Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-10-12
CLARKsvILLE TENN, SATURDAY, OCTOBER u, 1873
HOW TO PREVENT THEM.


tended, commencing when the pop
ulation did not exceed 1856 lin 1850
no epidemic has occurred that has
not been preceded and accompanied
by great disturbance of the Origi
nal soil Of the country, lin digging
and cleaning out canals, basins, etc. }
although the other local causes
doubtless had their influence. This
has been so unequivocal and so con.
slant and without exception, that il
seems to the commission to bear the
relation of cause and effect. The
proofs of it are furnished in the re-
port which we submit, and might
have been greatly extended in its
more local influences. This dis
turbance seems to have generally
taken place with great recklessness,
manifestly preferring for the pur-
pose the warm season, during which
it is most dangerous.
"We have to make the same re-
mark in relation to the clearing and
draining the neighboring swamps,
both of vast public utility, and
when done in suitable season and
proper manner, under enlightened
advisement, not injurious to the
public health, but most disastrous
when these are not faithfully OBJ
served, as medical annals for hun
dreds of years past fully attest.
'"The numerous undrained, un-
filled lots and squares dotting the
surface of the city, becoming muddy
pools in the rainy, which is always
the sickly season, and common re-
cepticles for filth and garbage of all
kinds, should be early abated."
1.-The numerous low, crowded and
filthy tenements, are probably as
disastrous in the production of yell
low fever as any other; they are
common fever nests, and are de-
nominated 'nuiSances' of the deepest
die. They constitute the ordinary
hot beds of disease and death at
every epidemic period (yellow fever,
cholera or what not). They have
been signalized by most fearful
mortality. They conduce much to
| impair the reputation of the city
for salubrity, and they demand
therefore the firm cauterizing appli-
ances of the city government"
"The extensive livery stable in
the heart of the city, and vacheries
near the thickly populated districts,
should be abated, as they strongly
tend to impair the purity of the city
atmosphere.
"The present cemeteries within
the city limits should by all means
be closed against future use.
"The kitchen Offal and backyard
filth, including the bad system and
neglect of the privies, constitute
some of the greatest sources of vi
tiated air, and require the most ac-
tive agency and timely surveillance
of the health department.
"The present mode of cleansing
the streets is most defective. The
time is inappropriate. 1t should be
done, at least during hot weather,
when the sun is no longer present
to distil the poison into the atmOs-
phere. The carts should in all cases
Immediately follow the scraper and
remove the gathered garbage in
covered carts, and that taken from
under bridges should never be spread
upon the streets. 1t had better be
left where it is, protected from the
sun.
"None but the most superficial
disturbance of the soil or cleaning
out of canals and basins should be |
permitted during the hot season.
"The bank Of the river, the levee, |
Wharves and filth from the shipping |
require special police; they con-
stitute some of the most pregnant |
sources of disease.
"The effect of these various nui-
sances and others on the disastrous |
fever Of 1858 is fully set forth.
NECESSITY FOR A QUARANTINE.
After the ample detail of local |
causes for our summer and fall fe- |
vers under a high temperature, and
the great humidity incidental to our
position, the commission further
say, "we have a sufficiency of them
without looking abroad for the
sources of our insalubrity.
Nevertheless, in relation to the
subject of quarantine, although it is
unanimous in the belief that no
system, however rigid or success
fully carried out, can ever be sub
stitute for the sanitary or preventive
measures we have recommended,
and which, if properly enforced,
would be at Oncea protection against
both the OriginatiOn and spread of
yellow fever and cholera among us,
yet in the imperfection that must
attach to all such measures, we unite
in recommending the establishment
of a quarantine station below the
city, under the surveillance and
control of the Health Department
thereby preventing all foul vessels
from entering the port with diseased
or crews, placing the re-
Strictions only when it is a measure
of safety, and furnishing character
and security abroad to our inter
course with other nations.
YELLOW FEVER NOT CONTAGIOUS
UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS.
"We are sensible, I" say they, "that
there is great difference of opinion
among the members of the profess
sion and in the community in rela-
ton to the cOmmunicability of
yellow fever, and have Investigated
the subject with great care, and the
conclusion that we have come to is
that yellow fever is not a disease
contagious that its in
fictitious properties are only com
in a foul or infectious
that is, that a foul
vessel or individual with the disease I
will only propagate it under atmos-
pherical and local conditions similar
to that which furnished its nativity.
That although vitiated or infectious
air may be conveyed in goods and
in various ways to distant places, {
speedily dissipates it,
and that if disease results, where it
is much concentrated, or with very
individuals, it extends
no farther, except under the condI-
tions above specified. The occur {
rences of 1858, and we believe all
antecedent years, supply us with
Illustrations in the es-
and corroboration of
these important principles.
"But further than this, the COM
has not remained satisfied
with theoretical presumptive evil
1ences. Most careful scrutiny into
the actual occurrences of the first
of the fever, its spread, the
character of its lOcalizatiOn, the per- !
sons most liable and suffering, from
whatever class and country, have
converted presumptive proof (Drs.
]. l.. Riddell and JIG. Simonds, of
the commission, disseEted from this