The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-16
An Epidemic Which Ought Not TO BE
Repeated.

An Epidemic Which Ought Not to BE
Repeated.
The spread of the yellow fever from the
cities and larger towns to the smaller set
! Elements and tho detached habitations on
| the plantations of the lower Mississippi
| valley is the latest development of this
years extraordinary epidemic. Even i'm
New Orleans, Memphis, and Vicksburg,
though the disease is manifcstly on its de-
cline. it still RACES with wonderful intensity.
considering the length of time during which
| it has scourged those cities now about three
months.
The deaths last week numbered $40 in New
Orleans, or nearly fifty a day. In Vicksburg,
where the ground Is pretty thoroughly burnt
over they were 80; and in Memphis, which
has lately been furnished with new material
for the fever To work upon in the way of re-
| turned refugees, the mortality reached n
| total of l57, making the whole number Of
deaths in that pest-rddcn city since the be-
| ginning Of the epidemic in August, hard ON
| 5000 In twenty-eight towns, from which
we have specific reports, the aggregate NOR
! tally for the week was something short OF
one thousand.
But these are only part OF the commune
ties now afflicted by the epidemic which
has travelled along the line of the Misss-
sippi River from New Orleans to Memphis
| finding lodgment nearly everywhere
| whore it could lay hold of victims. The
| scattered mortality, of which we have not
yet the statistics, must considerably swell
this total. About Port Gibson, Miss for
instance, at least thirty plantations were at
last accounts affected. and in Warren Coun-
ty, outside Of Vieksburg. 90 deaths have oc-
Cured Brownsville. Tenn, continues one
Of the worst seats Of the disease. l39 cases
having occurred there last week, with 35
deaths.
The present epidemic has been so peculiar
in some Of its characteristics and Of such
long duration. and its inland propagation
has been 50 unusual. that it affords an
ample field for the scientific inquiry it il
proposed to institute into the causes Of its
origin and growth. 1t has not only wasted
life and strength in the region 1t has afflicted.
but 1t has also utterly Frustrated trade and
enterprise in scores Of communities, thus
inhicting a vast loss in money ON the coun-
try, besides drawing something like a mil
lion in charitable contributions from the
North. Such n scourge, which experience
shows is a periodical visitation, with New
Orleans for its place Of entry. ought not TO
battle the resources OF science in the way Of
| prevention. We have succeeded In combining
its limits, and ultimately we must be able to
kill 1t at its inception, and before it has at
tanned the dimensions Of an epidemic.
Cholera as an uncomfortable pestilence is
little feared nowadays in communities
where sanitary laws and regulations are
we'll understood and thoroughly enforced.
New York has for two years practically been
free from smallpox. the number Of cases
not reaching more than dozen. Yet both
this city and Philadelphia have in their
turn been overrun with smallpox and chol-
era epidemics, and the yellow fever has done
them in times past terrible injury Though
so greatly exposed, New Orleans also
must eventually prove her ability
to keep out the yellow fever so reg
ularly brought thither from the South
American and West Indian ports, and
which once introduced ON the shores of the
Gulf Of Mexico oftentimes exhibits itself in
an even more virulent form than it had as
sumed in the southern countries from which
it was imported. New Orleans lost $40 by
deaths from yellow fever last week, while
| Havana, the place whence New Orleans ob-
tanned it, reported but little Of the disease
for the week ending Oct. ), only % deaths
having occurred. Mobile, close by the Lou
isiana capital, has had in all, since the start
OF the epidemic, only 81 cases and 20 deaths
Galveston is free from it, and even Key
West. lying directly within its range and in
a climate where it has its favorlte home re-
ports only 81 cases and IL deaths.
In truth, large as are our sympathes for
New Orleans and free AZ our contributions
have been for its relief, We must hold that
city accountable for the genesis Of the pes
thence which has devastated the Missis-
sppi valley and Frustrated its business ac-
tivity. II is time for New Orleans to rid
itself Of the reputation Of being a fever sore
on the country. The whole modern history
Of epidemics shows that they are largely
due 10 causes which only become uncontrol-
liable through negligence at the start and
the failure to exercise unceaslng sanitary
vigilance 10 prevent their Introduction. 1t
therefore behOOves the New Orleans med
zeal fraternity and municipal authori-
ties to lend every aid to the scien-
title investigation Of their intimate
enemy and to pay heed 10 its suggestions
The main business now before that city, 50
bitterly taught by experience and so greatly
feared by all its nelghbors, is to put an en-
barge on yellow fever in the future, and re-
lieye itself OF the imputaton Of being the
pest hole OF the country. 1t may not be
able to overcome Yellow Jack in the first
round, but by persistence 1t will conquer in
the end A vruent yellow fever epidemic
in New Orleans once OF twice every decade is
a disgrace to capital SO large and SO rich
In resources.
win England Fight the Ameer.