The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-11-21
URsDAY MORNING. NOVEMBER 2l. 1878.

THURSDAY MORNING.
/ proverb almost, II not quite, cosyal with
history that every locality has either In inn
agination or reality, its unhealthy wind
coming from some certain quarter
/ ~ BALEFUL WINDS. =. 81
I In New Orleans the north wind is re-.
garded as the balefnl one. a study OF
these charts will enable the sapitarian to
determine the influence OF the north winds
upon the mortality rate, since that. is much
more nearly accurate than the daily returns
Of cases. Again, it Is point1of very great
importance to ascertain the influence OF ba-
rometic readings upon the spread OF VEL
!. low-feFer. II It is even in limited degree
an air-born disease, high readings Of the
barometer should afford atmospheric con-
ditions more favorable to its diffusion than
lessened pressure.
The members OF your Commission unan-
imously agree in stating the following facts
in regard to their investigation up to the
present time, reserying the right to intro
duce ut any subsequent time such antago-
nistic facts as may be discovered:
THE FACTS DEVELOPED.
First. We have not in q solitary instance
found case of yellew-feyer which we could
1ustitiabIy consider rs OF de nouo origin, or
indigenous to its locality.
Second. In respect to most Of the various
| towns which we visited, and which were
/ points of epidemic prevalence, the testi-
mony showing importation was direct and
convincing in its character. -, .>.
| Third. The transmission Of yellow.ferer
between points separated by any consider
able distances appeared to be wholly due to
human intercourse. In some instances the
poison was carried in the clothing or about
the persons of people going .from.iniected
districts. In other INSTANCES it was con-
veyed in such fomities as cotton-bageing,
or goods OF some description, or bedding
land blankets. ~ -. ,..a -l
Fourth. THE weight OF testimony is very
:, pronounced against the further use Of dis
infectants. Physicians in infected towns,
almost without exceptions, state that they
are useless agents to arrest the spread OF
yelloW-feyer, while some OF them affirm that
their vapors are seriously preiudicial to the
sick.
Fifth. Personal prophylaxis, by means Of
drugs or other therapeutic means, has
proved q constant failure. A respectable
number OF physicians think the use OF small
doses OF quinine OF some use III prevention.
Sixth. Quarantines established with such
degree OF surveillance and rigor that abb
solute non-intercourse is the result, have
effectually, and without exception, pro-
tected those quarantines from attacks OF
yellow-fever. .''
THE DOCTORS.
It il due to you and the President Of this
Association, and to all present, and it is also
matter OF justice to ourselves, that should
declare that each one OF Us has exercised
the utmost care possible to be observed that
whatever facts we might gather and lay be-
| fore you should be facts in reality. We
have been cautious in accepting statements
not fully vouched for, and in every instance
where it could be done corroborating testi-
mony has been elected. We have entered
upon our work determined that one only
object should inspire u.s. desire to bring
| into the garners OF science contribution
Whose fidelity to nature and truth should
constitute it an authority, even when we
shall have passed away.
We have found at every place we have
visited all interest and desire to cooperate
in our work gratifying to ourselves and full
of promise for future investigations. Espe-
cially did the medical profession every
where give their cordial and earnest sup
port. At every town I visited freshly
heaped mounds Of earth covered the dead OF
our profession, but the survivors had closed
the broken ranks and still did vigorous bat
tie with the great pestilence.
Other YelIoH-Fever Papers.
DR.. Cochran was next introduced, and
read paper, giving detailed account OF
the fever at Grenada, Miss. When it first
appeared there it was called "congeStiYe
malarial fever" and "bilous fever" and
g iaundice.u The fever first appeared IN
family where the mother had been down to
the depot to see her daughter OF for Oka-
lono. The tram was from New Orleans,
and the mother, it is thought, occupied
seat in the railroad-car by her daughter
while the New Orleans passengers were
taking breakfast. In the section OF the
| town most exposed 10 malarial influences
the disease was least fatal; it is true. how
ever, that it was Inhabited chiefly by ne
eroes, who were only attacked late in the
Season, and usually bad, the disease lightly.
"When the physicians published the fact
on Sunday. 9th OF August, that the disease
which had entered the town was unques-
tionably yellow-fever, the whole 'popula-
ton was seized with panic, and everybody
who was able to get away went rs speedily
as possible, and stood not upon the order OF
going. They fed to distant cities, and car
| ried the seed OF pestilence with them, to
spring up and bear disastrous fruit, as at
Water Valley, at Holly, Spring, at Grand
Junction, and at several other places.
Many OF them wont into camps located
about three miles from town-something like
one thousand persons-and although some OF
these campers occasionally visited the town.
the camps escaped infection, Many fed to
I the adjacent country is all directions-to
| distances of from two or three to ten or
| fifteen miles-and in this way the epidemic
was, extended TO several country neighbor-
hoods, and struck down in scattered coun-
| try houses scores OF victims. !" ,.. >,.'..' =
| There were, unfortunately, many unable
to leave on account of sickness in their
| families. ' ''' - -. ..
| Grenada stands on an elevated plateau,
land every rain washes the sire It's and gut
| fers clean. The number OF cases at Gre
NADIA was 1,040 (out Of Q population OF
2,500J; deaths, 326; whites, 226; blacks,
100. Only tue aphite persons who remained
! in the town escaped attuck. 3t't ',>"'t -
| The investigation at Grenada shows the
intensely infectious charater of the disease;
persons who went to visit the sick nearly
always carried the disease away with them.
| 1Et. THE FEVER AT CANTON. U-;f.a
DR.. Bemiss, president OF the Commits
sion, read paper giving in detail the his
tory of the epidemic at Canton. Miss. The
number Of cases was 919; deaths. 100;
blacks, 55. "The disease was brought di-
rectly from New Orleans by the Brittan
familY."9 SIN respect to yellow-fever at
says, "that more than usual epidemic force
| 1aa ifa whole ouraor Vot-rr sau- mn,