Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-06-29
SOME FACTS ABOUT CHOLERA IN
~ NASHVILLE


~ NASHVILLE. 4ksNE
In August, 1867, Dr.. Joseph jones, then
at The head OF the Board Of Health, submit
ted to that body an elaborate reposs on
the health and sanitary condition Of Nash
vile, from which we learn many interss ing
facts which will be of peculiar interest just
now. OF the summer succeeding the ter
rible cholera visitation Of 1866, DR.. Jones
says: -..--,--
"The kindling Of the embers of the chol-
era in several Of the cities a towns of the
Mississippi Valley has kept the minds Of
many in an eXcit and anxious state. The
Health Officer has watched with peculiar
interest that class of diseases which is most
nearly allied to Asiatie cholera, and which
most generally greatly increase Just before
and during an epidemic of cholera. Du-
ring the quarter ending July 81, no increase.
in the death rae from bowel affections has
bsen noted, but there has been, on the con-
trary, a most encouraging exemption from
this class of disease"
DR.. Jones prepared after great trouble
and research q table which shows the total
numbero of deaths In each year from 1922 10
1866, and the table shows the number of
deaths in each monthof the year from 1928.
There are also tables showing the death
rate ard per cent Of deaths to the inhabi-
tants Of the city. During the eight years
from 1922 to 1929 inclusive, the annual
death rate was 2.4S per cent, or one death
in Il Of the inhabitants. The records for
the years 1902 are missiDg.] During
the ten years from 1888 to 1913, the death
rate was 3.5S per cent, or one death in 27,e
inhabitants. During the ten years from
1913 to 1858, the death rate was A.56 per
cen, or one death in 21.9 of the inhabi-
tsnts. In the nine succeeding years-1858
TO 1862 in which there was no cholera ep-
idemic, the death rate was Str per cent, or
one death in 26.S of the inhabitants; and
during the entire period-1S22 to 18G2-the
annual death rate was 81 per
cent, or one death in 29.4 in
habitants. DIR. jones states that,
in the years In which cholera prevailed the
death rate was much higher. Thus, in
1888, It was SO perrcent, or one death in
1913 of the inhabitants; in 1885, it was ga
per cent, or one death in 1876; in 1S49, it
was 6.S per cent, or one death in 14.4; in
1850, it was Z 8 per cent, or one death in
l2.6; in 1854, II was As per cent, or one
death in POT. DR.. Jones states that the
death rate of 1660was probably as high as
during the fatal year of 1850, but an &C
'c1rate estimate of the population was
wanting upon which calculation could be |
based. The Doctor adds:
sit would appear from these statistics
that the death rate of Nashville has in.
creased with the growth of the city. This
increase in the death rate appears to be due
to several causes, but chiefly to the progress
siVe croWding Of the houses along the mar
row streets, the filing up Of the lowlands
along Lick branch and Wilson's spring
branch with offal and filth of all kinds; the
extension of the city along and over the
low grounds; the absence of all parks for
exercise and pleasure, and the absence Of
any regular system of sewerage and drain
age. The causes OF disease have
increased with the crowding OF
houses within limited areas, and the con-
current multiplication of filth, and improp-
erly drained and policed alleys.
The death rate Of Nashville, in comparison
with that of many other cities, has been
without doubt both relatively and actually
increased by the Tavsges of imported and
exotic pestilenee. Cholera caused nearly
one-tenth of all the deaths recorded in the
CT y of Nashville from 1921 TO 1867, or
more accurately, during this period %, 24S
deaths and burisls were recorded, and of
this number Aslatic cholera directly caused
,8l3; and if we add TO this the deaths real
ly c2ustd by this pestilence, but recorded
SIS cnolera ipiantum ant disrrhes, the
Number would exceed 1000, and perhaps
reach near 3 900. Surely the application of
the most approved sanitary measures for
the arrest Of this pestileLce is of some
interest to a city which has been so
severely scourged. Up 10 the last epidemic
of Asiatic cholera, the heaviest mortality
has fallen in the months of May, June and
July. Thus, from 1882 to 1866, during the
epidemics of 1888, 1885, 1S49, 1850, 1854
and 1855, nineteen deaths from cholera &C.
CURED in January; fifty-nine in February;
twenty-three in March; twenty-one in April;
eghty-niHe in May; four hundred and
thirty-one in June; three hundred and
thirty six in July; eleven in August; and
two in September. No dea his from this
disease during the epidemics occurred in
October and November, and only one death
in December. In former epidemics the rise
and progress Of the disease appeared to be
connected in q measure with the increased
aximum and decline Of solar beat during
the hottest months ofthe year; and from such
facts it would have been unreasonable to
draw the Inclusion, that The probabilities ola
cholera epidemic were diminished daily;
but the epidemic of 1866 reversed the FORM
er order of things. The cholera appeared
the last days of August, reached its maxi
mum in September, (670 deaths occurring in
this single month"; snd rapidly declined
and disappeared entirely in October. A
careful consideration of these facts leads to
the belief that whilst the spread of the dis
ease may be greatly promoted by the exter-
nal temperature; at the same time the ap-
and spread of the disease is iuti-
mately associated with, if not absolutely
dependent upon the time of its importa-
ton, and the hygienic condition of the city,
at the period of its introduction. In the
following table we have consolida ed the
mortuary records of the different
ppidemics of cholera in Nashville
during period of thirty-fve years-1832
10 1S67-so as to illustrate the relations OF
he disease TO the different seasons of the
year: -.,r- --.s..
8 Tq At oaa assn =5@7s5Ss8EEI II
= Total from E5SSS 29SES2 |