Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-10-14
THE PUBLIC HEALTH.
Meeting Of Physicians and the
Board OF Health Yesterday.
IL yellow Fever Epidemic PA
Variety Of Opinions Expressed.
The Number Of Patients and
Deaths to be Published
Each Day.

decideY" is q question which some OF
our readers have doubtless heard before
In view Of the versatility Of opinion
among the medical faculty relative to
the progress Of yellow fever in the city,
the question is somewhat pertinent just
now. We daily question physicians, and
have not as yet met many who agree as
to the extent and progress ofthe mAlady.
Some are apt to pronounce everything
yellow jack" while others. insist that
the veritable yellow fever exists in the
community to only limited extent 1t
is known that congestion and malig-
nant type of intermittent fever prevail
to a considerable extent; and we be.
lieve it is an established medical fact
that during the prevalence ofyellow fever
all other fevers are apt to succumb, fire.
quently assuming a somewhat similar
type. In consequence, inexperienced
physicians not unfrequently pronounce
many cases Of this character yellow
fever, when they should by no means be
thus classed.
There is no doubt that the yellow
fever has considerable foothold in Mem
phis; but whether epidemic is the ques-
ton now puzzling our physicians. If it
has assumed that form, the same test
will give us two epidepics During
the week ending the 9th there
were more deaths from conges-
ton than from yellow fever; and
last week the latter led the former only
Z, the score standing: Yellow fever 30;
congestion %. If yellow fever is epi-
demic, how about congestion2
The variety of opinion among physi-
clans was fully illustrated in the physi-
clans meeting, held in one of the parlors
of the GayoSo House, yesterday. 1t was
attended by about thirty-six members of
the faculty, embracing those of the
largest practice. Forly.seven cases were
reported for the twenty-four hours end
ing at noon, and debate arose relative
to the propriety Of declaring the fever
epidemic.
DR.. Taylor believed it epidemic, he
had seen many cases in his practice but
admitted that he had yellow fever in his
eyes, and was prepared at present to re-
gard anything as yellow.
DR.. Willett had found but one case in
his practice-a man from New Orleans,
who recovered after treatment. He adj
vised against the proposed declaration.
DR.. Pittman agreed with DR.. Willett,
but desired daily official publication of
the progress of the disease.
DR.. Sim did not favor the proposed
daily publication.
DR.. Wilcox thought the number of
cases and deaths should be published that
the people might decide for themselves
whether the disease was epidemic.
DIR. Keller believed the fever to be
epidemic, and favored the motion to so
declare it. He submitted letter from
DR.. Frank Ross, of Mobile, who has had
twenty.six years experience in the treat
ment Of yellow fever, prescribing the
mode of treatment he had pursued. The
letter stated that under his mode of
treatment only two per cent Of the pa
tents had died. Here followed general
expression of opinion as to yellow fever
treatment.
Drs 0tey, Pittman and Willett OPP.
posed any declaration OF the fever as an
epidemic.
DR.. Taylor thought motives of policy
should not influence the physicians, AL
ready the country people believed the
fever prevails to great extent here, and
all who can leave are doing so, while
none arrive unless obliged to come.
Finally, eighteen physicians voted
that they deemed the fever epidemic,
Several did not v'te, being unable to
decide. The chair declared the motion
carried, but it was afterward reconsid-
cred.
Dr. Sim thought the mortuary report
published in the morning did not furnish
grounds for believing the epidemic to be
so terrible. There had been twenty |
deaths during the week, an average Of
four per day.
DIR. Willett said intermittent fever pre-
vailed to a great extent He did not
believe there was as much yellow fever
as had been reported. He had not heard
of any physician being attacked with
yellow fever, and certainly none of the
faculty had died from the effects Of it,
and yet they we're mixing freely among
their patients.
d.. Arlington said there were five
cases of intermittent fever to one Of
yellow fever, and yet no one wanted to
have it declared epidemic. He supposed
that the reason was that it was not so
dangerous a disease as yellow fever.
Would it not do to have two epidemics
in the city at one tuner He was in
favor Of reporting the cases and deaths
daily in the newspapers.
Dr. Creighton believed the fever should
be declared epidemic, aud the motion
was then carried.
After the physicians meeting, the