an outbreak, trade suffered – leading to starvation and distress, especially amongst the working classes.[3]
Southern states were likely still smarting from the end of the American Civil War in 1865. In 1877, the Louisiana State Health Board re-appointed their former pre-war president Samuel P. Choppin. He had been the medical inspector general for the Confederate Army, and was considered an ‘outstanding surgeon’. He subscribed to the contagionist theory of yellow fever causation and its prevention. Along with him two new medical officers were appointment to the Mississippi Quarantine Station south of New Orleans – Dr P.S. Carrington who was ‘honest and well-intentioned but professionally incompetent’ – his assistant Dr G. Farrar Patton was ‘capable’ but ‘inexperienced’.[4] The Mississippi Quarantine Station from January to April 1878 cleared 504 vessels bound to New Orleans. In February reports stated yellow fever was in Santos and Rio de Janeiro; and in March a ‘virulent form’ was evidenced in Havana, Cuba. Ships arriving at the Quarantine Station were to be detained, fumigated, disinfected, inspected; symptomatic individuals were to be hospitalised at the station infirmary, and everyone on board placed in observation and all personal property was to effectively be deep cleaned. None are sure when Yellow Fever entered New Orleans in 1878. Ship detainment was at the discretion of Dr Choppin, and he allowed various fruit trading vessels through in April, without vetting. Uniform inspection did not occur until May 15th. The Ten Years’ War in Cuba ended in 1878 bringing refugees to New Orleans; many arriving prior to the implementation of uniform inspection.