Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1852-02-26
Good Advice to California migrants.

| physician, 10 the NJ Y. Euening Post. 1t ia sur
prslng that the fearful mortality which tracks the
emigrant who crosses the lsthmus, should not have
attracted larger share Of public attention. There
are few who have not known or heard of instances
OF individuals who having arrived at home in appa'
rent health from California, have almost Immediately
sickened aud died with the fatal Isihmus fever
The same mortality frequently overakes those who
land on the shores OF kCaiifomia. If physicians
would make this fearful tendency TO disease and
death subject of study, much good might result to
the public, and thousands of human lives would be
saved
STOCKTON, Cal, Jan. IA, 1852.
Dear Sirs,-Allow me, through the medium Of
your widely dfnsed journal, to present some impor-
tant facts 10 the attention of those, who, with the
design of lettering their condition, are constantly
leaving the Atlantic States for the Ell Dorado Of the
west.
In performing this voyage, few die or suffer much
on the Atlantic. The hurry and excite ment OF cross
ing the lsthmus allow few 10 realize that anything
seriously wrong is going in their systems And
almost without an inquiry respecting the accommo-
dalons on board the steamers, they buy tickets and
embark.
Often from four to six hundred persons are
crammed together within the narrow limits of a
steamer. On calling for the berth allotted on the
ticket, IT cannot be found has been sold to hafa-
dozen different men, or, best, is but miserable,
disgusting shelf, situated in some part Of the ship
where IL is impossible TO yenilate purify the air
Then ensue janges and quaIres for berths, and the
! food, which sinking beef wormy bread scanty
water, sc There is, however, no reprieve, and
passengers, particularly in the steerage, are under
the necessity of taking such accommodations as they
can get, or none at all.
| f,lI IL: :: a..
anna, fearful per centage die and are buried at sea
OF those sufficiently fortunate to arrive in San Fran
cisco, nearly one half are In an exhausted cachet
state, which, with the occurrence of the ordinary
exciting of disease, rarely fails to PROSTATE
the most robust frames. Many go into the hosp-
tails at San francisco, only to be carried thence to
the grave yard
Others go to the more remote inland towns either
TO die among strangers, or best to suffer protract
ed Illness, resulting in the consequences to the
nervous system. Immediately on the arrival of the
steamers, | am called to treat more or less of those
cases Too often only witness the utter useless
| ness Of medical aid
t. Ofahe passengers who left Panama in the steam
er Norihemer in her last trip, sixteen were thrown
overheard. vi the remainder, some twenty have
since died in San Francisco, Sacramento and Stock
ton. And there are plenty more to be seen crawling
about the 81 eets, having more the appearance Of
dead than wing men.
companies, who, in bold defiance Of all law and hu-
man regard continue to overload their vessels in
many cases TO the extent of hundreds beyond the
limits OF their tonnage or accommodations.
The spectacle presented at the landing of the
steamers IN San Francisco is often shocking to eve
ry feeling of humanity. The passenger list with an
pended notes, as published in the journals, are no
guide in arriving at the truth in the case
The fact is notorious that the Golden Gate in
her last trip brought up over thirteen hundred pas
sengers, and yet she publishes the small figure Of
| eight hundred.
T The authorities should look to these things, and
visit the offenders with the extreme penalty Of the
law. They are greedy that they lose sight oil
all; decency and humanity. A few heavy fines
would benefit them and their fellow beings wonder
fully.
However, having seen hundreds perform the Jour.
ney TO California with impunty and often with ben
eft to health, i conclude that this terrible mortality
is Unnecessary. With this conviction, would saw
to those who will consider and receive words of adj.
vice from many who have paid dear for The whistle
never leave home, if possible, without sufficient
means to procure incidental comforts, continually
bearing IN mind, that IN passing from cool to hot
citrate, powerful effort ensues the part of the
vital forces, to rid the system of the superintendent
combustbe material in the blood And that excite
ment oil the nervous sysem-vioent muscular exer.
else intemperale use of ardent spirs-highIv slim
ulatng food, &c., produce vulent fermenlations re-
suithg, 10 many cases, III decomposition and putt E.
faction of the vital fluids Persons thus affected are
even dead, while yet living, apparently we'll
Never be exposed to the direct rays of the sun. :
When an awning is not to be had, use an umbrella
Take no exercise which produces any sensible ac
celeration of the pulse. Avoid, by ali MEANS any
thing like fatigue. Observe regularity in eating anc
sleeping. Avoid all fatty animal food, aud the fruit.
Of the country.
Nearly every article of culinary vegetables, anc
all tariLacious substances, are wholesome.
Never take a steeIage passage steamer wher
you have any to believe she will BE- crowded
ifposslbe TO avoid it. II, however, by any comb
nation OF unfortunate circumstances YOU should fnt
yourself thus situated, eschew cabins, and 'weel
decks as much possible, while within the tropics
small supply fpliyate stores will make your sit
uation tolerabe. Immediately on arriving of The
coast of California, care should be taken to euart
against the cold searching winds.
ARREST OF ANTI RFNTFRs AHan,, III %