The New York herald., 1876-09-05
THE YELLOW FEVER QUESTION.

To rHH EDITOR OF HERALD
In your editorial in regard TO the yellow fever in this
mornings HERALD you say that 'this certificate was
apparently made out with deliberate intention to do
ceive." II you had read my answer in the Brooklyn
papers you would have found the contrary The best
reply that give you the testimony Dr. Joseph
b. Jones, exHealth Officer Of this city, Saturday.
who says that during the years that he held the
position There were twenty-nine CT yellow
fever" sporadic cases ike mine, reported TO him.
that in every one OF the twenty the phys
clans made out their certificates as DID," Surely
you would not that twenty doctors
oil dcceYers. Tho question turns the ignorance OF
tho Health Oncer who did not understand the terms
OF his profession, as showed by producing "Bartlet's
Fevers Of the United States" edited by Professor
Alonzo Clark, OF your city, "Professor Flins Work
Fevcrs" professor Flint physician to New Or
leans Charity Hospita and "Dunglisons Medical Die
iionary." These are school books Tor young doctors
and III every library, and any one should know that
much. AS to any danger OF contamination by .
not whom sent inland, there none ard
no need OF any excitement. persons cannot
carry yellow fever only goods and clothing shown
by INC American Quarantine Associations's report
Alter the epidemic twenty years ago when yellow
fever cost Kings equity 500 lives this association
ana decided that not known OF II having
been carried from individual to individual but that
only goods and clothing were 10 be regarded
fomtcs This view was the result OF mature discus.
sons OF the health boards of every quarantine held in
the United States You can find Synopsis OF this IN
'Flnts Practice OF Mcdicue'
Ny simple wish was 10 avoid unnecessary excite
mcnt IN the community over case which, IRON the
nature Of It's lacts was exceptional, and there was
DO possibility OF communicating IT, This
ovcrhcsted at the time OF receiving the poison, being
engineer OF small tug where he was obliged to work
In intense heat, Not one Of his fellow workmen took
IT, Two years ago, when reported sporadic
OF Asiac cholera, you complained that WAS sensa-
tonalist and that such unnecessary alarms tend to
frghten persons away iron New York Injured tho
business OF merchants. Now, when l endcavored to
avoid an unnecessary excitement you say am de-
ceiveE How can please your Whether give facts
to tho public or without them get your blame.
JOHN G. JOHNSON, No 81 Henry street
To The EDITOR OF The HERALD:-
1t seems that tho thanks OF the community arc
due the eminent Brooklyn physician, DR.. johnson,
for the discretion shown by him reporting the re-
cent sporadic OF iever TO Tho health authorities
thus avoiding unnecessary alarm to many people,
especially such unable flee from tho city at
moments notice. From long familiarity with the
disease called yellow icver In places where pre-
walls epidemic am convinced that It is simply a
malignant bilious under certain atmosphor con-
ditons, and physicians familiar with Its character
Of the opinion that II any case OF malignant bilious
fever at It's inception, could be transferred to such
atmosphere exists at some in places where
the disease endemic would develop certain pecu-
liar symptoms What seems TO strengthen this theoiy
Is the iact well known TO residents yellow fever
caes, that an attack OF jaundice or simple bilious
fever often serves strangers as acclmatiOn safe
guard against "vomto." Any precautions that would
have been taken OF the disease being reported
yellow fever should have bcen taken with maligna
bilious and the health officer should known
that they to all inents and tho same thing
any distinctive symptoms different being duo
entirely to atmospheric causes Fear Is one OF tho
most powerful predspOsng causes. and II strikes mo
not creating useless alarm and perhaps, serious dis
turbance OF business Interests. MERCHANT