The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1853-09-29

| from SuCn VISITATION, SudEleSlOn Hat
been so visited three times, and Phila
delphia and New York, each twice.
The commerce of New Orleans with
the West Indies being chiefly with
the Spanish Islands, was only interferec
with by the embargo from 1907 Il
1909, and by the war, from 1912 tt
1915. During these three years o
trade with these islands, viz: from the
spring of 1909 to 1912, New Orlean:
experienced two epidemics, one ir
1909 and the other in 1911 while the
commercial cities North. whose trade
with the West Indies was entirely in
terrupted, had no yellow fever at all.
Yellow fever did not appear in New
Orleans during those years that the en-.
barge operated against her commerce,
nor during the war. But no sooner
was peace declared than she became
the centre of an active commerce, es-
pecially with the West Indies and
with the revival of commerce yellow
fever again made its appearance in her
midst.
In the year 1917, yellow fever was
introduced here from Havana by the
British cutter Phenix, which arrived
here on the 18th June, with some OF
her crew sick. 1t became epidemic in
July, and was deplo:ably fatal. In
consequence of the positive proofs OF
the importation of the disease on this
occasion, the Legislature of the sue
ceeding winter passed an imperfect
quarantine law, which was repealed,
however, the succeeding session, with
out any good reason.
This year is rendered doubly memo
rable as the one in which steamboats,
were first introduced on the river, and
in which yellow fever made its first
appearance in our river towns. Previ-
ously 10 this time, the commerce be-
tween this city and the towns watered
by the Mississippi was in fatboats,
down the river, and in keel-boats and
barges up stream. A barge would be
80 days from New Orleans 10 Natchez.
The means of communication were
thus TOO limited and slow TO transmit
infection and hence the immunity
which these towns had hitherto en-
joyed from yellow fever.
After the disease Of this year had
existed in the city for some time, the
steamboat Washington left here, and
arrived early in September at Natchez,
with persons on board i'll of yellow fe-
yer. some of whom were landed. Sc
veral young men of Natehez, who went
on board the steamer, contracted the
disease and died of it. The disease
spread rapidly, and with destructive
malignity. All who could. fed. The
number of deaths there by this cpl
demic was 1874.
The disease was this year communi-
Gated to people at Whilzefs Landing,
90 miles below Natchez, by steam
boat from New Orleans.
In June, 1919, several vessels, with
crews sick with yellow fever, entered
this port from Havana and Martinique,
and about the 1st of July, cases appear
ed among the shipping. The disease
became epidemic before the middle Of
August; lis malignity defed skill and
attention, and before its close multi
tudes perished.
By this time the arrival at Natchez
of steamboats, from New Orleans be-
came so common that the origin Of the
fever at Natchez in 1919 was not traced
10 any particular one. It began on the
4th of September, and continued to
prevail until 200 persons had fallen VIC
tins to its fury.
About the Goth of July, 1920, it be-
coming known that cases of fever had
appeared in this city, DR.. Davidson was
desired by the Mayor 10 examine into
the matter. The doctor reported the
arrival of two vessels, one from Havana
on the 18th of June. and. the other
from Matanzas on the 16th of July
The vessel from Havana had lost two
men on her passage, and the one from
Matanzas two more, and having others
on board sick with yellow fever. The
disease became epidemic in the city
between the first and middle of August.
On the 22d of November, of this year,
Gov. Villere, in his vaIedictory address
to the Legislature, strongly recommend
ed the establishment of a quarantine
against yellow fever. The same poll
cy was urged upon the State Legisla-
ture by Gov. Robertson in his inaugu-
raj message, delivered on the succeed
ing 18th Of December. Accordingly
in the February following the Legisla-
ture passed code of quarantine regu-
lations, for the protection of Louisiana
against the importation of yellow fever
and other infectious diseases. As the
operation of this quarantine has been
the subject Of much misconceptions.
quoted as it is every day as an all-suffi-
cient argument against the efficiency
of such institutions-it is time that the
public should be correctly informed on
the subject
The believers in the "local origin"
of yellow fever declare that they have
no faith in the efficacy of quarantine
regulations, here or elsewhere-that
the trial of a quarantine which was for
merly established here demonstrated
the utter inefficieucy of such institu-
tions. 1t is true that the code of quar-
antine regulations passed by the Le-