Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-10-16
Nnipn and 9ispateh.
WEDNESDAY,. OCrORER IS. 1897.
largest Circulation in City and State.
YELLOW FEVER IN MEMPHIS.
Is IL Epidemic "A FoW-WOw Of Dis
agreeing Doctors ON the subject
The Existence Of Five Hundred Ca
SEES Asserted C0nsfernatiOn Among
the People, etc. etc.
From the Memphis Bulletin.

one Of the parlors Of the Gayoso House
and was attended by about thirty. six mem
bers of the faculty, to take into considera-
ton the very important fact, Whether
yellow fever is epidemic in Memphis at tbs
present time -
The first business of the meeting was to
receive reports Of new cases of yellow fever
for the previous twenty hours, when
forty-seven cases in all were reported. The
majority Of the cases were reported from
the section of the city which lies between
Madison street and Poplar street extended,
and which was called by some of the gen.
tlemen present as the infected district A
number Of cases were also reported from
other portions of the city.
Dr. A. X. Taylor moved that yellow
fever be declared epidemic in Memphis at
the present time, and said that he had con-
sdered il epidemic for the past ten DAYS,
and was Of opinion that instead of forty-six
cases there were at least five hundred cases
in the city Of Memphis at the present time.
He was aware that this statement might be
objected TO by many of those present, but
he bad seen many cases.
DIR. Willet opposed the motion, ard
thought they ought not to declare il an
epidemic at the present time. He had
only had one case in his own practice, and
that was a person who had arrived from
New Orleans on business, and had recov-
cred after few days treatment.
DIR. PIttman also opposed the motion,
but was in favor of prohibiting a daily re-
port OF the number of cases and deaths.
DR.. Sim doubted the propriety of pub,
fishing daily report.
DIR. Wilcox thought that it would be a
good plan for the Board of Health to pub
lish the reports of cases and deaths each
day in the newspapers, and then the PEG
pie could declare whether yellow fever was
epidemic or not.
DIR. Keller spoke in favor of the mo-
ton.
Drs. Otey and Pittman hoped they
would not declare yellow fever epidemic
at the present time, and urged delay.
DIR. Taylor said that they ought not to
wait on the policy that it would destroy
business, as it was already reported that
there was a great deal of yellow fever in
Memphis. Those who could get away
were leaving the city, and no person was
arriving in the city who could stay away
DR.. Keller said there were ten persons
leaving the city for one that came in by
the various railroad trains.
The vote was then taken on the motion.
when eighteen voted in the affirmative.
Several declined to vote, as they could not
make up their minds in regard to the sub
iect
The chairman declared the motion car
ried, but the motion was reconsidered
DIR. Knode moved that the physicians
present vote on their convictions on the
reports which had been handed in.
DR.. Pittman again opposed the motion.
DR. Sim did not think that there was
such a terrible epidemic ia the city as some
Of those present were inclined to believe.
He then drew attention to The mortnary
report published in the newspapers that
morning, and said that only four or five
deaths had been reported each day from
yellow fever, and the epidemic was not 50
terrible after all.
DIR. Willet said that there was a good deal
of intermittent fever in the city at the pre-
sent time, and he did not think that there
was so much yellow fever as had beer
stated. He had not heard of any physi.
clan being attacked by yellow fever, and
certainly none of the faculty had died from
| the effects of it, and vet they were mixing
freely with their patients.
DIR. Arantine said that there were five
cases of intermittent fever to one of yellow
fever, and yet no one wanted to have it de.
clared epidemic. He supposed that the
reason was that if was not so dangerous a
disease as yellow fever. Would it not dc
to have two epidemics in the city at one
time2
DR.. Creighton and others spoke in favor
of the motion, and il was declared carried
aud referred TO the Board of Health.
The meeting then adjourned.
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
A meeting of the Board of Health wa,
then organized.
DIR. Rogers, in reply TO question, CAV,
| it .ss his opinion that ninety per cent. o
| the patients attacked with yellow fever haC
recovered
DR.. Knode thought all the cases anC
deaths should be published in the news
papers each morLing.
DIR. Taylor did not think ii could b,
done
Dr. Knode was Of the contrary opinion
| lf il were done the people could leave the
city if they thought it dangerous TO stay
| He then moved resolution 10 the effec
that the Board was of the opinion that tn,
ravages Of yellow fever will soon be Gu
short by FROST
| DIR. Brown said he wished TO make few
remarks, and called DR. Tay Tor to the chair
lie said, in his opinion, frost rather aggra
| waited yellow fever than stopped it, Onl.
constant and continual cold weather woult
do so. He wished it declared epidemic
and moved the following:
Resolved, BY the Board, that We now con
slider yellow fever TO be epidemic, an
would advise all persons who can leave {
do so, and not return until further sugges
tious from the Board of Health
lie stated that he had already sent o.
his own family, and he wished he oOnl
get away himself
DIR. Taylor spoke ia favor Of the motion
and said he was in favor of the Boar
adopting prompt and effective measures
DIR. Sim said that if they adopted thi
action officially it would interfere with tn
business of the city. He did not thin
that the physicians OF thu city would hol
them ont in their action.
DIR. Brown replied thai the health Of th
city ought TO be their first consideration
yellow fever was certainly epidemic if TIA
reports submitted that day were true. II
had, therefore, advised all his friends
leave the city who could get away.
Dr. Pittman said Memphis was grow
ing city, and had always been considers
to he above The yellow fever belt, and
they declared yellow fever epidemic the
might live 20 regret it. The TACT would b.
come historical if they SO declared it, an
as there was a difference of opinion, h
thought they should not do so. He hope
they would soon be able to announce ths
yellow fever had passed away from OF
midst.
DT.Sim wanted action deferred till thei
was a full meeting of the Board.
DIR. Taylor said that DIR. Irwin would voi
FOR the motion, and DIR. Frazier against
so that made things even.
The vote on Or. Browns motion resulte
a. follows:
Ayes Taylor, Brown and Knobe-3.
Nays-Sim, Pittman and Otey-3.
Or. Taylor, as Chairman, wanted to pi,
the casting vote, bat tins was objected I
D and the motion was lost.
-
A. r. IL H.,