New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-08-15

conveying to their homes or to the hospitals
some vet alive, but with sickness governed in
their hollow cyes--the houses, lately loud with
mirth, now closed in silence, while grief sits
pale and weeping by the lonely hearth--the cc'
casienal forced hilarity of the wayfarer--the
knell--the STROUD the mattock-emblems ofthe
grsve-everywhere meet the view, and proclaim
the triumph of the King of Terrors
In order that we may not be accused by some
of our readers of drawing q too frightful pc
turc, we purpose in this article giving a state
ment of the deaths by yellow fever, and other
wise, from June and ending at the last weekly
| report of the Board of Health.
That this city, from its peculiar iocanty' Is
always at the same season subject to the preva-
| lence of yellow fever. is fact established by
the reports published in this paper for several
wears mast, for il will therein be seen that there
have been cases every year, although the Attic
ton did not always assume the present yirulent
and endemic form We not pretend to account
for the cause of this variety in its manner o
attack although We counsel the adaptation O
means to ameliorate it, and perhaps check its pro
gress, viz; cleanliness and temperance Their,
is no sophistry-no matter how powerfully EN-
ployed, or issuing, it sometimes does, from the
closets of the scientifc--that will convince the
right thinking that these are not necessary fol
thepreservationo of health. Neitheris it necessary
to prove our assertion by pointing to the account
of deaths among those with whom both temper.
ance and cleanliness are seldom if ever found
We will, therefore, without further preface, but
with pain and reluctance, give the statement
before alluded to.
In the month of June, when the population
here may be estimated at about 900, there
This total is only what may be considered a
very moderate and natural mortality, although
it proves, also, that as the season progresses
the disease increases
The month of July shows a fearful increase.
Towards the latter part of this month the popu-
lation decreases 10000 notwithstanding we
find an aggregate mortality of 22l0, of which
1909 died of yellow fever. 1t will also be no.
ticed that the deaths from other diseases in
creased from SO, out Of population of l40 900,
to sol, out of a lessened population, estimated
at 100000, or averaging that number, for it is
during the latter days of July that all take
wing from the city, whose obligations are not Of
a nature to retain them; thus leaving the popu-
lation at the beginning of the present month at
about $4,000, which may be considered the
maximum. Of this unfortunate remnant, as
will be seen by the report, PIP have been car
ried to the grave in fourteen days, 1855 being
deaths from yellow fever, the total number
showing one death to every thirty individuals
1t is fearlessly expressed here by those whose
long residence and experience is a sufficient
guaranty for the correctness of their assertions
that the fever will continue until the beginning
of October, and that the mortality will be at
least in the same proportion. Is it not fearful
to contemplate Already the aggregate deaths
by yellow fever are $685. The same proper
ton, until the first of October, will give 5000
more, and so we may expect to lose in this sea-
son nearly 5000 of our Inhabitants from this
disease only. What, then, remains to us
Simply to endure patiently, to guard our own
health, and to perform our duty to those whose
misfortune it is to require aid
Our citizens, or those Of them who possess the
means, have been untiring in their exertions to
relieve suffering humanity. Societies have been
formed, vast sums have been collected for the
purposes of nourishment and care, asylums
have been provided and although they cannot
in every case wrest the patient from Deaths
iron grasp, yet it has the effect of soothing the
pangs OF want and the pains of disease--of bind
ing up the wounded spirit, and Installing into
the despairing soul the hope of future compe-
tenee and happiness.