Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-06-26


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In the UNION AND AMERICAN of the
18th inst. we Published cs-efalIy compiI-
ed table showing The number of deaths by
cholera in this city for tbs previous eigh-
teen days, both among whites and blacks.
OF whites there were 100; of cDlored people
926. Reasons were given for believing that
from fifty to seventy blacks bad beer
buried without obtaining cSfins from city
undeitakers, and probably outside of the
city, of whom no account was taken. With
nodisposition to exaggerate and from the
best information within our reach, we raise
the number Of victims to this pestilence
among the coloredrace from 326 TO 400,
aad among the whites from 100 TO 200. In
total population within the district in which
the cholera has prevafed-embrscing the
city snd the tenta anaJthirteenth districts,
which are proper y part of the ci y-of 3d.
524, as shown by the censns, there were
1902 whites and Is 615 blacks. On the
above ratios, there should be about three
white persons die of cholera in Nashville to
two blacks; in place of which, the disease
has taken to their graves four blacks to two
whites. These statistics are instructive to
both races, and 1t is our duty to present the
solemn lesson which they teach. Taken
as Whole, our colored population do not
see nor feel the necessity Of sanitary pre-
cautions 10 The same extent that the
white class see, feel and practice
them. Their ignorance and neg
lect in this matter give existence
ITO cholera germs which prove fatal or in-
furious by their vide diffusion, not only to
. the parties whose stupidity and belief in
fetch demODism create no beds of cholera,
but TO hundreds Of colored people who are
better informed, as well as to an equal, and
possibly much larger number cf white
persons. From large plantations in the
South have come many who honestly be-
lieve in witchcraft and demonology; who
have taken up with the shocking idea that
white physicians had given their class pills
that contained strychnine and other pois-
ons, 10 kill them, ascribng their death to
cholera, and we hear that such
fears have been expressed by a
considerable number of colored people.
w. &. Revels, NJ. D., an educated man
of color, in a published card says: ga ru-
NOR having gained Currency that have said
that certain medical men and druggists were
doing what they corld to the detriment of
such colOred persons as are suffering with
the prevailing disease, this, therefore, is to
Hns quivocally state that so far as my own
personal observation goes, would not ask
TO be treated more kindly and considerably
both By physicians and druggists, than l
have been since took up my residence in
Nashville. / wish also to state thst the ru-
NOR is both malicious and false" There is
little doubt that the extraordinary mortality
among the colored people during the prevs
lence of cholera in this city, is to be attrib
uted in large d9gree to the fears that have
DcGu iDstlhcO lAllO tuSu W SupSlsGlIlONlSJ
ignorant pretenders of their own race, in
preventing them from calling physicians
who understand the nature and treatment
of cholera, or using the remedies which
some of our most experienced physicians
have prescribed. OF course filth had much
to DO primarily with the disease with which
so many have died, but there is reason TO
believe that a lsrse per csntage of these
deaths might have been prevented but for
the superstitious fear to which we sllude.
Human society sometimes finds itself in q
situation where intelligence is health and
life, and ignorance is sickness and death.
II is not for us to say how near the citizens
of Nashville, of whatever color or age, have
approached this terrible situation. 1t is
certain that the conditions which produce
malignant cholera do not exist everywhere
in Tennessee, nor in Davidson county.
Give to this fact its full weight, and then
say ,cEy they erist, or haze eUer eriSted, in
or pear Nashville? let The science and
talent of the ctpitsl of the State answer
fairly aud plainly the above question.