The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-08-19
ORLEANS MEDICAL DIsPRNsARY, !
Auat.sf * 1870

August is, 1850.
Editors Crescent entiemen; In my last communion
ton, published in your paper of the I9th inst. pledged
myself that would undertake to show that this city sus
cepbe of being made healthy as any city In the United
states indeed may say Is. and has been since Isl7
with the imperfect system of medical police now existing
heahiest city OF the population North or South, East
or West But confidence does not, either ere or abroad
exist that such exemption from epidemic diseases can be
maintained unless their be entirely removed And
believing, as do in its practicabity will endeavor to
show how this great object may be accomplished.
In approaching this subject pregnant is with such i'm
porant results to the future growth and lasting prosperity
New Orleans canddy confess that feel myself unequa to,
unprepared ior SO imposing task the mos when
slider the great personal influence the superior learning and
ability, the valuable and well digeed experience and skill
OF wiser heads and ADLER pens than command, who
should have taken the lead in the investigation of serious
and interesting question. unqnestonaby the peculiar
province, the especial duty of the Medical profession
only to investigate, but determine and settle whatever
Germs the public health Yet will deny the fact that
while legislation, municipal action and private enterprise
have done much for this place. the Medical philosopher the
profession of New Orleans generally, have comparatively
done nothing redeem this city from the serious dsadvan
tages and huu pudces under which it has long and still
severely struggles of being necessarily unfavorabe
heahdestuctve ofife. No adequate steps taken show
no attempt made prove to all concerned Cand who not
that the fatal epidemics with which have in times past,
been severely scourged and the fearful apprehension of
which still drives away large portion annually of pop.
ulaon can be exerminated from among There
to be culpabe negligence in this matter, where much is
really At stake the OF those Hntse duty
cuary is guard the public health to enghen the public
mind sources of disease and point out the proper
for their removal 1t will not be aedged that there is any
lack of facilities has been pronounced cathedral by
learned teacher in the Medca School of this place. that for
the thorough investigation of Medical question, New
Orleans possessed advantages unsurpassed by Bartholomew
of London Hotel Deu of Paris. The harvest truly
penteous =" but where Bells our Coopers, our
Bichas and Broussas? They should speak and hope
they will on this subject There other, very capanle
who satisfied with sanitary condition, and decline
their aid but less exeusable ground They say that
good scorchng yellow fever the best thing the world for
New Oreans That il is sort of crucibe, fiery furnace,
separating the pure metal from its aOy This however,
too revolving be entertained for single moment and
only aude denounoe opnien shocking every
feeling of humanity But being impressed, however, am
and have been for time past with the importance and
practcabity Of the subject, will, notwithstanding the
dscouragemens that environ me- upon it
few brief and deultory remarks. And do with the
hope ofcalng the attention OF the pubcbut especially the
Medical proesson-to the consideration of the subject than
with expectation of doing that justice which is vast
importance demands.
have elsewhere stated that our epidemcs are of local orr
GIN and their remote cause the URodshed and peculiarly
filthy condition of the locality where they
This is their invarabe anecedent and morbid humidity
and peculiar atmospheric impurty, their nvariable
quen proximate Now these and the epde
mics arising therefom, clearly stand in relation to each oher
cause and effect, and consequently follow that
the causes be removed, the effect must cease
Now fI show that this result has been demonstrated
in other places Of similar latitude topography to New
Orleans, may reasonably hope that will be granted that
BY similar MEANS employed under similar circumstances, viii
produce similar results in other words, that yellow eye
or other epdemcs (poduced by the causes in NewO
leans may be prevented certainly by the same means
they in other places where similar causes exist For this
purpose will abroad for facts or engthen this article
with authorities the subject We have facts enonght
home, within State to establish the praccabity
of the question under consideration. And the first shall
offer, the result of my personal observation For
Pike.
This place, know, a fortifcation situated OF
Pass Rgoets the opposite shore of Lake Pontchsrn
surrounded on all sides by extensive nora and about
miles from this place There resided for several years
every during that time the yellow fever ragged with grea
violence here, while there though of like latitude and topo
graphy entirely exempt from epdemcs of any type
or character We perfectly healthy numbering in off
cers, soldiers and accompaniment about one hundred al
unacelmaed. This exemption from disease for a series
years at Fort Pike, attributed wholly the most admir-
able system of discipline and Medical police have seeI
or read Of Such perfection of cleanliness order Tegu
lany and discipline perhaps, where be found il
the United Statesand health conespOndingly fine il
every respect Mai NJ, who commanded the Fort at tina
time acknowledged be the best police officer th
u 5. Armys and believe if he had the police command
OF this city, he would make healthy he did Petit
CoqHe' itself Would necessarily. according the pro
position laid down, produce the result herecircum
stances being equal.
have other interesting facts this point, which, from the
| length of this article, [ must defer ill my next.
Yours, CENCI.