The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-12-01
INVESTIGATING THE FEVER.

Richmond, Va, Nor 21.-Col. Hardee
| of New Orleans, read q paper to- day
before the Public Health Association, ir
which he said that ia n large city of the
| United States were effectual works of san.
itary engineering more needed than in
| raj difficulties exist. The city ia built on
| made ground or overflow deposits of the
Mississippi, and if it were not for the
| artificial bayous the river would flow
| through nearly every street in the city
during the months of the spring rise. Con-
the city has grown along the higher
grounds of the river bank. and js now
nearly twelve miles in length and only one
in width.
Colonel Ha7dee showed by number of
maps that the highwater mark in the
Mississippi River was l6 feet above the
main tidal level of Lake Pontchartra Il
aud that there is basin Of low laDd back
of the city betweeo the Metairie Ridge and
the banks of the river which is about IA
feet below the high water of the river !;
alsc that beyond the Metairie Ridge aud
between it and Lake PontchGrtrain there
is belt of cypress swamp on nearly the
same level as the waters of the lake, and
which was designated by Colonel Hardee
as q pestileutisl case arou ID the vital
parts of the city. In addition to the
threatened ove1tlows from the Mississippi
River, the waters of Lake Pontchartraln
are often raised several feet above their
normal level during southeasterly gales,
which frequently bring the waters into the
city. The present system of drainage was
represented as embracing only about enc
half of the superficial area within the city
limits, or that district between the Metairie
Ridge and the banks of the river. This
drainage is performed b. four drainage
machines, which are located in the basin
previously alluded to, and to which points
all waters from rains or other sources are
accumulated, to be pumped inte the basin
of Lake POntchartrain. A new system
contemplates the construction of covered
sewers through the city in place of the
present open drains, which are offensive in
every respect, and which are breeders of
disease.
Considerable time aleo was devoted to
description of the privy vaults in the city
and the means used for emptying them.
These vaults are subject to leakage and
excrenentaIy matter percolates through
the soil, aud during the GUNNER great
quantity OF d&leterious gas is exhaed.
This may in time be corrected when under
ground sewers can be established.
The speaker alluded to the fact that the
recent epidemic was more virulent ard
prevailed to greater extent in parts OF
the city that were entirely p"ved and we'll
drained than in those parts where il was
proved tha5 garbage was thrown upon
the streets and in the immediate vicinity
of the lowest canals and drainage Teeer-
voirs.
AT the night aesaion Sargeon J. S. Bill
lings, Of the United States Army, submit
ted O report from the commiL.ee to which
was referred the general report of the
Yellow Fever Commission, and returned
it to the Executive Cnmmittee with the
remark that the preliminary conclusions
presented by the Commission are IN
accordance with the prevailing opinions
of the medical profession of this and other
countries, with the exception of that
relating to disinfection. The committee
also submitted brief sketch of what would
be considered satisfactory demonstration
of the cause of yellow fever. Probably the
best place to carry on such an iEvestiga-
tion woald be at first the city of Havana.
1t must be clear that such an investigation
will require much time and labor aud that
it's results should be presented accompa-
MED by clear and convincing evidence.
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