Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-07-27
THE YELLOW FEVER.
UnfOunded Reports, but Precautions
Necessary to Protect Mem
phis = Board Of
Health
Meeting Of the City Council and Prob.
able ActiOn-NO Cause
for Alarm.
QUARANTINE EsTABLIsHED.
QUARANTINE EsrABLIsHED.

ubhllui inc bEDuhh Has ulkcu tho cstaU
Iishment of quarantine al Presidents
Island. This was opposed by the secre.
tary of the board of health and the
health officer, who we're joined by thirty
four doctors of medicine. The re-
suit was that the city council ig-
nored Dr.. Mitchells recommendation
to establish quarantine, but now the
prevalence of yellow fever iu New Or.
and the three deaths on the steamer
John Porter at Vicksburg, as we'll as the
unanimous feeling Of the people of Mem
phis in demanding some effort at protec-
ten, have compelled acquiescence in
what DR.. Mitchell j~udiciously proposed
three weeks ago. Yesterday Mayor
Fhppin received the following communi-
cation:
MRMPHIs. July 26, 1878.
To His Honor the Mayor;
SIR-It ia made the duty Of the board
of health (section 2 of An ordinance
to establish a quarantine, aud to pro
vide regulations therefor" page l73, city
%ordinances) to notify you that il is ofiei.
ally informed by the secretary of the
board Of health OF New Orleans, that
yellow fever exists in that city. The
language Of said section is as follows:
And whenever the said board Of health
may be satisfied that yellow fever or
other contagious or infectious diseases
are prevailing at any point southwark Of
the city, and likely to be spread or dis.
tributed by steamboats, passing to and
fro on the Mississippi river, they shall so
inform the mayor, giving the names Of
the places and the diseases requiring
the establishment Of quarantine regula-
tons, aud thereupon it shall be the duty
of the mayor to Immediately issue bis
proclamation establishing a quarantine
of all boats or persons and freight com.
ing from the infected localities" You
will Of course exercise your official au-
thority in the premises as you deem
proper under the circumstances. Very
respectfully, R. F. BRowN, M. D.,
Secretary Board OF Health.
A LITTLE MISTAKE.
DR.. Brown, says Mayor Flippiu, makes
a mistake, as there has been no meeting
of the board OF health, and hence his
communication is personal and not off
cisl. Mayor Flippin requests US to say
he could not issue a proclamation to the
above effect until the board Of health
had met, and he is in no manner respon
sible for any negligence in this matter
Mayor Flippin called a meeting of the
city council yesterday afternoon, buI
owing to the absence Of the member
there was not a quorum. The following
councilmen we're absent: Messrs. Cros
by, Bates (out Of the city,, Hughes ant
G. A. Fisher. The following aldermen
we're absent: Messrs. Rourke, Hassin
ger tout of the city,, Elder tout of thu
city,, FARES and Dent tout Of the city,
NO MISTAKE At ALL,
In this connection it is but just to say
Drs. Erskine and Brown held q consult
alton with Mayor Flippin at the CitI
Hall yesterday, and while there Chic
Athy, who is also an ex-oticio membei
Of the board, came 10. DR.. Erskine ia
formed the mayor hat he had received
official notification of the existence o
yellow fever in New Orleans, and Dr.
Erskine deemed this a meeting of tn,
board Of health, and, therefore, Mayo
Flippin, by virtue Of tho ordinance, wa
authorized to Issue the proclamation
The notification was formally made b,
DR.. Brown, as secretary OF the board o
health.
THE STEAMER JOHN PORTER,
bound from New Orleans to Pittsburg, i
infected with fever. Three Of her crev
died with this disease and we're buried a
Vicksburg. Since yesterday DR.. Ets
kline has employed a tug to look out 70
the Porter, and will not permit her Il
land here. He will board the vessel
taking with him necessary medicine Ii
case any one shoull be found sick oil
this steamer. DR.. Ecskine to day re
ceived the following Telegram, dated
Helena, 9th:
j. H ERsKINE. M. D.-The steamer
Porter is due here to-day. She will no
stop here. D A. LYTHICUN.
There is some unnecessary alarm, TO
it is not probable that the fever will Gp
pear in Memphis. as the health officer i
actively at work to protect the city from
its introduction.
II BOARD OF HEALTH.
While Drs. Brown and Erskiue ma,
have differed with many as to the neces
sity or importance Of establishing
quarantine, these gentlemen have at al
times been actuated by a sense OF duty
and are alive ia their efforts to keep tn
city in proper sanitary condition. W
feel sure that they will be diligent, faith
full and energetic, as we'll as successful
in discharging the responsible duties Q
their Office.
oUARAN n ESTABLISHED.
At meeting Of the board Of healt
this afternoon Drs. Mitchell, Erskine an.
Brown, Mayor Flippin and Chief Q
Police Abbey present, the subject wa
discussed, and it was resolved to estst
lish the quarantine at the foot Of Pres
dent Island, twelve miles below this city
Stoves and the necessary articles to b
used for the quarantine quarters wer