The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-11-06
Give us Light.
BAYOU RApIDEs,
October %. 1867.

ent issues of iyorr, journal since the
sickness in Alexandria, I notice thai
You style the epidemic in your place
"tle prevailing fever" VIII yo'
please ohlise me and state whether o.
not yon have the yellow fever in Alex
andria or have had it, or what do yo,
call prevailing fever We ia tn
country can't understand it, particu.
larly when we hear of so much yellow
fever in your Town. Endeavar to ex,
plain this to MS even if you have to eal
in the Doctors to your aid.
Yours &c, Is.
The above letter we received on las
Saturday evening by the hands of {
venerable freedman from a not so quie
venerable friend Of ours. We publish
the letter to show to what straits /;
poor Editor is sometimes driven to, ant
what trouble he can call down on his
devoted Uranium. Shades OF Escnpa.
piris and every other NJ. D. who -four
ished in the same century come tn ON
rescue and help us or we go under!-
However it is no use to have an Opin-
ion and not express it. so at the great
risk Of having the thnnders Of all pill
dom rOared at lis we'll have eur say So
and try and help out orr friend in his
prevailing trouble. We will add that
Il moderate space in our columns will
he eheerfully given up to any one, who
thinks we are wrong and can make us
and the rest of the Alexandria man
kind right. Onr answer will be short
and to the point.
Since the LIST day of October there
have been about l40 persons in Alex
andria and suburbs taken with fever.
that we believe many have pronounced
it yellow fever and have not been will
ling for any one to even hint it was or
could be any thing else. AT the com
mencement of this epidemic, (for this
fever which we have called s'prevail-
ing" did from its incipiency become
epidemic the greatest excitement was
iatchedup undue fears werearoused and
the whole community frightened near
ly to death and nothing but yellow
could prevail. In fact everything
was yellow fever and nothing but yell
low fever and so it has been nearly up
to the present time! Up to the pres
ent writing there have been but 20
deaths in all, blacks, whites. males, te-
males and infants! In a word and to
he plain we do not believe there have
been in Alexandria since the LIST of Oc-
toher to the present time over ten or
twelve cases of real yellow fever, that
is, such as it existed here in 1878,
1917, 1853, 1851! The disease has
been pernicious one with one strong
of fever, which in most all
instances, has readily yielded to qui-
nine, and the patient recovering and
up and about inside of five days! We
snow one practitioner who has had 81
patients under treatment, in the same
lumber Of days, andevery one, without
single exception, proved to have what
We call "tlie prevailing fever" and all |
were tnrned off we'll and cured inside |
# five days!
We hope our friend is answered, par
iculally as he may get us into trouble.
n conclusion we hope those who have
'easOn to be wiser and more knowing
han us, will mt stump the fence Cor
lers of the Town when they peruse
his and work off useless steam, but
hat they will accept our offer and send
IS their written opinions for the bene-
it ofall. They may be assured they
hal! have conspicuous place in our
olumns and be treated with due cour-
csy. Let us he enlightened and down
With the proof!
In connection with this we give pub
ication to the following letter of Dr..
ninth, the President of the Board of
iealth, which we hope will receive due
ttention and the desired information
iven:
OFFICE OF THE Board or HEALTH, !
New Orleans, October, 10, 1867. :
o the Mayor Of Alexandria, La:
SiR:--In view of the great interest at
ache'l to the subject of the rise and pro-
agatiou of Yellow Fever epidemics, l
ave the honor respectfully, to request you
. furnish me with all the information
blamed relative to the introduction or to
he origin of the present epidemic in yonr
ity. ! would be pleased to get the opin.
'ns of the Physicians of your city in this
egard even where they are opposite and
Very Respectfully. zfl
-e Your Obedient Servant,
s. A. SMITH.
YELLOW FEVER IN ALExANpR1A.-