The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-08-26
TIE HEALTH OF CHARLESTON
Action Of the medical Society.


at an extra meeting Of the Medical Society OF
South Carolina, held on August 25th, the fol-
lowing paper was read, and it was ordered
that it be published in the daily papers:
We, the members OF the Medical Society
| of South Corolina, feeling that our interests
are inseparably connected with the clty OF our
residence and the home OF our selectlon, 1uily
alive to the advantages OF her growth, her
GENERAL prosperity, and also to her character
| for honesty, In view Of the general Circulation
of renorts ss to the prevalence OF pestilential
disease. and the manner in which such reports
\ have been dealt with by city officials, the
board of health and the press OF the city, think
| it best to offer plain statement of the facts
connected with the present sanitary condition
Of the city.
In doing so it ia not our object to arraIgn
the action of the constituted authorities, to
step between them and their official duties, or
to pass Judgment upon the course they have
thought proper TO pursue. We desire simply
ton as to the manner OF meeting the situation
In which the community finds Itself unfortu-
nately placed, and 10 show by our action that
We are alive to the duty we owe to our fellow
citizens who are making constant appeals for
Information and advice. Our purpose 1s to
follow Truth wherever she may lead; to affirm
only what can be substantiated; to announce
nothing calculated to deceive the most credu-
lous; to quiet unnecessary excitement and
alarm, but at the same time to put every citi-
zen in position to take such steps as he may
deem proper to subserve his Interest and pro-
'tect his life.
First, then, we announce that yellow fever
does prevail 10 limited e1tsnt In the city.
The first case. as far as can be ascertalned,
occurred as early as the 9th of July. Since
that time there have been noted, In all, per-
haps as many as thirty-fve cases. Out OF this
number nine have proved fatal; but, as IN q
few instances, uncertainty existed IN tne
minds of the attending physicians as to the
true character of the disease, and In few
others. for prudential reasons, the true name
was withheld. The mortuary certihcates IN
the possession of the registrar show less than
the entire number Of deaths. The mortality,
however, even with this allowance, is exceed
ipgly small, and would seem to indicate a
mild form OF the disease.
Secondly, we are happy to state - tnat tne 1
large majority of the cases have occurred IN
one locality. This would seem, In the oplalon
of some OF us, to furnish the assurance that cir
cumscribed local influence alone have favored
the development or extension Of the disease,
and that Its area may continue restricted.
Third. The period Of time that has elapsed
since the report of the first case declares
character of disease not disposed to extend
rapidly or widely.
Fourth. There are differences OF opinion
amongst ourselves as to the probable exten-
sion Of the disease in an epidemic form. TO
the panic-strlcken, however, we would say:
Leave the city, II you can, at your earliest
convenience, for fright is strong predisposing
cause of disease. To the large mass OF our
fellow-citizens, whose interests are Identified
with ours and with the city, we would advise
patient waiting for further developments, un-
less residing In an infected locality, and in the
meantime an avoidance Of any excess or ur-
necessary exposure.
Let each and every one, without comment
ing or anImadverting upon the action OF the
powers that be, who In hls opinion may have
BY sins of omission or commission Invited the
pestilence, use bis best energies to carry out,
under proper direction, those sanitary meas.
ures of known value in staying the raVages OF
disease, that In some form or other, under the
mysterious workings Of an overruling ProVi-
dence, is at times destined to visit every COM
munity.
Official MANNING SIMoNs, n. D., Secretary.