The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-06
THE COMPARATIVE DEATH RATE
History Of the Last Epidemic
in the United States.
THE QUESTION OF CONTRACTION
History and Origin of the Disease
by Practitioner.
WASHINGTON d. O.. Auoust s. 1877

Win y IeSOluIlOn Oh Lno SENATE 30 prepare or
cause TO be prepared brief and succinct history
OF the yellow fever as it prevailed in the various
ports OF the United States, that gentleman SUBJ
mitted report of DR.. Frank Reilly. who was de-
tailed for the purpose. DR.. Reilly says
REPORT OF DR. REILLY.
The year 1873 was characterized in the United
States by the conjoiRt occurrence of two diseases
which are invested-by tradition, by a certain
mystery which surrounds them, by the futihty
oil medical skill IN their presence-With slgnin-
canoe out OF all proportion to the actual mortality
wnlcn they occasion. From the 9th day OF FeDru-
AIRY, 1873, untn the 21st OF November In
and last cases OF the disease there
occurred 3,769 deaths from malignant or
epidemic cholera. During the same period eacn
year there occurred. IN round numbers, $1,000
deaths from dIarrh@a, dysentery and cholera in
fantnm. From the dats or the first case, May %,
to the date OF the last case, November 49, 1873,
there occurred 3,349 deaths from specific or cpl
demic yellow fever. During the same period eaoh
year there occurred from the group OF malarial
fevers an aggregate Of 800 deaths. The last pre-
ceding epluemlc OF yellow fever was in 1867 and
from its subsistence up TO the close OF 1872 there
have been an aggregate Of $40 deaths from this
cause; but during the same period there mad been
an aggregate OF over so, 900 deaths from malarial
she country for six years previous; bus
during that period the group OF DIS
less than 1876 900 persons. And, year by year,
such more or less preventable disease as small
pex scarlet lever, typhus, enterlc lever and
consumption, are the causes OF tOleraDly con-
slant average OF over 100000 deaths per annum.
(These figures, except for yellow fever and
cholera, are based upon the special tables OF NOR
tally in tne vital statistics OF the ninth census
Tney do not pretend TO absolute accuracy, in fact
are known TO be understatements, but are SUM-
cienty correct for the Illustration, and their
source Is readily accessiblel
1t Is not Intended to urge from this that the
comparative Indifference to the causes or this
greater and constant mortality, or the interest,",
the concern, the unreasonng fear with winch
rare access OF cholera or an occasional visitation
OF yellow fever Is always regarded, is IN the one
case, misplaced, or, in the other, groundless and
tneXplicable-certainlY not the latter, for it
Is the unusual which arouses attention. the
mysterious which eXclteS awe, the unknown be-
fore which reason aDdicaJes. And precisely be-
cause the occurrence OF these diseases Is unusual;
because their origin, nature and progress are
Still largely yelled IN mystery; because some OF
The most important laws whicn govern them are
yet unknown-ib is through these attributes that
they inspire terror, throw communities into
panic. give birth TO commissions and conferences
reports and Investigations, quarantine laws and
unnumbered other fruitess, and not always harm
less, offspring But sucn comparison serves TO
point out and emphasize she only lesson taught
by the history OF the late epidemic OF yellow fever
Absolutely nothing has been learned OF the cause
OF the disease. The question OF It's autochthonous
origin, or OF its Importation into the Cuff
States from adjacent counties in the same
latitude and under the same climatic conditions
Is sti1 unsettled; specific MODES OF prevention
and of limitation remain as vague as night;
medical opinion is confused and conficting. and
medical skill as Daffed as before. The questions
propounded by the Supervising Surgeon In his
annual report are yet unanswered. How far the
carbolic disinfectlon may De credited Win the
juguatIon OF the threatened epidemic at New
Orleans ana Mobile TO what extent thorough or
detective sanitary affect the progress OF
the disease IN the light OF experience OF these
cities as compared with Memphis and shreveport;
what is proper quarantine for yellow FEVER at
various ports what Is the true scope, function
and value OF quarantine; can quarantine De
effective which does not embrace commerce with
foreign nations and among the several States"
by land as we'll as by water-to none
OF these have satisfactory answers been returned.
and in default thereof are forced TO turn TO the
same agencies Tor the prevention and control OF
this disease that we know are efficient, to
greater or less extent, IN she control and limIta-
ton OF the causes OF that other Immensely greater
loss OF life above shown. Sucn agencies are
summed up In two words, general sanitation" in
which are included thorough cleanliness enl-
cient dlsinfection, pure air, unpolluted water,
wholesome lood and individual hygiene.
