New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-10-29
From the St. Louis Democrat.

tors Have to say.
From the St. Louis Democrat.J
The prevalence and steady increase Of
smallpox in the city is exciting consider
able apprehension and no little alarm, and
it is the duty Of the press to present the
facts as they are, that unnecessary fears
NAV be allayed, and that the apathetic may
be stimulated to precautionary measures.
Heretofore it has been thought advisable
by the authorities to suppress intelligence
OF the ravages of the disease through fear
of exciting the residents of the city, as well
as those who yearly, at about this time,
fioclI into town for their fall purchases; but
so rapid is the spread OF the evil that, IN
the opinion Of many, the mayor will soon
be compelled to proclaim that the city is
the victim of the epidemic, and warn those
who contemplate visiting our metropolis
In order to ascertain the exact extent to
which the disease is prevalent, portion OF
the Democrats reportorial force has been
actively engaged in looking up the matter
and reducing the exaggerated rumors to
absolute facts. The infected districts were
carefully examined, the records of the board
of health investigated, and many of the
most prominent physicians interviewed.
The result is not encouraging, but the facts
accumulated seem to indicate that the dan
ger, though imminent, is not as great as
floating rumors would seem to indicate.
Our reporter sought Dr. O'Brien, secre
Gary Of the board of health, and requested
access to the books in order to fix the actual
number of cases reported since the breaking
ant of the epidemic DR.. O'Brien at first
was doubtful about the propriety of publ
cation of the figures He feared the effect
Fpon our citizens, and said that the policy
of the health board had been to conceal the
facts, while they endeayOred by every pre-
caution to resist the spread Of the disease.
He was willing to afford the reporter every
SaciIitv for the collection of the facts he
wanted, though he deprecated publicity as
sending to initiate against the efforts of the
Dbysicians who had undertaken the ardu-
GUS task Of breaking down the epidemic.
He thought that the trouble would soon be
under control though it might be necessary
dor the mayor to take some official action
which would enable the health authorities
10 remove the sufferers.
DIR. O'Brien gave very sensible reasons
for the position he assumed, but finally
gave way before the reporters perslstency
and reluctantly assumed the responsibility
of disclosing the books. He spoke of the
Jealous eyes with which Chicago and
place called Cincinnati regard the progress
st. Louis had made, and thought the publ
cation of any disaster to our city would con
vulse those resorts with delight. This is
very probable, but it will also have the ef-
feet, beneficial to ST. Louis, OF keeping
Chicagoans and Cincinnatians out of this
city, relief almost commensurate with the
sorrow that the prevalent trouble is sowing
in our midst AS for Chicago, may be that
yirtuous city will remember the degree of
warmth to which she was on one occasion
subjected, the pltieous walls she raised
for assistance, and the promptness
with which st. Louis answered. Gin
cinnati, threatened with trichina, is
not in position to rejoice much over the
misfortunes Of any city, and if she does, tie
fact that she is too far from st. Louis to
amount to anything, will be taken into
consideration as weighing heavier than her
amusement over the misfortunes of city
that can lick her in fifteen minutes.
The records of the board disclose that
the disease assumed startling proportions
about the first of September, and has stead
lily increased from that date. 1t was then
located in the eighth and ninth wards,
though there was few cases in various
parts Of the city. Since then it has ragged
in those wards to a greater extent than in
any other district, though every part of the
town is infected to a greater or less degree
The transcript below will show the increase
for the past six weeks: