Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-10-22


In fact the rAvAgss of this terrible Cpl.
demic have been much more extensive
than they were last year. l
see tho disease is travelling north, and is
already desolAting the interior Of Ken
lucky and Tennessee"
In 1878 il entered again at New Or
leans, but il found an active board Of
health, and every physician prepared to
advise patients as to the proper course
to prevent the spread of the disease.
What was the result2 New Orleans,
which, according to Mr.. Prentiss, was so
terribly scourged in 1892, scarcely felt
the weight of the disease. In 1882 her
population was about the same as that
Of Memphis 1873, which gives us an OPP
portunity Of estimating what must have
been the epidemic which carried off FIVE
or six times more people in day than
ours did at its worst2 What would it
have been in 1873 in New Orleans had
not science covered us by her broad
shield2 Twelve hundred day would
have been the death rate As il was,
the disease was hardly felt, and being
beaten at its entrance, gave il less
power to disseminate itself. There be-
ing but few cases in New Orleans, but
few could leave there; hence the boats
were not full of IL; and when it ap.
peared elsewhere it was only single
case probably, instead Of violent and
sudden outbreak of many cases. And
this single case would not infect many
before it was understood and remedies
applied, or the population scattered.
At Memphis it found its first real well
come. Then we had no Board Of
Health, no sanitary laws or system, no
sewerage; in fact, nothing. Here it
got real Judgment, and here it had
its way until individual efforts brought
it to halt At Nashville it got another
warm reception: likewise at Gallatin,
and at Greenville and at Chattanooga;
besides various other places. At Louis
vile, however, the alarm was sounded
in time, the city was placed in state OF
defense, and the enemy made no entry.
At ST. Louis he made some Roadway for
week or two, but prompt and efficient
measures checked him. To Cincinnati
he also paid his respects, but was driven
out. There we're only a few scattering
cases in other large cities. All the
great seaboard cities, il will be observed,
went clear of it, and none of the inland
cities suffered to any great extent where
health laws were enforced Only cities
and towns without sanitary regulations,
we're called to pay the penalty of neglect
and stupidity. In Europe the battle
still goes on. Vienna, the flthiest cap
ital on the continent, has shaken the
monster of, and finds that she has lost
about two people in a thousand; Paris
will get off with one person in two
and, as yet, John Bull keeps
him clear of the sea grit isles; Berlin
has scarcely felt the shock. So much
for what science can do for those who
listen to her teachings.
The lesson taught in this paper is two
fold. We will, in all probability, have
the cholera knocking at our doors again
next spring; will we admit him with
open arms, or will we put our heel on
his neck2 We have the yellow fever
now raging in our midst; are we to
earn anything by our sad experiences,
and prevent his coming again, or not2
What is the cause of yellow fever, and
IS it preventible2 will be the subject of
he next paper.