Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-10-31
iFoR THE STAR.
The Yellow Fever.

IT'S FAST AND PRESENT MALlGSrTy COMPARED
During the past two months We have fire.
quently read In the newspaper reports that the
yellow fever this season had assumed a higher
grade of mahgnity than ever known before:
one evidence OF its severity was that negroes
for the first time in the history OF the disease
have not been exempt from attack and fatal Ne
suits. The records prove that during the pre-
sent century many negroes in the southern
states have died OF this peStience.
In 1911 the fever broke out in New Orleans
and NatcheZ and swept away many hundreds.
In Charleston il was very severe, attacking ma
tive whites and negroes. In 1919 an extensive
prevalence OF yellow fever existed. IL visited
Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore
at the same time IL did New Orleans and
NatcheZ. The people generally fed and out of
900 that remained In Natchez $50 died. II is
said that even the domestic animals felt the in
fiuence OF the poison. Many died. and even the
wild deer in the neighboring forest persisted.
The peStilence also assembled the navigable
rivers and penetrated for some distance into
the country. During this year-1Sl9-the total
number OF deaths in Baltimore was $50. Sep
tember was the worst month. During its 80
days $40 persons were attacked, and 242 died.
Inat year the fever was very general and
fatal in the West Indies. Also in Spain. Al
Cadiz, out OF population OF .20oo. IS. 600 took
the fever and 1000 died
In 1920 Philadelphia was again afflicted with
the yellow fever. The number OF cases re-
ported was 125, the deaths So. The following
year Baltimore lost l13 OF its Inhabitants. and
After 1921 the cities north and south enioyed
an exemption from any serious visitation OF this
terrible pestllence for twenty eight years. In
December, 1S49. yellow fever made It's anpaar-
ance in Rio de Janeiro. South America The
disease spread slowly AT first. then rapidly. and
was very malignant. Ii made no distinction OF
age. sex or condition. but attacked all indis-
crlmlnately. In many houses not a single Occu-
pant remained alive. The blacks and mixed
races attacked nearly all recovered, but the
pure European blood suffered terribly Several
ljafl. ,laar Ia
entered the chamber of deputies and the coun-
Gil OF the Emperor. The usual terror-the sIIS-
pension OF business. the hush in the streets, the
hurry of the few passers-by. revealed the pres
ence OF the peSti!ence. The rites Of worShiD i'm
the churches were intermitted: everything was
suspended but DEATH DR.. Lallemant estimated
the number OF cases al 100000, and the deaths
I0Go0.
From Rio the fever Travelled northward. In
1851 it reached the colonies on the mort hem
coast OF South America. I'm 1852 it fell with
great force on the West India islands IN 1853
ii visited the islands of the Caribbean Sea and
Gun OF Mexico, and from here il spread 10 New
orleans, ana sad ScOurge IL was TO that city.
The hrSt cases occurred late in Nav, and the
disease went on languidly during the month OF
June, ,and was not fully established until the
second week in July: From This time ii ragged
most fearfully until November During The
month of August 5,269 persons died. The popu-
lat1on OF New Orleans was then estimated at
lG,C00: or these 29.020 were attacked, and S 1S6
died OF this terrible fever. Negroes children
and natives alike sickened and died. In MANY
OF the smaller towns the mortality was fright
ful: At Providence the population, by flight,
was reduced to about 400; OF these $50 Sickened,
and 165 died. At EickSburg, with reduced
population OF about 5000. there were 9, 100 sick
and 800 deaths. In Jackson, out of 600 who
remained. $50 were attacked, and l12 died. The
number OF deaths in Mobile was l.19l. out of a
population OF $4,000. During this year Philadel-
phia lost rs by yellow fever.
In 1854 the disease again advanced northward
savannah, Augusta and Charleston suffered
severely. IL was noticed with aStOniShment
that even negroes who had been born in
Charleston died OF this disease. one case is re-
corded OF an old negresS, 81 years of age and
who had passed unharmed through three epi-
denies, and yet died of black yomit. The pes
thence continued its march nori Inward. The
year 1oiiowing. 1s55, it sorely afflicted Norfolk
and Portsmouth. On the 9TH Of June the steamer
Benjamin Franklin arrived from st. Thomas
West Indies, where the fever was prevailing al
the time OF the vessels departure. On the day
after her arrival at GOsport one OF the crew was
sent to the naval hospital, where he died in a
lew hours OF black vomit. On the 5th of July a
boiler maker, who had been working at the
steamers machinery, was taken sick, and on
the stn he was corpse Several other case
followed In quick succession. and by the 24th OF
July q cases and deaths had occurred in Cos
port. II continued TO spread. and late i'm July
II crossed the river TO Norfolk. Several iniiuen
t1al citizens fell victims TO its fury. and panic
commenced The population OF Portsmouth was
soon reduced from II 600 10 1900; that OF Nor
folk from 10000 TO 5000. Meanwhile the fever
adN Nanced with rapid strides amongthe remnant
a
portsmouth Transcript was compelled to stop.
the force having been reduced TO the editor and
one compOSltOr. On the oath. I'm Norfolk there
were 500 sick, and the next day 40 bu.falS
several physicians had died and Others were
SICK. On the 25th the mayor OF Norfolk died at
MS post, the collection OF revenue was suspend
ed, and the corporation treasury locked ul. and
the city was left I'm the hands of the Howard
Association.
During the first week In September the epi-
demlc had reached its height the deaths
amounting to so a day. The entire duration of
Ine epidemic was 131 days. The mortality. i'm
Dotn cltleS was estimated at 1000. forty-tye Der
cent. OF the total population. out of sixty phy-
slclans and nurses who volunteered and went 10
assist the Howard Association. TWENTY-FIVE
died. ' NV
SUCH is brief history OF the terrible peSti-
renee during six successive years. commencing
IN RIO de Janeiro i'm 1S49. and ending i'm Norfolk.
Va, In 1885. It's steady and regular march from
tne center OF South America. norlhward to the
center OF North America. furnishes an interest
ing SUBJECT for the friends of humanity 10 non
def over, and, If possible, adopt and carry into
erect sanitary measures To check hereafter an
approaching peStilence from any mart of the
gioDe The belief in the power OF man 10 con-
tlol these deadly plagues-the wholesale slaupb
yer OF tne human race-iS daily gaining ground
among those who have investigated the phe
"ViheHa vi epluelhlcS. ID. I.
AnderSOnsS Affidavit.