The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-08-19

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large figure TO nix the unacclimated ut 30 900 al
the breaking out Of the fever. or that number a
least three thousand have already been buried and
every day adds two hundred mere to the ghastly re
cord. ssttss-t.+. '.-*
Should it continue in the same ratio, this fghtuI
number win be swelled to 900 by the first Of Sep
tembeF, which is usually the date when the epidemic
begins its ravages In our city For the week ending
on the It'll August, III victims were one thousand.
That for the week now passing will be large, and
thus, unless some sudden and unl0Oked-fOr change
occurs, the month Of August will be held everme-
morabe in our annals for the largest proportonate
mortality which has ever occurred in the history Of
pestilence IL will equal the violence OF the Black
Plague Ut the fourteenth century and exceed that Of
the Plague vi London in 1864. The Latter has been
regarded the seveTest pestlence OF modern times !;
and yet, out OF population Of five hundred thou
sand it only slew sixty thousand one year, where
the present epidemic is destroying ut the rate of
four thousand per month, out OF total population Of
not over eighty thousand, and of population liable
to the disease ol not Thirty thousand. 1t is true
that IN previous years Of this ty there have been
days which have exhibited larger mortality ia one
day, but on no other occasion has the aggregate
weekly mortality been large. nor the progress Of
the disease so steady, regular. and unbroken What
is the worst aspect Of these facts is that the
Tor the prevalence OF the epidemic has barely
menced
In ls47, the deaths in the beginning of August
did net average ten a day. We have, therefore, at
at least three months for the pesence to run There
is no hope that it will terminate its career unless
with the exhaustion OF material. At the present
rate, this event would appear not to be distant AT
least fifteen thousand OF the unacclimated have al
ready had the disease aud either convaescents-
or tenants OF tie tomb. We have heard OF great
number who have recovered. Many of the physi-
clans declare that they have lost none OF their pa
tents. Indeed, 1t would appear thatathe thousands
who have already died could not have bad the ad-
vantage Ut medical attendance, the physicians all
declare that they have lost cases. II Is wonder
iul how successful they are considering the vast
amount OF mortality! II our estimate of the number
who have heen attacked be correct, there would
remain not more than fifteen thousand of unacci
mated persons, which, at the present ratio, would
barely afford material to last out the month OF August
But these are all speculatons and calculations.
They may, fortunately, prove to be exaggerated.
God graft that 1t may be So Our city has been
scoureed enough already. II may be, however, that
from this awful visitation, may derive some use
fl lessons for the future 1t may be that our citi-
zens will be driven to more vigorous measures to
establish the health of the city, to simplify and
strengthen its government, improve its SANITARY
regulations, give greater heec to the administration
OF the corporation, improve its Streets the style of
buildings and all other means of securing better
poll e than We have hitherto had. Should this be
the effect Of the present visitation and to promote
II, we should not -xsentiate, conceal giOze over
the PRESENT alarming condition OF Affairs New Or
leans may yet ARISE from her chastening, with re-
newed strength purified and rejuvenated-e as
the coLvalescent from this dread epidemic often
finds his constitution renewed aud improved by its
attacks.
From the Bulletin Aug. IL
TIE EPIDEMICs OF FORMER YEARS.
The fund of statistical information from which the
satst may 6rw data for establishing any particular
theory or position in relation to past epidemics is
extremely scanty and imperfect.
The first advent OF yellow fever in this city was in
l794, continuing with alternate increase aud dimi
mutton to 1897. There are records cxtant of the
actual mortality from yellow fever alone during this
period. The average population was less than ten
thousand; the average mortality one ia fifteen. For
a number OF years following, the average mortality
five per cent Full and &C ,urate details Of
the several epidemcs that have occurred have been
obtained, commencing with 1917. Previous to tnat
PERIOD the most patient investigation and research
have not been able TO collect any data that can be re-
lied upon as fully authenticated. At the time 1917
was considered bad year. The population was
about $4,000, and the per cent Of deaths by yellow
fever to the total mortality OF the year, was 1886.
