Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-11-08
from the New York Timos, Nov. IL

Ane n CHOW EeNer RECORD.
The yellow fever epidemic of 1878 has run
its course. a few cases will be reported
from day to day until sharp but kindly frost
shall destroy the last of the poisonous germs
floating about the places that have been SO
bitterly scourged during the last ten weeks
In New Orleans, where it had its origin and
where it has destroyed nearly 900 lives and
Frustrated more than three times that num-
Der of victims, the daily report of deaths is
reduced to about dozen, and the Board of
Health declares the epidemic at an end Refu-
gees, who fled from the infection by thous-
ands and passed an enforced and protracted
vacation at the North, are returning to their
homes They will soon resume their custom
AIRY avocatiOns, and business will regain its
normal activity where for many weeks there
has been almost an industrial paralysis.
Nurses and doctors, after their prolonged de-
votion to the sick and dying, during which
their own ranks have been sadly thnned,
will fall back to their usual way of life char
table and relief associations will wind up
their benehcent work for the sufferers from
this terrible visitation, and the yellow fever
of 1873 will be n memory and history.
Before it passes from the public mind as
every special event of human life, however
impressive, does, it may be well to recall the
leading features of this years experience with
the plague, and not let slip Mt once the lessons
which it should enforce Cases of yellow fe-
yer began to appear in New Orleans about
July r. Whether the disease was imported,
or sprang spontaneously from conditions IA
voring its existence, is still disputed ques-
ton Near the end of May the steamer Sou
der arrived at that port with sick purser,
who subsequently died at his residence III
that city. 1t has beeu claimed by some, in
Guiding the chairman of the local board of
tl,at tl,is IigangA yellow fever and
that the germs survived in the air until the
heat of July developed them into deadly ac-
tivity. This disputed question is involved IL
Il wider controversy as to whether tins mala-
DIV has ever originated in New Orleans, or any
other of our Southern cities, or whether 1t
hit, in all cases been brought from elsewhere.
L. il IL question which there ought to be EVIL
dence enough by this time to solve How
ever this may be. the fever did not assume an
epidemic form until the end of July, when
the whole number of cases had been less than
$50 and the deaths about 40. As it increased
daily, there began to be symptoms of alarm,
and the authorities of Vicksburg and Mem
phis turned their attention to the establish
Iucnt OF a quarantine against New Orleans.
But already they were late in their move
1neuts. About July % the tug-boat J0hH
Poyter had left New Orleans for Pittsburg, to
cary infection up the Mississippi and into the
Vicl,sburg This was the same craft that
subsequently frightened Louisville and Gin
cipnati. and carried the plague to Gallpolis
But the attention of the country was first
aroused by the cry that came up from the
stricken town of Granada, Miss. On the 10Th
of August it was reported that on the preyl-
ous day there had been six deaths from yell
low fever at that place, and that there were
thirty-five cases. This was at tlrst disputed
and the disease declared TO be bilious fever,
but before there was time for controversy,
tho VILLAGE was calling in terror on the How
ard Association of Memphis for doctors and
nurses. For weeks afterward it was scourged
into helplessness and desolation. There is
scarcely n doubt that the fever was brought
thither from New Orleans, but that its fierce
ravoges were due to the deplorable sanitary
condition of the town. The first case APP
peared nj Vicksburg on the 18th OF August,
and two days later the precursor OF the cpl
demie showed itself Mt Memphis. The peo-
ple were now fairly frightened, and began to
flee from their houses, while the Howard AS
socintions were reused to earnest work On
the 18th of August the first call for help
came and was addressed to the national au-
thorities at Washington for army tents and
,ntinns for a camp outside the city of Mem
mis- This was shortly followed by appeals
for relief to support doctors and nurses, and
furnish supplies for the sick and destitute
victims of the plague. During the latter nan
of August the epidemic developed TO teariu
nronortions, its centres of radiation being
New Orleans, Viclsburg and Memphis. IL
NV Orleans there were l, 1872 new cases anc
I1G Deaths in the first week of September
and then an irregular and iiuctuatlng decline
set in. The height of mortality was reacheo
in Memphis the second week IN September
,vhrn there were GS7 deaths. Nicksburg'
worst week was the first in September, wheI
the deaths reported numbered ISL. Al
through that month the fever ragged with NJ
,,o,., Iacidad dimnution in those cities, ant
almost the sole occupation of the people wa
caring for the sick and burying the dead
Meantime the material was well-nigh ex
bousted in Grenada and other small places
notably Holly Springs We're severely slultten
refugees having brought the disease upoi
them. During the month OF OCTOBER TN
rayagss of the plague have steadily declined
and n few days more will doubtless see It's eA
tmction. =, A.
There have been many pecullartes IN IN
experience of the year with TINS terrible Spl
dainic. but never before dld II rage Whel
there was such universal interest in its cours
ond progress, such opportunities for observa
tion and study, and a condition of sanitar.
soiencp 50 favorable to deriving from 1t Nald
allie lessons for future use. 1t Is TO De nope
that the Commission which has already uli
d .rtaken its investigation will he favored WIT
all the evidence which intelligent physician
and nurses must have gathered, and will b
able to reach conclusions regarding Its origi
and nature that will so far toward preventing
future ravages It certainly belongs TO IN
category of preventable diseases and IN
most important lesson which 1t has taught
that IL behooves our Southern cities to CIV
tbc;r earnest attention to sanitary regulations
in regard to which they are behind the lead
inc cities of the North, though the latter ar
far less liable to epidemics arising from neg
lect. Thousands of lives have been sacrificed
untold suffering and bereavement incurred
business paralyzed for almost quarter OF
wear. and millions of dollars spent, to acqulr
his lesson, and it should not fail of its ei
feet.