Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-10-01
A BOARD OF HEALTH NEEDED

Without presuming to be oracular, or
asserting a possession Of more knowl-
edge upon'the subject, or claiming to
have the welfare Of the people nearer at
heart than others, we nevertheless deem
il a duty to say something to impress
our local authorities with the necessity
of providing for the non.recurrence oil
epidemics in our city. Within the nine
months last passed, three scourges have
been laid upon our backs. Smallpox
carried away some hundreds during the
first part of the year, which bad scarcely
been exercised by the genial airs of gen.
tie spring, before cholera seized upon
and sent some other hundreds to render
their account. That pestilence has been
followed BY the terrible black vomit,
which is now cutting down score day
of our strong and useful. Without ex-
aggeration, we think that We may say
that within the year 1873 one thousand
persons will be carried to untimely
graves from this city of Memphis,
through the agency of the diseases men
toned This is a sad tale-one fortieth
of our population swept away in year
by pestilence
Such reeitals as these can be of little
value other than to impress upon the
living the necessity for taking some steps
for future protection. Science has in
vestigated the cause of cholera, aud tells
us that it is an organic germ, carried
from place to place in various ways;
that it possesses the function of repro
duction and multiplication in a wonder
ful degree. But it also tells US that
these germs may be destroyed, and the
disease thus crushed out and put an end
to. This is the testimony Of the first
savants OF the age, aud we believe it.
That we can isolate the cases and stay
the progress of smallpox is not denied.
Concerning yellow fever there is not
much known, as its causes have never
been subjected to the close scrutiny aud
careful study OF trained Investigators.
as have those of the other two diseases.
But there are men in our midst who
have given the matter much thought,
and they believe that black vomit, or vel
low fever, has it's cause in germ, also;
and that the same active measures
adopted in other places TO check the
spread Of cholera would annihilate yell
low fever, viz: strict quarantine, clean
illness and fumigation.
But a quarantine will not establish
itself, nor will mixed population vol
uutarily keep itself, aud its houses and
streets free from dirt and filth, much
less adopt measures for disinfecting by
fumigating or otherwise. If the germs
to be driven away or destroyed we're as
large as green flies, or could be seen and
examined without the aid of the micros-
cope, could be observed with the naked
eye as they enter the circulation and
cause the decomposition Of the blood
and the destruction of the human ma.
chine, then every person would know
what to do. and would go about IT, But
none Of these things can be seen, though
they exist and therefore the people will
do nothing Of their own motion, but
stand idle while the air literally swarms
with insect enemies as hostile to man as
the buffalo gnat is to the horse.
Manifestly, then, we must place the
matter of exterminating the germs Of
epidemic diseases, and OF guarding
against pestilenee, in the hands Of a
board of chosen guardians, skilled,
prompt, and courageous. Give over to
three men, good and true, who must be
paid for their services, the business of
preserving MS from ourselves. Clothe'
them with power to quarantine boats
aud railway trains. Let them have au-
thority to inspect the whole city as a
military camp.-and put men in office
who ioiH inspect it-and cause disin-
fectants to be used thoroughly, and con-
tinuOusly, and generally, whenever an
epidemic disease is being thrown off
from its center Of propagation. Do
this, and we will not see Grape on a
thousand door knobs next year; we will
not suffer under the odium of being the
most unhealthy city in the world. That
these things are not done as thoroughly
and promptly in other cities as we wish
them done here. is no argument against
what We propose. Let US do our duty
without regard TO what others are doing.
That man is prone to be skepdeal and
uegleciful Of the means to his earthly
preservation as well as 70 bis eternal
salvation. is too true; and his lspses ia
either regard should not be quoted as
presidents.
We do not propose to be forward or
ofieious, but We pray, aud that humbly
too. that our city rulers viii appoint a
committee TO take oar suggestions Ender
consideration. Let the committee coma
sci with our learned physicians, and give
us the health ordinance We ueed, and we
viii ever pray. az IN duty bound.
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