The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-07-31
YELLOW FEVER In NEW ORLEANS.

The announcement of the appear
ance of this fearful scourge in New
Orleans at this early hour, naturally
creates good deal ofanxiety among
our citizens. Many are already talk
ing of places of refuge, and discnsss-
ing where it is best to go. The
breaking up and abandonment of hou-
ses is fearful remedy. 1t means not
only the loss of time and loss Of
money, but the suspension and de.
struction of all business. The far.
met will not bring his produce to
town to pay what he owes, nor to buy
what the merchant has to sell. But
as great as such calamity would be,
it is as nothing compared to the
death and sorrow that will shroud the
community; for there must be many
who cannot even resort to the des
perate remedy of abandoning their
houses, aud fleeing to the country
And there still remains another con-
sideration-the cost which the fear-
full struggle for relief and life which
this dreadful scourge entails. So
great is this cost that they are be.
yond the reach of tie community at.
flicted, and must be supplied if sup.
piled at all, by the charity of others.
Mr.. Editor, you will not say that I
have overstated the evils of a yellow
fever epidemic-you may say that
they are understated. Is there no
remedy but passive acceptance of
the utter ruin, which we leave be-
hindu There is remedy safe and
certain, just such q remedy as every
brave and prudent people resort to
when their life or welfare Is endan-
gered. To guard against an enemy,
we build Notifications and put out
pickets. 1t is now we'll known that
yellow fever can come only by being
brought by goods or individuals from
the places infected with it. pre-
sumo no one will pretend that the
advent of these cannot be prevented.
One hundredth part of the energy
labor and expense, which is required
to contend with the disease, when in
our midst, will be more than doubly
sufficient to. prevent its coming
Perhaps this community are anxious
to know the views of the Mayor and
Town Council upon this question;
what they design doing, if anything,
and when they design doing it. I
will suggest that it will hardly be
wise to wait until the disease is in
our midst, and then like the Board
of Health and quarantine of New Or
leans show an unwonted energy to
eradicate it. Half the energy they
are now displaying would have quar-
antined it out. Even if they can
confine it to the localities in which it
has appeared, the commercial injury
which it will reflect upon New Or
leans would have paid for efficient
guarantees for an hundred years.
AS / have already asked, if our Ma
yor and Town Council design doing
anything, of which / have no doubt,
when is it to be done? hope they
will bear in mind, that the conse-
quences of yellow fever is too great
to risk anything, and their precau-
tions cannot be taken too soon. If
any blunders are to be made let them
be on the side of safety. The enc
my is on our soil, and when he comes
he will not come openly, but comes
as spy, so disguised that it is diff
ficult to learn how he comes, or to
recognize him after he has come.
Let them be so cautious and prudent
that our citizens will be freed from
the danger of panic, to feel safe in
their houses. B.
~~~~~~~->~~Os-~>~~~
-SrNcE Our last the annoarancn If