THE HISTORY OF THE EPIDEMIC.
In the following brief history OF the epidemic the
disease Is followed step by step from its first ap
pearance IN the United states until It's close pre-
graphical orGer, for the purpose OF showing, II
possible, the spread OF the disease. To this, how
ever the port OF New York may be mace an ex-
ception, because, although tue disease was re-
peatedly introduced both INTO tho harpOr and she
city, fortunately it gained no iaothold:
outset There were In all sixty-two cases at
quarantine, removed from vessels arriving. The
first occurred May %. Seven other cases, the last
q refugee from Memphis, who died IN ambulance
on his way to hospital, october 80 completed the
total of sixty cases, OF whlch eighteen died.
or these latter cases one arrived by the steamer
YaZoo, from New Orleans. at Philadelphia, May 90
Sickness mad appeared on the snip May %. The
q
waiter on the steamer, went 10 New
York, arrived May 81. sick on his ar
ana died June 2. Three cases. Of which
two died, arrived on q schooner from New Or
leans and were treated by the Marine Hospital
service as was also the last OF this group cases
THe engineer OF the steamer Metropolis. who had
been SICK in New orleans, disease not
Der % entered hospital same day and
died on the 9th OF undoubted yellow lever, prob
ably relapse OF the disease from which ne SUI
Orleans.
which reached New YORK, despite the thorough
and enlightened sanitary administration OF the
p1tal service, remarks $50 long as quaran-
tine Is matter controlled by state caprice or
fear there Is nothing to prevent the Introduction
OF this or any other disease into community. no
matter how rigid or perfect the quarantine OF
such community may be made, and It's present
administration at New York Is both. That yellow
fever failed TO become epidemic in New York the
past season. that 1t ls not epidemic every season,
is due PROBABLY, nrst, 10 the want OF favorlng
conditions in the season ITSELF ana, second, to tue
emciency OF Its Beard OF Health; but certainly not
to the want OF supply OF Jonsites furnished DY
land from other poris.n
THE DISEASE IN PENSACOLA.
On the 10tR OF June, 1878, the British merchant
ship Golden Dream arrived at the port OF Pensa-
cola rom Havana, and was placed IN quarantine.
This vessel had lost eleven men while ia the port
OF Havana, three IN trGHSitu from thence hither,
and her entre crew are said to have been shipped
from yellow fever hospital she had several
convalescng cases ON board when she arrived
here but no case Is reported as occurring while
she remained In quarantine, which was until the
Sd OF July, period OF twenty-three days. When
released she came to Commandments street
wharf, ana discharged some coal; ana 1t is also
stated tnat some OF her remaining ballast
was deposited At the shore end of tnis
wharf, sac afterward dropped down for ABOUT
half mile below the city, and lay from 500 70
600 yards from the shore, at the end OF the
Perdido Railroad wharf AT this point she was
loaded ana from thence went TO sea on the 10Th
of August, and was lost the 30th OF the same
month. The first reported case Of yellow fever IN
the city was that OF Mrs. Pdeffer, VINO died OF
black vomlt on tae 18th OF August, ana whose case
was that evening reported to the Mayor by the
attending physician. MRS. Pne1eris residence
was about 800 leet distant from the foot of me
wharf at which the Golden Stream had landed her
coal and left part OF her ballast. In a house
two blocks northeast or the one OCCUPIED by Mrs.
PHeffer had died on the 18th OF August a Mrs
Naslte, alier an illness Of seven days. This case
was reported as "peratcious fever.v Mrs Nasite
had removed from New Orleans to Pensacola on
the 22d Of July, and she and Mrs. Prefer are said
TO nave visited. Before either OF the above
cases--viz., on the 5th OF Augusta sailor died on
the Golden stream. lie was from the revenue
cutter PetreL had been on beard the former
vessel eight DAYS and CtPk IN Od ,,f