Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-10-23
The Fever and its Lesson.

It will be seen from the official mortu-
airy report that the total deaths yesterday
were as fifty-one to sixty-two the day be-
fore, q decrease of eleven. There is also,
it will be seen, a decrease Of ten in the
number of deaths by yellow-fever. For
this we are devoutly thankful. Amy abate
ment of the dreadful scourge, however
small, furnishes occasion for earnest, pray
erful thanks to God. We have been fear
fully visited, and the end is not yet. Since
the 18th of September, just one short
month ago, we have lost nine hundred and
seyenty-siT souls, representing every age
| and condition in life. Nearly se0en hun-
dred of them by yellow-fever This is pay
ing a fearful penalty, truly, for supineness,
ignorance, and want Of proper organiza-
tion to cope with disease in any form that
is possible to become epidemic. 1t is pay
| ing dearly to learn that no amount OF
money for the preservation of the public
health is to be weighed in the scales
| against human life; and that Board of
Health, composed, as the present is, of
energetic, brave and discreet men, is bet
| ter worth to us 100000 than the executive
and legislative branches of the City Gov
eminent together. We can hardly credit
the fact now, by the baleful light Of the
epidemic, that but few days ago mem
beers of the General Council, unable to
comprehend the possibilities of the fever,
| higgled over an appropriation of $40, 900,
and gave vent to much feeling over the
possible cost over that amount, of the
Board of Health. And yet so it is
| Where is that $4,000 now, and
| where the numerous ten thousands
| poured in upon us SO generously from all
parts of the Union9 Nearly all expended
| FOR the sick and the needy, and more has
already been called for. The Masons are
out of money and means, and SO are the
Odd Fellows, and other equally benevo-
lent organizations can only look into a
| nearly depleted treasury. 1t is safe to
say that almost 100000 have been ex-
pended the past thirty days, and that it
will take another 100000 to provide for
future demands. Our orphans are with
out clothing, and, as Inspector O'Bannon
has wisely commenced to burn the in
fected bedding and clothing of the poor,
it will be necessary for us to replace
them and continue to tax ourselves, and
perhaps even the God blessed friends who
have helped us from other cities, in order
to prevent deaths by starvation and desti-
tuition. Indeed, we are not sure that the
visitation and its dreadful consequences
will not justify the Governor in calling
the Legislature together in extraordinary
session to make an appropriation to help
us in this our hour of greatest necessity.
We remember that, in Wisconsin, this
was done when that State was overrun by
fire, and her people were left destitute.
We cannot now enumerate the number of
children that have been left fatherless, in
some cases parentless. Those who know
something about it, say they are over
three hundred. If so, our friends and
our citizens can realize the magnitude of
our losses, sufferings and condition. AS
we have before said, this is fearful les
son, at a terrible price. 1t is one not
likely to be forgotten.-Memphis appeal,
October 12