The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1878-12-05
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Fellow-citizens of the Senate and House of

Fellow-citizens of the Senate and House of
Representatives.:
Our heartfelt gratitude il due to the Divine
Being who holds in His hands the destinies of
nations, for the continued bestowal during the
last year of countless blessings upon cur coun-
try. We are At peace with all other nations;
our public credit has greatly improved, and il
perhaps now stronger thai ever before. Alum
dant hArvests have rewarded the labOrs of those
who till the soil; our manufacturing Industries
are reviving, and it is believed that general
prosperity which has been 20 long snxiously
looked for, is at last within our reach. The en-
joyment of health by our people generally
has, however, been interrupted during the
past season by the prevalence Of fatal pesti-
lence-
THE YELLOW FEVER
in some portions of the southern States, Great
ing an emergency which called for prompt and
extraordinary measures of relief. The disease
appeared as an epidemic in New Orleans and
at other places on the lower Mississippi soon
after midsummer. II was rapidly spread by
fugftiyes from the infected cities and towns,
and did not disappear until early in November.
The States of Louisiana, Mississippi and Ten
nessee have suffered severely About one
hundred thousand cases are believed to have
occurred, of which about twenty Thousand, &C
coTding to intelligent estimates. proved fatal.
il is impossible to estimate with any approach
to accuracy the loss to the country occasioned
by this epidemic. 1t is to be rcckoned by the
hundred millions of dollars. The suffering and
destruction that resulted excited the deep
est sympathy in all parts of the Union.
Physicians and nurses hastened from
every quarter to the assistance of the
afflicted communities. Voluntary contributions
of money and supplies in every needed form
were speedily and generously furnished. The
government was able to respond in some meas
to the call for help by providing tents, medi-
cines and food for the sick and destitute. The
requisite directions for the purpose. being
given in the confident expectation that this act
ion of the executive would receive the sanction
of Congress. About eighteen hundred tents
and rations of the value of about twenty live
Thousand dollars were sent to cities and towns
which applied for them. Full details of which
will be furnished to Congress by the proper de-
partment.
SANITARY SUPERVISION.
The fearful spread of this pestilence has
awakened a very general public sentiment in
favor of q national sanitary administration,
which shall not only control quarantine, but
have the sanitary supervision of internal COM
merce n times of epidemics and hold adj
visory relation to the STATE and municipal
health associations, with power to deal with
whatever endangers the public health, and
which themunicipal and State authorities are
unable to regulate. The national quarantine
set anproved April %. 1875 which was passed
too late in the last session of Congress to pro-
vide the means of carrying il into practical
oreration during the past season. II step in
the direction here indicated. In view of the
neceasitv for the most effective measures nv
quarantine and otherwise for the protection of
our seaports and the country generally from
this and other epidemic@. it is recommended
that Congress give to the whole subject early
and careful consideration.