New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-10-26

We reproduce the subjoined special from
the Chicago Tribune:
ST.. LOUIS, October Misunderstanding
the rivalry between St. Louis and Chicago,
your readers can easily believe how intense
a sensation was caused here to-day by an
article, in the Democrat on the smallpox.
For several weeks past a regular and rapid
increase in small poX cases has been no
ticable, rather from the frequency Of small
pox tickets on the doors than from any
other reason, as the press kept very quiet.
The Democrats article gave particulars col
lated from the published returns of the
board Of health, which showed a steady
and alarming increase in the cases reported,
from thirty four for the first week in
September, to POI for the third week
in October For the last two weeks those
ending the twelfth and nineteenth October,
the mortality was forty-seven and forty
nine respectively, though the reports were
fixed by classifying them under the head
of variOoid, etc. In seven weeks the cases
were 1877, and the average Of deaths was
thirty per cent. In addition to that there
were many cases not reported by the doe
tors. and so negligently were things con-
Quoted that one woman died without med
zeal attendance, and her neighb0rs never
knew the cause of death till her daughter
went out to seek help to Stroud and bury
her mother.
The district most infected is mostly occu,
pied by tenement houses and negro lodg-
Ings, dirty and closely populated. bounded
by Twelfth street, the rlVer, u tailon street
and the arsenal, q space of about six square
miles. bhef6 are many other sporadic
cases; it is impossible to say how many, as
the doctors conceal the cases. As soon as
the artlcle hau appeared the merchants,
fearful Of their fall trade being diverted to
Chicago, set to work, and raised lists,
pledglng that theY would not advertise or
subscribe to the DeM0cr0t. ON Fourth
street they obtained I32 signatures; an
otheE on dnlfd street Sixty. IN view OF
this, the DeMocrdfS CHEZ proprietor,
@ishOack, Weahenedo and stopped pu0h-
cation, as he SAID, For polIcY, so as
not tO hurt Bho TALL Srade 0P the city"
Meanwhile, the IJem0cr0t reporters had IN
teryleWed Mayor Joseph Brown and the
Board OF Health. On asking the secretary
) for smallpox returns Of Monday and
"Wednesday, DIR. O.Brlcn declined giving
them without an order from the board.
reporter, with stenographic writer, then
demanded access to the books as citizens
and tax payers, and were informed that
the board declared the smallpox reports
private, and their publication inexpedient
at present. as sending to cause a public
panic, and interfere with public trade. He
SAID further that health officers were work
ing day and night to overcome the disease,
and be hoped to do SOD without notice
in public press. They had just inoculated
two heiters, and 50 hoped to secure supply
OF pure vaccine. S(n gong to Mayor Brown,
ne ackno"ledged the llght, OF inc sltlzenS
to inspect the books OF the department.
but said this was the first time he had ever
been asked'to show them, and declined, as
such information was for the purpose of
publication. After considerable bIut1ing he
said, and this "a the cc"brttin report; Il do
nos disguise the :ssct shaS this may be Ger
rible visitation. am prepared 20 sake the
responsibility when the time comes, OF de
claring che disease epidemic, and when that
time comes no consideration as to the effect
upon the t~lI trade or che business interests
Of the city wall have any weight. kn view
Of the practical contsc&slon OF property.
ana Shs ioi@loIe removal OF persons which