Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-01-21
The Domain of DEATH.
SHREVEPORT DURING rnF rfsrnEcr.

The description below is from the pen Of
telegraphic operator who kept his post at
Shreveport, La, during the whole period Of
the late terrible epidemic:
Shreveport lies north ana sUuin aiUug
the Red river, and, before the days Of the
pestilence, numbered 1000 inhabitants.
The fever broke out on August 2S. 1t
became an epidemic about September 1, and
5000 Of the population at once left the
city. The lowest mortality on any
day Of twenty-four hours was three, and
the highest thirty.six. The causes
Of the fearful epidemic, after the appear.
ance Of the disease, are to be found ia the
filthy condition Of the city and in the dry
ing up Of the swamps and morasses in the
suburbs, producing the malaria The viru-
lence OF the contagion is directly attributable
to the skinning Of 200 carcasses Of dead
cattle and their subsequent putrefaction on
the river banks, about two miles below the
city. A steamer loaded with cattle sunk
at that place, and the negroes towed the
dead animals ashore, where, after being
skinned, their carcasses were left to decom.
pose. A 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 taking the infection. The first case
Of the fever, however, was brought from
New Orleans; but under the influences
mentioned, it resolved itself into the most
yirulent type Of Mexican black vomit. The
percentage of death at the most violent Pc
riod Of the pestilence was ninety-t five out
of every one hundred. Sixty per cent was
about the average, but there were never
less than forty deaths to every 100 persons
attacked.
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 l40 per minute. The
crisis Of the disease arrived in about three
days, when the fever left the patient; then
if the kidneys could be kept right the case
was a hopeful one. All Of the deaths oc-
CURED either from the black vomit, which
is the complete putrefaction Of the stomach,
or from the entire sequestraton (2) of the
urinary organs. There was hardly case
Of the disease where the catheter did not
have to be resorted to. The period of the
disease was in each case owing to the con-
stitution Of the patient-the strongest did
not survive n week.
The treatment was simply hot mustard
bath, with castor oil as cathartic CAL
omel, the only specific in this disease, was
entirely discarded. Fear killed a great
many. Recovery in the best cases was
matter of coolness, constitution and good
luck. The deaths among the
nurses did not exceed FIVE The greatest
among any one sect was in the
ranks of the Catholic clergy. They were
very faithful in their ministrations on the
sick aud dying. The Protestant ministers
were equally fearless of death and just as
in the discharge of their sa-
cred duty. The telegraph operators were
the next heaviest sufferers in proportion to
out of six falling victims to
the terrible disease.
There was no such thing as funeral SER
vices 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 formalities Of
burial were very few. The deaths were
reported to the Howard Association, which
at once detailed workmen to dig graves.
The coffin 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 gallop to the ceme-
terry. There it was deposited beside the
uniug or partially completed grave. Tie
grave-digger was left alone with the corpse
aud his own thoughts. He got the box
into the grave as best he could. The cem-
stery, aud especially the Potter's field,
ooked like battlefield with its newly
made graves.
There were no hearses to convey the
bodies with some show of decorum to their
last resting.places. No mourners followed
the corpse to the grave. Those who would
have wished to go to the funeral Of friend
were required at the bed Of dying wife or
child. The sick monopolized the attention
Of the living the dead were regarded
rs beyond all the help of love or affection.
High and low, rich and poor, were buried
like. Whole families were swept out Of
,xistence-not member left. There are
one hundred and twenty orphans who have
ost both father and mother. They will be
-aised by the State of Louisiana.
The fever virtually terminated on the
Of October, when heavy frost
,hilled the atmosphere, and by stifiening
up the ground, stopped the formation Of
he malaria.
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