Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-11-20
654


654
The number of cases reported by physicians being
actually under treatment did not are certain, at
any time show the number of actually occurring
as among coored people and indeed among many white
ceople no call was made for physician The actual
cases were no doubt all of IL per cent in advance of
those to whom physicians called and in regard to
which reports made Some indeed think this is
small allowance, but think it quite large enough
Making this addition to the number of and deduct
ing from the aggregate OF deaths &c for the usual mortal
ty from other "a large deduction we have NOR
taty equal to 81 per cent of all the cases attacked
The proportionate mortality greatest at the outset
and towards the close Of the epidemic The mortality
among those already attacked was increased while the
spread of the disease among those not already attacked
was restricted by the various cold changes which occur
red prior to the coming of frost Warm changes had
effects precisely the reverse
On the 25th September, General Beauregard wrote
to the Mayor OF Wilmington announcing that DR..
Chopin of his staff having offered his services to repair
to Wilmington, be accordingly sent him. hoping that
bis experience and ability acquired at the Charity hos
ptal and in his private practice in New Orleans might
enable him to be of material aid to suffering COM
munty Dr. Chopin arrived by the next train, as did
also Mr. Schouboe with seven nurses from Charleston
Mr. Schouboe volunteered his services and is of the
officers of the Mayor of Charleston. He with the nu
ses in charge was sent on by Mayor Macbeth
On the 28h Of September specialsorder was Issued
from General Beauregards headquarters announcing
the following assignments of medical officers
| "Surgeons E. North, W. T. Wragg, VIM Huger,
and D. A White, tC report temporarily to the Mayor
of Wilmington N c., for the relief of Yellow Fever
patients at that place"
These gentlemen arrived promptly ard engaged zeal
ously in their work of mercy. Other nurses were sent
on from Charleston fast suitable could be OBJ
tanned. Subsequently Drs. Prescott, Seabrook and
Cooper all of the army, at their requests de-
detailed for this special service also number of soldiers
and nurses from the hospitals in Richmond.
As the endemic spread, two pressing wants were
felt food and nursing Stores were shut up and their
owners gone and no would come in from the coun
try with anything. The cases very much scatter
ed and central hospital called for. To supply
food, central depot was opened about the middle Of
October where those able to buy could obtain supplies
and those not able could obtain assistance the order
of the Mayor or other authorities. About the same
time the Confederate authorities turned the Seamens
Home Hospital over for the use of the town. On the
18th Howard Association was formed, which was the
means of eectng much good. The Journal had been
compelled to succumb early the 18th, but still
kept up bulletins, which Of considerable ser
vice to the cause, giving the people organ and
, public effort some direction All hands but one
have had the fever at some time during its visitation
here, but none have died
We truly believe that no description can possibly
Al. L A.
epidemic any idea of the appearance of utter desolae
ness and assertion which town exhibited during tn
long weeks of the fever We have gone all tow
II in broad daylight without meeting vehicle save
? doctors buggy hearse, seeing human beint
but those controlling them. Everybody seemed to hav
Il left town. 1t is only to be regretted that cOuc
not have left But in truth the exodus was pretty gen
era and the weight of calamity seemed to press thos
remaining heavily the great body of the wealtbe
inhabitants and nearly all the weather. families ha
b gone. If any families remained that had the
IS get away they caught here by accident. Indee
very many families had been away all summer, to b
beyond the reach of invasion.
1t was in truth melancholy time-sickness, death, de
serton and famine seemed combining against u.s. yet
had many grounds for tbankfulness. Oar sister com
muntes came molly to our aid. We were able, mea
u surably at least to meet the wants of the suffering an
the destitute and the spirit Of mutual assistance
to gain strength looked the danger in the fac
o o and felt that they must meet it together.
2 We have no time today fcr further particulars an
cannot refer to individual in the few remanin
sentences of this article, without running the risk
o doing injustice. We may have to say hereafter
70 Some little stealing and some very little robbng
houses has been DONE but considering that the Mayo
and elk policemen had to stand for the whole guardian
of the city by night and by day, aud recolecting ho
"a many houses and stores preciptaey abandone
Al the wonder is not that few such things
but that many more did not Occur. We, ourselves lo
g two Muscovies but one of them pugnacious Of
|" drake, about ten years of age. We pity the thief
he The Legislature of North Carolina met Yesterday
is 1t has very important business before it. We were
oy ing to say it had much business but that would D.
Ill have been correct If what is done is done wisely ar