The year 1922 was a very fatal year, and so was
ls4l. A friend has furnished us with document
OF the Board Of Health, bearing date Novemberl7
lsil, and signed by the President Of the Board,
that experienced physician and labOri0us and indie
faugable statist DR.. L. q, Barton.
The Board, on that day, Nov. II announced to the
public the gratiyn intelligence that the epidemic
was at an end; and that the prudent had nothing
fear and that our absent citizens might with safety
return TO their homes. The report after abiding 70
the distressing scenes which always accompany an
epidemic so full OF painful recoections, uses the fol-
lowing language
If New q. icans is subec, to epidemics it has bsen
coDspcucuils ranifesteo that CRY the world
Ia popuia whose boz fuller the MODEST
CT srites overdo wing its iee giving and
e5uoerant exercise 10 the ices s.mra titles II
tnIeg II l. scarcely doug the Associations, I'm
cludiDg for.d BY pee ladies form
&C Tor the relief of the sick justice. cay that
near four hundred OF them we're voluntarily and
stanIly coupled ia seeking relieving distressed
unacchDseo brethren lavish Expenditures Of thou
sance upon thoussads Ia every part OF the city,
rTibuted without stint and without soic ation from all
clHs "a resident pcpullucn y
Speaking Of the mortality Of that year from yellow
fever, the report ADDS -
OF tie just assd to the Is. November, 1926
have teen reported 20 he board victims the acc
mating process. out VI probable Of 10 600
subject to it, At the of tne epoeoc of
this punber 56l have died at tbs CLARITY Hospal
badly 500 have ced the her hospitals ader
The Of charitable AID benevolent associations;
apo balance be lie private practios, In
ing then that from ten tmere per ceut IN priyate
practice from thirty n forty ia pubic aud ivate
lie, ptss end under be charge IF benevolent
hsve died probably arrive At aIr age
Of the nnoftalty-Dstipg al5vance for toe many that
have fcsped the fever aay form, With the comfota
be of being accnateo sithout rsk, it ia
garitiDg state that TO nstar ce has come TO the
knowledge Of the hoerd where second accinaton
nece,sary acconpon'ed By fever or not Unless in the
interval the individual speat Soma winters in a
northern Gin ate
The following interesting paragraphs we extract
from the report
city been visited snce The cession the American
govern 1903 the loss (eststed the
best stie c has not been over $40 0y
vel fever The most tanl epi,eu,c that of 1917
the deaths by this dseae that year sos tho exact
bortality from elbow fever OF other years
stated has been record kept Of tue Details
II phele mortality could only be made snbiect Of
plrjsop that has been doec in tie annexed statement
B. OF three fall nlor tbs That statement wi bit
The relative tally Of al the epce ri ysars sibe
o US l. shows sepsibe reduction in the comparison
Of with former yea Bat there 10 another mole
OF arriving at the fact shosug the srsdus nnelo
a. Of the climate uneer th- improving naud OF man
epd that is comparing succession OF years in which
tne epidemic did exi.tin separate ssries The frat
series formed from sruuber Of years ensr 10
1920 the average of whose mortality ! IN every
20 CO; the second series for ned OF wears De-
tween 1870 and 1880, and the mortality was
found 10 be IN 3l74 the last was formed OF those
between 1880 and 1870 and found % Do l In
so 2s but II the lat t~o dem,c years be tskea
1883 40j the immense pr physi
cal CONDITION the will be found 70 be 10 IS Al
But If deduct from the las, series the mortality az the
Charity Hospital taod IL Is ,lmost svsy formed of
the hospg popu alton csuoted IN toe census the
ratio be seriea will be ID as TO- and the tso last
YEAR, Of only be tasen the mortality will he reduced to
] in lis. making this much the healtLiest city in
Aue1ca
From tbete details IL ia evident that the cana ary