26 YELLOW FEVER PROPHYLAXIS IN NEW ORLEANS 



We regard this as the first crucial test in America, and it must be absolutely perfect 

 in its working to be efficient. We think that the community has lost confidence m 

 this work. We know that the profession has lost faith in it. Hence, we cannot keep 

 on upholding a system in which we do not; fully concur, so we desire to strongly 

 recommend that the system be completely reorganised, or that the entire Yellow Fever 

 situation in New Orleans be placed in the absolute control of the United States Public 

 Health and Marine Hospital Service. 



Very respectfully yours, 

 (Signed) Advisory Committee, Orleans Parish Medical Society. 



As the result of this letter and of a telegram despatched to the 

 President of the United States, the Public Health and Marine 

 Hospital Service assume, in a few days, control of the campaign. The 

 Advisory Committee, however, continue their useful work and co- 

 operate with the new forces under Dr. White, just as they had done 

 with the Local Health Authorities, continuing to issue with Dr. White 

 most useful circulars, and to generally encourage in every way the 

 citizens to keep up the fight with unabated vigour. As the circulars 

 which they issued show a thorough knowledge of the situation and 

 great foresight I give them in full. 



7. Letter warning Medical Men not to overlook the Mild Type 

 of Yellow Fever which may be found in the native born. 



Orleans Parish Medical Society, 

 New Orleans, La., 



August 17, 1905. 

 Dear Doctor, 



In the consistent campaign we are now waging throughout the City against the 

 fever we want to enlist your hearty assistance. 



You have shown up to now a uniform activity, and if some of the work' already 

 accomplished begins to show some little improvement, we feel it is greatly due to your 

 co-operation. This though, is the crucial moment, and you must keep up reporting 

 all your cases with unfailing promptness. The native horn will undoubtedly begin to 

 be ajfected, and will show the lightest and mildest types of the disease ; it is specially 

 with regard to these, that we wish to warn you, for it is as imfortant to the success of 

 the work being done by the V .S.F.H. and Marine Hospital Service, that the mild cases 

 be reported as well as the marked cases. These must be screened as carefully as others. 

 One stegomyia infected, in the first three days from such a case, can produce a 

 number of serious and even fatal cases. The means employed are being systematized 

 and rendered less objectionable daily by the service, so let us endure a little incon- 

 venience for the welfare of all. 



Beware of the so-called immunization or acclimatization fever and report these 

 cases as promptly and rigidly as if they were perfectly characteristic, so that the 

 authorities will be able to give them the same SANITARY TREATMENT. 



Very earnestly yours, 



Advisory Committee, O.P.M S. 



