to inform you that on the 24th ultimo copies of your communication were referred to the commanding general, Department of the East; the commanding general, United States forces, Miami, Fla.; the commanding general, United States forces, Jacksonville, Fla.; the commanding general, United States forces, New Orleans, La., and the commanding general, United States forces, Tampa, 10918-43 Fla., to issue the necessary instructions from their headquarters to carry out the wishes of the Treasury Department as indicated in your letter. On the 6th instant the commanding general, Seventh Army Corps, Jacksonville, Fla., reported that copies of the papers referred to had been furnished to the United States Marine-Hospital surgeons at Miami and Jacksonville, Fla., for their information and guidance. Very respectfully, H. C. CORBIN, Adjutant-General, for the Secretary of War. The SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. EFFORTS TO PREVENT LANDING OF SICK AND WOUNDED FROM CUBA AT SOUTHERN PORTS. In addition to the above precautions the Bureau kept as well informed as possible of the movements of troops and transports by frequent communication by telephone with the various bureaus of the War Department, and a verbal agreement was made, in accordance with which vessels returning from Cuba bringing sick and wounded, should land the same at Northern ports rather than at Southern. This agreement was for the most part observed, but there were several exceptions which created grave concern. A number of transports, however, arriving at Southern ports were ordered to Northern ports for debarkation. The following letter was addressed to the Surgeon-General of the Army, urging that patients or convalescents from Santiago be not landed at Fort Monroe: TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE SUPERVISING SURGEON-GENERAL M. H. S., Washington, D. C., July 14, 1898. DEAR SIR: Referring to previous conversations relative to the reception of the sick and wounded from Santiago at a general hospital at Fort Monroe, I transmit herewith a copy of the quarantine regulations of the Treasury Department, in the marked portion of which it will be seen that at ports south of the southern boundary of Maryland-and Fort Monroe comes within this category-in ordinary times all merchant vessels arriving from ports infected or suspected of being infected with yellow fever are obliged to undergo disinfection and detention of from three to five days. This quarantine provision was very carefully drawn by a board of officers of this Service, and then submitted to a convention of the quarantine officers of the various municipalities of the South Atlantic and Gulf States, and its necessity was unanimously concurred in. This shows that the neighborhood of Fort Monroe is considered easily infectible territory, requiring more stringent quarantine regulations relating thereto than to points north of the southern boundary of Maryland. It is probable that the sick and wounded who have arrived yesterday and to-day and will arrive to-morrow will be free from infection of yellow fever, but with the rapid increase of yellow fever in and around Santiago the same assurance can not be felt in the near future. The steamers from Santiago bringing wounded, it is true, require about five days, during which time yellow fever would probably manifest itself if aboard the vessel. Nevertheless, unless thorough disinfection of clothing, bedding, etc., from Santiago is enforced, which measures seem to be |
