The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-23

May not New Orleans, by the exercise Of the
same prudence, or perhaps by using the
more vigorous measures Of prevention which
its greater danger makes necessary gain u
like exemption, aud take itself out Of the
category Of cities in which pcstilcncc is the
rule rather than the exception?
This is the question which is now vexing
the sanitarians, and happily the discussion
Of it Is as serious a. its importance demands.
The majority of physicians incline TO the
view that yellow fever is always Of foreign
derivation; that the germs Of the present
epidemic were brought to New Orleans by
the ship Emily Soudcr, which arrived there
on the sd Of last May, and two of whose
crow died Of yellow foyer. though il was re-
turned as malaria fever, within few da vs.
after landing. A minority Of physicians,
including some of those who have become
most familiar with the disease, take the
directly contrary view, substantially the
one reached by the celebrated English yell
low Fever Commission many years ago,
namely, that yellow foyer is Invariably in
digcnous home product, and not q foreign
importation.
But even IL this latter opinion IS sound
and unquestionably many Of the facts in re-
gard 10 the disease go to justify 1t, the con-
clusion to be drawn from 1t may be that
though quarantine regulations be unavail-
ing TO keep yellow fever away from port
liable TO it, efficient sanitary measures will
20 far TO prevent the genesis Of an epidemic.
As DR.. HOLIDAY, one OF the oldest and
most respected Of the New Orleans medical
fraternity, and one Of the physicians who
support the indigenous theory, points out,
yellow fever epdcmics are less frequent in
New Orleans now than in former times; for
bad as the sanitary condition If that city
still ia, it is better than it once was In the
old days the cpidcmics visited New Orleans
every year or two, but since her swamps
were drained and her streets paved and
some attention has been paid TO cloanli-
ness, they do not come except at intervals
varying from seven to eleven years. One
thing is very evident, whether it imports
the disease or generates II for itself n hot
and filthy city always offers fair field for
the spread Of yellow fever epidemic, which
it invites 10y its neglect of the ordinary pre-
cautions for preserving the public health.
The Yellow Fever Commission in their
preliminary report, which does not Indicate
NNNl lu'N nave got ONcI llucn RIounu yet
in their investigation, say that in respect of
sanitary condition the towns they visited
exhibited Il neglect and violation Of the laws
Of health common to all the inland towns in
the United States. These are ina'tention TO
drainage and to the removal Of filthy ac-
cunulations. Some Of our Northern towns
are bad enough in this regard, but, we are
sorry to say, the state OF the Southern cities
Is apt TO bc WORSE.
Whatever may he the differences Of opin-
ION about it, origin, it cannot Toe long before
civilized countries will bc able to prevent
the recurrence of such an epidemic as that
which this year has pro tratcd hundred
thousand people and killed tenth part Of
that number, causing ipcalcuablc physical
suffering and the loss of many millions Of
money throughout a vIdc region. New Or
leans has reduced its liability TO yellow fever
pc-tilcnccs 10y attention to cleanliness and
the laws Of health; and II it goes on in the
same good work Il may make itself n de-
siralle place Of Residence AMI a city Of
whose wholeSomeness the country Will have
reason To 'p urDul