Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-10-15

reported CT this Office twenty.three cases
ofyellow fever occurring in their prac.
tice during the last twenty-four hours
ending at IL IN. The Bulletin of yes.
ierday made a mistake in reporting me
as saying that ninety per cent. OF the
cases of yellow fever had recovered.
When called upon for report of cases
and deaths for the week, | stated that
there had been lightweight cases re-
ported during the week, and twenty. nine
deaths, making one death in about three
cases. W. +. RooERs, M. D.,
Secretary Beard Of Health.
MEMPHIS, October IA, 1867.
Subjoined are the names of the pa
tients above reported:
DR.. W. r. Hodges reported two cases,
Mr.. Keller, of the Memphis and Charles.
ton railroad, and Mrs. Butler, near the
Charleston depot. Il
| DIR. Keller, two cases received at the
hospital on Sunday evening, both doing
we'll. "r7
DR.. Il. W. Creighton, two cases, Mr.
Harvey and wife, on the dredge boat, foot
of Beal street, not likely to recover.
DR.. Avent reported one death.
DIR. Lowry, one case, that of Col. Gilkie,
the well known jeweler.
DIR. Levy, one case, Mrs DeLaRooke.
DIR. Butt, two cases, Mr.. Ligus and Mr..
Frank Bayless.
DR.. Dunn, two cases (children), names
unknown.
Dr. Edwards reports three cases.
DR.. Irwin two cases, names unknown.
DIR. Rice, two cases on Commerce
street.
Dr. 0. r. Early, reports one case.
Dr. Joe L. Lynch, two cases near the
Charleston depot
The secretary Of the board, DR.. W. L.
Rogers, on being called upon, stated that
he had no deaths to report. One of the
physicians present stated that Dr. Jones
died of yellow fever, on Sunday night.
DR.. Creighton stated that DR.. Ire
maine, U. 5. A., told him that he had
four cases in his hospital at the navy
yard, and requested that he, with the
president, should visit him and examine
the cases.
Whether this indicates any abatement
of the disease depends upon the number
of cases found by physicians who failed
to report. Twenty-Five or twenty.three
physicians attended the meeting of the
Board of Health yesterday, while on
Sunday nearly double that number we're
present. The Secretary of the Board,
DR.. Rogers, is using every exertion to
obtain reliable data for his daily re-
ports, and constantly urges physicians,
both personally and through the press,
to furnish reports of all cases of fever
discovered in their practice. While
nearly all who have much practice COM
ply, many fail, and in consequence i'm.
perfect returns are sent to the public.
Why any honorable physician should
neglect or refuse to comply with this
request Of the Secretary il is difficult to
conceive. 1t is plainly his duty, not
only to the public, but to the Board of
Health. To refuse is to subject
the parties concerned to al
fine of $50 in police court, the sanitary
ordinance requiring physicians to faith
fully report to the secretary each case
of smallpox, cholera, or other disease
liable to become epidemic. Should any
physicians much longer fail to report, we
have little doubt that the secretary will
cause the enforcement of the ordinance.
The board of Aldermen should require
him to do so. He may rely upon it that
the public will commend the action. No
doubt there are physicians who create
the impression that they daily treat yell
low fever patients, but who, when ques-
toned by the secretary, have none to re.
port.
We have heard Of instances of this
character, and may publish few names
if so discreditable and unprofessional a
practice is persisted in. Yesterday a
physician of extensive practice informed |
us that he had treated only one or two
cases of clearly defined yellow fever
thus far; yet some gentlemen with
" M. ID. appended to their names, who
are barely known as practitioners, can
scarcely count on their fingers the mum.
Der of patients daily falling to their lot
1t is remarkable that while few of the
physicians of emnence find more than
a few cases each day, the inexperienced
and unknown are so completely over.
with practice.
Far down in South Memphis aud east
IF the Charleston depot are the localities
most scourged, although there are cases
n nearly every portion Of the city. On
Jefferson street (extended) the disease
las ragged with particular violence, few
antilles escaping it. Fortunately the
is sparsely inhabited, and
learly all able to leave have already
ought more healthy localities. There
re several pools of stagnant water in
he vicinity, which have, doubtless, con.
ributed TO perpetuate the malsdy.
DEATH or POLICE SERGEANT HAMPTON.
ergeAnt Richard NJ. Hampton, of the |
'irst District Metropolitan Police, whose
erious illness from yellow fever has been :
lentioned, died at his residence, corner
{ Lauderdale and Jefferson streets ex.
ended, at o'clock last night. he had
cen confined to his room several days.
lis fnneral will take nlace this after. 9