Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-11-20
The Sanitary Congress.
OPENING PROCEEDINGS-THE YELLOW FEvEl
EPIDEMIC DISCUSSED.

OPENING PR0CEEpINGS-THE YELLOW FEVER
EPIDEMIC DISCUSSED.
The opening session of the sixth annual coz
Yentlon OF the American Public Health Assoc
atlon was held in Richmond, Va. last night.
ana The convention Is composed of representa-
tive men from all sections OF the Union most OF
them being eminent in the medical profession
AT $50 p. m. DR.. Elisha Harris. OF New York.
presloent OF the association. called the conTeN-
tioh 10 order, and introduced the Rey. III. Peter
I'm; OF Richmond. who openC, The proceedings
"hil -.yrr. rr Harris then presented Gov.
Holiday, OF Virginia, whose appearance on the
! stage was greeted with rounds OF applause. He
extended TO the members on the part OF the
| people of Richmond and the state hearty and
cordial welcome to the Inequalities OF the capt.
tai OF the Old Dominion.
THE ANNUAL ADDRESS
Prof. j. /. Cabel, NJ. D.. Of tie University Of
Virginia. followed GOV. Holiday, introducing
the president Of the association, Dr. Elisha Iar-
riS, OF New York, whose annual address had
been announced as the leading feature OF the
evenings exercises. President Harris then adj
dressed the convention. In few very striking
sentences he spoke OF the recent epideesic, and
announced his theory that man can conquer
| epidemics as he can conquer filth: that in tact
when these ScourgeS invade localities il is ev,-
dence both that the vitality OF the race has been
lowered ard its civilization weakened by causes
which ft Is entirely in the power OF human spirit
| and human endeaVor 70 remove. In this sense
| II is probable that DR.. Harris ultimate theory
tnat nearly all diseases, strictly so called. as
Wen as those which are constitutional and her.
editary as those which are epidemic, will event
ually come under the class of preventive dis-
Consciousness which it is disgrace to the
community to tolerate.
THE SOUTHERN SCorRGE.
surgeon General Woodwork addressed the
board. detailing the lcdgment in New Orleans
Of The yellow fever and its progress through Tie
cites and villages OF the Valley OF the MSsiS-
| SIppi and depicted feelingly the sad history Of
| its ravageS. DR.. Woodwork paid high tribute
| to T., the public spirited woman (Mrs: Elizabeth
ThCmpSOn) who, with others. contributed the
means for the organization Of the yellow Fever
! commission. and congratulated the country
mat me WORK OF investigating the causes and
spread OF the epidemic had fallen upon gentle
| men SO emlnently wise and discriminating as
those present.
DR.. Steiner, of Frederick City. Nd, followed
DR.. Woodwork in strong demand for legal
cnactmentS OF fanttary measures to prevent the
recurrence OF such terrible scourge as has
paced SO large region OF country in mourning
| and devastation.
INCIDENTS OF THE PLAGUE.
Dr. Bemis. president ofthe commission. related
several incidents OF which he was personally
cognizant during the prevalence OF the scourge
and OF instances OF her0iSm and Self-devotiOn
| standing side by side with the most brutal and
puStlanlmouS conduct that man is capable OF
one instance, he said, will relate. \ father.
having good deal OF property and being
afflicted with the yellow fever. on his diving bed
sent Tor his three sons, all OF whom lived within
a nile or Two OF him. 10 come and receive his
! Dying blessing, and allow him to divide his
property among them. but they let him die
| alone without going 10 receive his blessing bar
| no uoupt nave arranged the property matter
| long before this.
At The conclusion OF Dr.. Bemiss' address the
| association adjourned
TIE REPORT ON YELLOW FEVER
| Inc Following is correct statement OF the
| views CT TIE yellow fever commission. as given
| by Dr. Cochran, Ole OF tie commiSs toners:
| ''Ihey are convinced. in the first place. that
yellow fever Is net Indigenous III the atmosphere
| IN any part Of the United states and that in
New orleans 1t was imported. Whatever doub;
| there was in the case OF New orleans, there
| was no doubt but that 1t was carried from New
| orleans 10 every other place. The disease does
| not seem TO be prevented from prevailing eof.
| demtcally either by distance from the sea or
| distance above the sea level, as. under favora-
Die circumstances for its dissemination it might
| prevail in any part OF the United States. Here
| tofore Seaboafd guarantees. as far as the Calf
| OF MEXICO Is concerned. and making exceptions
| this year in the case OF Texas have been made
quate 10 prevent the Introduction OF the disease
| Inc dl1flcultleS OF inland quarantine are so
| many and so great in the case OF places on the
MISSISSIPPI river, or in the case OF towns having
| extensive railroad communication as To he al
| most practically impOSSible; and. in view OF
thfS state OF facts, 1t seems to be the opinion OF
| the commission that the only reasonable pro-
tect1on TO keep the yellow fever from the c0ur-
try is to be found in a system OF national quar-
antlne under the direction OF the United States
government
Dr. Cochran sis satisfied that unSanitary local
condition has much less to do with the prona-
cation OF the disease than is commonly sup
posed, having found the highest, dryeSt ana
DeSt-bult parts OF several cities to have suffered
mere than sections under the influence OF ma
aria ard Nth, and having seen intensely nlaIa-
rial places suffer far less than others almost
free from ma'arial diseases
es~A Toronto magistrate decides that button
ho1ng man in the street is aSSaulting him ii he
OBJECTS to being buttOnholed.