Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1878-09-05
The SouthernDe Cloud
The Disease Claimed to Have
Originated in New Orleans.

ot. Louis is sWafmlng With rel
u9ees from the fcver-i,rfected
districts Of the South, and eve
~ Southern train that arrives
brings fresh additions. No fears
are ielt that the scourge will
take a hold here, and ST. Louis
gives a welcome to all who
come. The work of raising
money for the destitute contin-
ues, and more than 81 900 were
raised to-day. Contributions
Of clothing are also being made,
Among the arrivals to-day from
New Orleans was w. Ii. Kells,
a prominent and intelligent cit
izcn Of that city. In an inter-
view this afternoon he stated
that when he left New Orleans
the streets we're almost depop-
ulaled. People confined them
selves to the house, seldom leav-
ing except when necessary.
Whole families were swept
down by the scourge. Said
Mr.. KelIs:
The rayages Of the fever are
confined to those portions of
the city where the lower class
cs live. The higher classes have
moi suffered so much. The city
undoubtedly brought the fever
upon itself by not taking sufi-
Gent sanitary precaution. The
impression prevalent all over
1.-THE North, and even in New
Orleans, that the disease did
not originate in that city is er-
roneous. 1t is commonly sup
posed that the germ Of the ie-
yer was brought By a ship from
Havana. That the fever origi-
mated in New Orleans ] have no
doubt, and most Of the mem
bers Of the medical fraternity
with whom / have conyersed
were Of ike same opinion. AT
the time when the fever began
the lower portions of the city
were rocking with filth. There
was insufficient sewerage, and
vegetable and animal matter
were allowed to accumulate in
the streets and TO rapidly putre-
fy under the burning rays Of a
torrid sun. Numbers Of men
were hired by the city to clean
the streets, and worked for
months; but as the dirt was
stored in piles, and not removed,
all their labor was for naught.
Putrescence was everywhere,
and the air was laden with pes
tilential smells. The citizens
often complained, but the muni-
cipal authoritiesrefused TO listen
TO them.
"Thc epidemic was foresecn
by a great many people. A
physician predicted that there
would be yellow fever, if prop
or precautions were not taken,
at least three months before the
first case was reported. New
Orleans is not noted for its
cleanliness, but at the COM
mcncement Of the epidemic il
was in a worse condition than |
ever saw it. The lower class of
French and Italians and negroes
never attempt TO keep their
houses clean, and as the author
tiles did not attend TO it, garb-
age was allowed to lay in the
yards, cutters and streets for
weeks, until the sun and rain
disintegrated or purified it.
When all epidemic had been de-
clarcd by the Board Of Health,
men were ut once put TO work
casting filth from the city. Huge
piles of it were dumped into
The Tivoli Circle and other pla-
ces and burned. Car3olic acid.
lime and other disenlectants
were scattered in proiusion over
The city, but it was too late; the
scourSe could not be kept with
in bounds. The authorities had
refused 10 listen to the advice
of persons competent to judge,
and the city was filled with the
groans of the dying.
mo two physicians have d.
greed upon the causes Of the
disease. 1t is known that it is
in the atmosphere, and that is
all. As the medical fraternity
is divided upon the question OF
the cause, the treatment is en-
pirlcal. Some prescribe one
remedy, others another, none
confident that the prescription
will do more good than harm. |
The physicians have been mere
ly experimenting. The only |
point upon which all agree is
that careful nursing is the best
possible means to take. The.
Associations doing ey-
cry thing in lis power to allevi-
ate the suffering, bat as its
funds are nearly exhausted it
cannot do much without outside |
assistance. Nurses command
very high prices, from SIS to $50
per diem. Professional nurses
arc very scarce, ard great
wealthy ladies and oen-