The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-12-20

TOUTIIIIHHICaltN'
SHREyEPoRr. La. Dec. II. 1865.


SHREvEPoRr, La, Dec. "A, 1865.
NJ Elitor-It Will be remembered, that few weeks
ago the city authorities made a pubhc oliciai an
of the fact that small poX was IN our
ds and that its threatening aspect made Unnecessary
that prompt and decisive steps should be taken 10 arrest
its progress. Such steps they promised would be
taken BY them. This assurance, coming from SO re-
sponsibe source, hailed with delight BY an ag-
lated community. The general Apprehension gave
place to feeling of securlty-how wen 1ounaeo
propose to inquire. -
Mr. Editor it has but seldom happened in my lite,
that any subject matter has furnished stimulus sum
GENTLY strong to draw from pubic expression OF
my opinions and in what shall now say, expressly
disclaim any motive unfrendy to the gentlemen com
posing our municipal government. SO lar from TINS,
for all of them l entertain personal regard; but
they public servants holding in their hands Fast
and varied interests, and such their Official course
cannot be above criticism
Have they made good their promise, upon which the
hopes and confidence of this community was induced
to rest? What barrier has been erected by them TO
stay the progress of small pox? The pestence stalks
abroad through the city, at pleasure few days ago,
and it heard of as existing only IN negro nuts upon
the suburbs of the town To-day, it finds Judgment
in citizens dwellings, in the very heart OF the city sun
it marches rapidly on, awakening alarms, mperlhng
health life, and the commercial interests OF our peo-
pe growing stronger and spreading faster Win every
additional step gained Is anything to be done to re-
move these Dire but most unnecessary intcton Ii So
why not now? Upon what ground can delay be Justl-
fed, when every hours postponement only the more
intensfes these calamitieS To this day common
receptacle has been provided for the small poX cases
among the paupers (negroes), who, it is well under
Stood are, and will continue to be throughout this cpl
demic the most dangerous sources of infection. 1t
would rather seem designed that every paupers hut
should be his pest house. These black pestilen-
al spots have already begun to dot the city over and
are rapidly multiplying.
The remedy for all this is plain. We want pest
house. and at once We want it isolated, commodious
with its corps Of trasty sentneis, standing watch by
day and by night to guard the approaches to it. and
the avenues of exit thereTom, TO prevent improper
admtances the one hand, and on the other, 10 see
that uncean thing whether IN the shape OF patient
or apparel be allowed to escape abroad to become the
cn5+"a of fresh rohtagoh,
The council have requested the physicians Of the
citv, and all oialrs, (rcsden9, whenever they snow
house TO contain case of small pox to write over the
door of that house the word q small pOX. TINS Is q
GOOD SUGGESTION and doubt not it Will be strictly
complied WITH far the white people are concerned
But who is there to think and act for the negro? e
all understand the apathy of that well enough to
know that very few of them could be found who would
trouble themselves to give public notice OF the existence
of the disease in their houses Many OF them Tor SELF
ish ends will conceal it, Within the past few days
have myself had four of these dragged out from
under cover Of concealment IN much tequented por-
tions of the city and had item taken to more $50,
lated point Under these circumstances the city should
have an Inspector q would suggest the health oihcer
for this tas whose duty 1t should be TO VISIT, at pfeI
intervals of time (say every two days. every negro
cabin in and contiguous, to the town, make personal
inspection of the same and whenever a case OF small
pox is found let be forthwith taken to the pest mouse
by conveyance to be furnished by the corporation ol
snch purpose The dwelling vacated by the small pos
case should be Immediately burnt, or else torn down
and the materials composing II oe 1Seu - i Id =
hospital lear 700 ihucn Feailce @S go l,l
vaccination as means OF eAteilillIt'iLls I P7
from our midst But vaccination alone cannot accom-
/ pllsh TINS END, because, even MGh t%Ncl'3 ~ 800
always give pfotecton More imam Inls' ~ u
cannot at once be had therefore this means OF check
ing the malady cannot De ltHiaedl"Vey nPPieu y L
under these circumstances II ne iurIner toe9uel {,
that much of population will be for the future,
floating changing population, it will require no grea
sagacty to discern that unless some prompt, practI
cal and COMPREHENSIVE sanitary measures are aoP'eu
there Is great danger that thls P9paI pest WI oe "
. tailed upon our people for an indefinite PERIOD.
Our first need, then, IS Slnali poA hoSpai' lia,
taken some pans, SIR. Ealtof, 10 search "Ioulu IN
city for some unoecuped bmld!ng Sultea lof su SUI
purpose. As lncomparaby superior TO an ot4ef9 Whc
saw would direct attention 10 an ullHnSneu pui
ing situated several Aunl'ieq SaLus apon .o "a Il
hundred feet long by thirty feet woe, ana n
pitched With small outlay tHlS cou! ~
ltwould make most aali.ap.G noSPissi, Io
accommodating without d TIoatL9i % ~ 5,1T 5,
tGGs ai5 Pa5 that this building MIGHT be apDrc
TINS page ag[eg t Ya ta T a'ted tI5t fo
PflaLeu oL Pess i Ltr fro,1a bniIdn9
inc purpose o. ro,nds and NOT in neccssaT
VIZ uPG ~ r,+nnE+ Tapd tLnra arr two such
nso :! ~ - - ei tbe rnateriaI nSed The Inn
Der to have obtained in this way, together vii
"G4t eouIQ De procure" ron, , iat' tt d
believe more than complete the Worn Something ha
been said about want of funds in the treasury to carr
on q hospital If the treasury has not suficiency
funds it is very plain that special tax (po tax,
Won choose should be Immediately levied This stcr
sooner or later must inevitably be taken. The mil
tary authorities withna few days back pledged them
selves to share largely the cost attendant upon tn
erection and maintenance of small pox hosplta
The city authorities were, in the persons Of tn
proper iuncuonalles, apprIea Oh thls lac ana the
cooperation invited, Specific propositions were mad
by the military authori9es-Pr9PosIons when sur
stantiay sad that besides an eectEe military guar
for the hospital at least onehaIt OF the expense INC
dental to the htng up ana maintenance OF Ine l"TIe
would pc borne QF me onlI9u otaoeS gov H.
propositions met WIN no u6LIlltt ISSpooS anu IilS
we're recalled From that time an 1ae" 81 tooPeIaIto
was abandoned Qy the military Inc lnIIl~9y sSG