The New York herald., 1873-11-07
THE DOMAIN OF DEATH.

The Terrible Two Months of Life in
Shreveport.
Mr.. William Barnard formerly OF Cincinnati, and
now manager Of the Western Union Telegraph
Companys oflces in New Orleans, came to this
city yesterday, direct from Shreveport La. He
was there during the whole OF the epidemic, and
gives to. the HERALD the following account OF the
suferngs in that pestilence-rdden city
Shreveport hes north and south along the Red
River, and, before the days OF the pestilence, num-
bered 11,000 inhabitants. The fever broke out on
August 2S 1t became an epidemic about Septem-
ber 4, and 5000 OF the population at once left
the city. Since that time Shreveport has been
quarantlned in every direction. Mails for Texas
are lying there which should have gone forward
two months ago. The lowest mortality on any
day Of twenty-four hours was three and the high
est thirty-six. Up to October Is there had been
72O deaths.
HOW THE FEVER CAME TO SHREVEPORT.
The cause OF the yellow fever epidemic is not at
trlbutabIe to the Red River raft Not single case
Of fever or any other sickness occurred among the
14O men employed by the United States govern
ment in removing this obstruction to the upper
Red River navigation. This fact in itself puts q
quietus on the theory OF several scientists. The
causes OF the fearful epidemic, after the appear
ance Of the disease, are to be found in the filthy
swamps and morasses in the suburbs, producing
the malaria. The viruence OF the contanon is
directly attributable to the skinning OF 200 car
casses OF dead cattle and their subsequent putre-
faction on the river banks about two miles below
the city. steamer loaded with cattle sunk at
that place and the negroes towed the dead animals
ashore, where, alter being skinned, their
carcasses were left to decompose. southwest
wind, which prevails during much OF that season
OF the year, carried the stencil which the burning
sun created into the city. This prepared the air
for hn
fever, however, was brought from New Orleans;
but, under the influences mentioned, 1t resolved
itself into the most viruent type OF Mexican black
vomit. The percentage OF deaths al the most vio-
lent period OF the pestlence was 90 out OF every
100. sixty per cent was about the average, but
there were never less than 40 deaths to every 100
persons attacked.
HOW THE FEVER CAME TO THE INDIVIDUALS.
The symptoms began with violent pain IN the
head and shoulders. Heavy aches and numbness
then attacked the bones in the limbs. The fever
then set in and the pulse rose TO 100 to 14O per
minute The crisis OF the disease arrived in about
three days, when the fever left the patent; tnen,
If the kidneys could be kept right, the case
either from black vomit, which Is the complete
putrefaction OF the stomach, or from the entire
hardly case OF the disease where the catheta did
did not have to be resorted TO. The period OF the
disease was in each case owing to the constitution
OF the patient-the strongest did not survive
week.
THE MEDICAL TREATMENT
The treatment was simply hot mustard bath,
with castor oil as cathartlc Calome the old
specific in this disease was entirely discarded.
Fear killed great many. Recovery In the best
cases was matter OF GOODNESS, constitution and
good luck. The shortness OF the supply OF nurses
prompted the organization OF the Howard Assocla-
tion In Shreveport, Mr.. l.. X simmons being
chosen President. The President OF the Associa-
ton In New Orleans, Mr.. Il. 4. Smith, came at
once to Shreveport with nurses and physicians.
The deaths among the nurses did not exceed five.
The greatest mortality among any one sect was Ia
the ranks OF the Catholic clergy. They were very
faithful IN their mnstrations on the sick and the
dying. The Protestant ministers we're equally
FEARLESS OF death and just as indeiatigabe in the
discharge OF their sacred duty. The telegraph
operators were the next heaviest sufferers in pro-
portion to numbers, iour out OF six falling victims
to the terrible disease.
THE FORM OF BURIAL.
There was no such thing as funeral services at
the churches or at the graves. Every place OF
business was closed except the drug stores and
liquor saloons. The churches were closed. The
iormalities oil burial were very few The deaths
we're reported to the Howard Association, which
at once detailed workmen to dig the graves The
conin was taken TO the sidewalk In 'front.' OF the
house The corpse was brought from the house,
put into the box and after being closed up, the
casket was placed In a wagon and driven at q gal
lop to the cemetery. There IL was deposited beside
the undng or only partially COMPLETED grave The
grave dlgger was left alone with the corpse and his
own thoughts lie got the box INTO the grave as
best he could. The cemetery, and especially the
Potters field, looks like q battle field with It's
newly made graves.
now THE DISMAL DAYS PASSED.
There were no hearses to convey the bodies with
some show Of decorum to their last resting places.
NO m0urners followed the corpse TO the grave.
Those who would have wished to go to the funeral
OF friend were required at the bedside oil
dying wife or child The sick monopolized the
attention OF the living; the dead were regarded as
beyond al the nelp OF love or arecton. High and
low, rich and poor, were buried alike. Whole
families were swept out OF existence-not mem
Der left. There are 12o little orphans VINO nave
lost both father and mother. They VIII be raised
by the State OF Louisiana.
The fever virtually terminated on the 2oth OF
October, when heavy frost chilled the atmos-
phere and hy strcning up the ground stopped
the formation OF the malaria Regarding myself
can only say that never have had tile lcver and
prior TO going TO shreveport as volunteer never
had aeen case OF the disease.