Thomas, from which port we had been absent ten days before
the first complaint of sickness, it is my opinion that the fever
had a purely local origin inherent in the ship, and I have no
doubt but that our prompt departure from Santa Cruz averted
an epidemic on board. I consider that it would be unsafe to
send this ship again to warm latitudes before she has been en-
tirely broken out and thoroughly frozen out.'

"Arrived at Boston December 17 ; the ship was broken out
at the navy-yard ; nothing movable left in her in the way of
stores, provisions, and clothing.
" January 8, 1879, the crew was transferred to the receiving-
ship Wabash, and the vessel fully exposed to cold. Buckets
of water were placed in the various store-rooms below to indi-
cate freezing.
"January 22 the ship was hauled into dry-dock and remained
there until February 4 5 the average temperature on deck dur-



16



YELLOW FEVER ON U. S. STEAMER PLYMOUTH.
ing this time was 28^^ Fah., but it was colder by 10^ at the bot-
tom of the dock, which was piled up with ice. *

"January 26, fumigated by means of fifty pounds of sulphur
burned below decks in eight charcoal drying stoves placed in
various parts of the ship; temperature zero; water frozen in
every part of the ship.
"February 2, fumigated as before; fifty pounds of sulphur;
temperature 11° Fah. The fumigation extended over two days,
with the ship closed; the berth-deck and sick-bay had been
scraped before the process.
