The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-10-11
PREVALENCE OF CHILLs AND FEVER
AT THE NORTH.

The people OF Connecticut are suffering at pre-
sent from sickness to which hitherto they have
been almost utter strangers. For generations
they have been exempt from that most uncom-
Portable malady, the fever and ague, which now
has become almost epidemic throughout the
State, shaking not only the inhabitants but their
nearly universal belief that malarial disorders
were impossible on their soil. 1t may be that the
universally rliny summer has been the cause OF
this by creating stagnant pools of water, and
making every low-lying meadow swamp where
the fever may breed.
We clip the above from the N. Y. World,
and it is only coroboratiyc of what we have
seen reported from various sources.
The disease appeared in various locali-
ties even on the hills and along the sea-
shore. Reports from Red Wing, Mime
sofa, mention that locality, farther still to
the northward, as being the banner town
for chils, two hundred cases having &C.
Cured in one day. Yet there are people
who cry out against Virginia, and particu-
larly the Tide-Water region, because there
is liability to fever and ague. The West is
recommended as healthier, and its land
represented as cheaper, both of which pro-
positions arc wholly incorrect.
Ilclt ID llO 1lcstlOicll COulltly Oil bHc
globe than Virginia. In any country we
would advise people to keep out of low,
damp localities. Such places arc sickly
alike in Maine and Virginia, in Illinois and
Minnesota. All experience proves that
causes of disease are very local even a
foul, damp cellar or dirty .hog-pen often
causing fatal disease.
There are localities near the city of New
York where chills are as common as in the
worst parts of Wisconsin, Illinois or Kan
sas, while half mile away they are scarce
ly ever known. And it is so on the banks
of the Potomac and the James. Certain
portions Of the city of Washington are no.
torious for ague, chills and feyers, while
other parts are comparatively exempt from
them. Looking closely at the matter we
find also that fever and ague prevails among
certain class of people who live in badly
constructed houses, cat unwholesome food,
and are generally careless and uncleanly in
their habits. These people, both white and
colored, frequent the low, rich bottoms
along the rivers, on account ofcheaper living.
Their food is mostly bacon, corn-cakes and
fish, always fried in lard. They use few
vegetables, and consider fruit as dangerous
as poison.
We CHANGED to visit such family few
days since, living in little log hut, near
the edge Of low flat on the Potomac
| Father and mother and five children-the
youngest baby-were gathered around
the table, in the centre ofwhich set a trench
er of bacon and herring swimming in melt
cd grease corn cakes, fried in the same
material, were the only other eatable, ex-
cept coffee. Every member of the family
were complaining of chills. When we sug-
gested the use of apples and other ripe
fruit, so abundant in that region, and of
vegetables, which can be SO cheaply raised,
these poor people were astonished, and said
that they dare not let their children eat fruit
or vegetables because they were so sickly.
The poor little things now and then
broke over the parental restraint and
go rged themselves, which, probably,
strengthened this impression. Now, mile
away from this family, which is fair spe-
cimen of the thousands on the
river, are families who live on high loca-
tons, and whose habits are clearly,
and who live nationally and decently.
Among these people we find good health.