The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-08-29
The Doctor. and ,hs euarsasls,
AUSTIN. August 90, Z
To the Honorable Mayor and Aieerme.

AUSTIN. August 90.
To the Honorable Mayor and AlaermeS
City Of Austin;
We the undersigned physicians Of
this city do respectfully protest against
your recent action in ordering quaran-
tine regulations for the city of Austin
We believe that the proceeding Wa
unwarranted 10y anything in the at
tendant circumstances of our situation.
and is 81 variance with the theory and !.
intention of such measures. Qraran-
tine is an extreme measure of safety.
and is proper only under two condi-
tlons. There must be, first, such 4
state of things as, in view Of the bis
tory the nature and tho mode OF op-
Grafton of the disease of yellow seyer.
as they are known and understood hy
the profession, furnishes 9 reasoneblo-'
and definite ground of apprehension
that if the germ Of the disease should
by any means be introduced into our
midst the mslsdy would become epi-
dsmic. Aud, secondly, there must Be
an imminent, or at least 3 fairly prob
able risk of the introduction of the
seeds of the plague. These two aens
ditions having obtained, the measure,
to be a. all efficient and precautionary,
must be completely and rigidly en-
forced. we are OF opinion that, e..
regards the city of Austin, no one Of
these requisites has been fulfilled. The
topography, the class OF population,
the telluric and atmospheric influences
and all those circumstances and
surroundings which, in the opinion Of
the highest authorities and the most
careful observers, constitute predis-
posing elements of the disease, do not
exist at Austin; and, furthermore, can
never exist il the city authorities en-
force that system of sanitary measures
which 1t is the duty Of every well.regu.
lated municipality to devise and exc.
cute. There is nothing in the past
history or the present condition OF the
city that warrants rational fear OF yell
low fever becoming epidtmic here.
OF course the most favorable natural
safeguards may and often have been
rendered nugatory by the neglect or
the incompetency of those whose busi-
ness it is to preserve that degree Of
purity and cleanliness so necessary as q
preventive of disease. The belief we
here express is the more strongly forth
fed from the fact that the same opin-
ion was deliberately and uncondition-
ally promulgated by the unanimous
voice OF the physicians present at
meeting, called and held few days
since, for the express purpose Of OBJ
tanning the views OF the profession on
the subject of yellow fever, and Of
which report was made to your hon
orsble body, and, we belieYe, sane
toned and adopted by you. The ac-
ton you have now taken is publIca-
ton to the world in direct conflict
with the opinions entertained by
US sndclearly set forth In the re-
port before mentioned. The sanitary
measures which we have heretofore
recommended. and which We believe
constitute the only protection the city
needs, have not, so far as we can learn,
been accepted and carried out in that
good faith and spirit Of earnestness
which were necessary to give them eff
cacy, and which are in our opinion all
that is required to make those recon-
mendations full and complete embod-
iment of the only measure OF security
demanded by our present situation and
surroundings. AS further evidenced
Of the position here taken, it may be
mentioned that in former epidemicss
cases of the disease have repeatedly ar
rived here from the coast, and died or
recovered without, in asingle instance,
imparting the infection to others. Be
lieying then that the conditions for de.
veloping yellow fever, do not, and with
proper internal precautions cannot exist
here, II Is sneedless to dilate lHpon the
fact there is pS.iye .inent or even proba-
BILE risk -. Sogshlns Of the disease
reaching this city. There ID not an
authenticated case Of yellow feTer
oeSrer than New Orleans, aud the
quarantines at other places
almost efectually preclude thee
l|sRbility 1of injected indivId-
from the. afflicted districts
coming through to Austin. True. il
Is within the range Of possibilities, but
the same may be said Of nearly every
town south of the Ohio river. And Il
the danger really did threaten. the
present quarantine regulations would
be comparatively worthless, situated
as we are in the interior OF
the State and approachable on all
sides by every species Of conveyHnce.
We viii not dwell upon the additional
objections to your action. which are to
be found in the fact that it tAxes the
people uselessly, obstructs and harasses
trade and travel, and, moro than sll,
1t advertiSes US abroad as Q panic
stricken community, thus forever do
stroying that universal public conf-
dence in the healthiness and sanitafy
security Of the city, which has hereto
fore been our pride and boast. These
are all weighty and serious objections,
and together with those already enum-
Grated, furnish the grounds upon which
we respectfully submit our protest 20
your late ordinance est ibiishing quar-
antine. j. n. LITrEN, M. d.
THOMAS D WooTEH, M. d.
J.W STALEAKER. N. D.
]. CUlff Nos. NJ. ID.
J. w. McLAuoHLfr, n D.
w. ]. BURT. M d.
NJ. A. TAYLOR, M. d.
JoHN T. j. WALKER, N. d.
d. r. WALLACE, ~ d.
JAS. @. GIvEH, N. d.
B. GRAHAM, NJ. d.
do not believe that yellow fever
can prevail here this season. i
w. A. MORRIS, n. D.