New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-06-26
YELLOW JACK" A MYTH.

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and death, the same As they are the world
over, long residence in New Orleans has
taught us to regard "Yellow Jack" as a
myth. 1t has become fashionable to paint
this fabulous monster as possessing some
thing more than the terrors of death as
possessing the power to present himself
at the front doors of our good people and,
with "hideous, jaundiced visage," to
'fright the souls of fearful adversaries,"
that it would be cruel not to dispel the
fearful vision they are made to see with
such direful effects for, it must be con-
coded, that fright has much to do with
bringing on disease-that sometimes ends
in death-to those stricken down.
While we do not claim that people
here are any more exempt from disease
than in other sections of our country, we
do claim that, with due precaution, the
chances for health are equally good.
Yellow fever or "Yellow jack
as some delight to write it's
bilious fever that readily yields to
medi cine, in most cases, when taken in
time. We are speaking of yellow fever
that is developed here, not of that which
is imported and of much more virulent
and infectious type. With strict enforce
ment of our quarantine laws in summer
months, New Orleans can be kept as free
from diseases of an epidemic nature as
the most favored cities of the Union.
The last disease that took epidemic
form here was imported from Mexico by
the soldiers of the Emperor Macmillan,
who, after his fall, found their way into
this country as the best means of reaching
transportation to their homes in Europe.
They came here early in the summer, be-
fore our quarantine laws were in force,
and before our authorities and people ap-
pretended danger from the importation of
disease. Many of these soldiers proved
to be afflicted with vomito, most danger
GUS type of yellow fever, peculiar to the
tropics-dangerous because infectious.
Others were pronounced to hare pernioiou5
fever only-but altogether the admission
of these poor soldiers from Mexico into
New Orleans, though in the early part of
summer, proved most pernicious to the
public health until the following fall; for
not until frost had put in an appearance
did the disease thus engendered among
our people cease its fatal ravages. Before
that time, and during the weary years of a
civil war that had closed New Orleans
against the chances Of contagious diseases
Of this kind, her people had long enjoyed
exemption from epidemics of the kind.
If there was any division in the minds of
our people before the war as to the neces-
sity of strictly enforcing the quAran-
tine laws for the maintenance of their
safety against the importation of disease
that is most infectious and becomes
rapidly epidemic, there can be none now.
With this precaution-the precaution
that is used by New York and other
Cities 'Yellow Jack" becomes as much
a myth in New Orleans as in other cities
of our country. This we wish to i'm
press particularly upon the minds Of all,
for New Orleans in the past has suffered
unjustly, from a common belief abroad,
that people are more subject to disease
here than elsewhere. This is not so.
Nor is New Orleans an unpleasant place
in which to spend the summer. If the
sun shines bright and warm here
the balmy south wind blows with re-
freshing effect, and the gentle showers
keep clean and green our broad live oaks,
our beautiful magnolia trees and charming
Orange groves. And then, if any get
tired of sauntering in the quiet umbrage-
BUSINESS of these trees that are indigenous
to the sunny Southland, why let them re-
tire to the margin Of our silvery lakes, in
the neighborhood of the Crescent City,
and there enjoy good bathing, fishing, and
good sailing to their hearts content.
There are numerous towns on our lake
shores, with commodious hotels, sur
rounded with grounds beautifully orna-
mented with trees and shrubbery, and
containing springs Of gushing, clear cold
water, with shell roads along the bay that