The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-09-25

these matters, but have seen enough to deplore
the prejudice and unfeeling despotism of igno.
rance. The man who would throw experience
away in favor Of any priori theory, through
prejudice, is not friend to his neighbor the
welfare of his country, or the cause he advo.
Gates, for any theory not founded on fact is
worthless Some people know so little of the
nature and cause of fever, that the admonitions
of the physician are like the prophecies of
Casandre, always unheeded; hence, the neglect
of draining these bodies of wet lands, the
source of increasing pestilence, with the ther-
mometer ranging from 60 to 80 degrees Faren-
heit, during the summer months. These facts
will carry conviction of the reality of the
origin, cause and propagation of disease over
large extent of country, as irresistible as VOL
umes of argument To resist the force of truth
cannot be the object of any individual of the
medical profession, their learning and talents
must render them superior to any sinister con-
sideration, and feel satisfied that their united
wish is to advance the health and happiness of
their fellow-creatures, and difuse light as far
as in their power upon subject of so much
interest and confusion.
In the vicinity Of Shutdown this pestilence is
raging to such an alarming degree, that the
number of the afflicted have become more than
triple in the last five years, and should the
people of the country continue to view this
important matter with that apathy they have
hitherto evinced, the increase of this alarming
disease in few years will be such as to en-
danger most seriously the comfort and well be-
ing OF the whole country. The increase of diff
ferent forms OF fever is alarming; and would,
where there is so much impure atmosphere,
and so much cause for malaria, extend to
cholera or any epidemic, welcome, and GER
talnly render large portions of fertile land
desert. Ihe country now in the vicinity of
olabtown IS depopulated, many are at this mo-
ment refugees and exiles from home.
1t does seem that this portion of the State,
beautiful and once prosperous neighborhooa.
is doomed The neglect to drain those ponds
and remove the cause of so much distress has
been to inhict all the misery that can befall O
people. The incentives to industry have been
weakened, the ties which connect society re-
laxed, and the energy of the laboring man so
crippled and depressed, that all is despair and
gloom. You see distress in every face; take
from man his means of support, and force
him by causes arising beyond his control to
leave his home, to become an exile to save
himself and family from disease and death, to
become an humble recipient of the worlds
charities; and under the disadvantages of sick
ness and distress, he must possess redeeming
qualities that rarely fall to the lot of man to
emerge again to his formtr health, energy and
comfort. This is the lot Of many who have left
their homes and their crops to the mercy of the
world. | would ask the question, is there no
remedy for all this misery and distress? There
certainly must be; so far as these causes of
disease can be prevented by general laws, it
must be right to do so, and in many or all
cases they can be-. Amongst the sources of
misery, poverty and depopulation, might be
considered the various forms of pestilence at
the head. Pestilence from malaria is OF an
nual occurrence, never ceasing, always in
creasing And now for the purpose of making
this once more the prosperous and happy home
of its exles, our Legislature and guardians of
the public health, cannot be too attentive to
their police regulations, and to pass such laws
as their wisdom and Judgment may think
proper, as the most effectual means of presery-
ing the health and lives of their citizens.
RAMBLER.