The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-09-19
The Howard Association-A Brief
Sketch Of Its Origin, Members,
and Labors In the South.

The Boston Herald says: Numerous
letters have been received asking for in
formation in relation to the Howard
Association, which has been brought
into notice SO prominently during the
past few weeks. In reply, we will state
that it is one of the noblest institutions
in the land, and is composed of heroic
and benevolent gentlemen, who have
for years been bound together by the
grandest of human impulses. This or
ganization was formed twenty-five years
ago, when the city of New Orleans was
almost depopulated by the dread vista
ton of the yellow fever; and when,
during the month of August, 1853, it
swept away 5,269 souls, and out of a
population of 125, 900 that remained in
the city during the course of the cpl
demic 29,020 were attacked, and s, ,101,
died. In many of the smaller towns of
Louisiana the mortality was terrible.
At Providence, La, the population was
reduced by fight to about 400. OF these
$50 sickened and 165 died. At vicks-
burg the fever also ragged terribly. In a
reduced population of about 8, 900, there
were 2,100 cases and 500 deaths. In
Jackson, Miss, out of $50 who remained,
$50 took the disease, and l12 died. In
other localities people were dropping in
the streets; stricken districts were bar
ricaded and ingress and egress denied !;
physicians and nurses could not be OBJ
tanned, and throughout that section of
the country a perfect reign of terror
prevailed. Such was the malignity of
the epidemic that every one seemed
crazed with fear of contagion. Parents
deserted their fever-stricken children,
husbands their wives, and all in turn
were deserted by their friends when the
dread malady made its appearance.
Then it was that this noble association
had its birth. Aware of the fact that in
New Orleans yearly repetition of this
disease was to be expected, and that
some measures for its prevention and
cure must be adopted, small number
of the wealthiest citizens united and
formed this association, naming it in
honor of the worlds greatest philan-
thropist, John Howard. 1t was formed
for the purpose of procuring nurses,
medicines and physicians in such
emergencies as that through which they
had just passed. As soon as the terror
which had been inspired by the epidemic
was allayed, the public began to take an
interest in this association, and its ranks
grew rapidly. Previous to the war it
was one of the wealthiest associations in
the country, but, like everything else, it
has felt the demoralizing influences of
the late war, and at the present time
most of its members are poor. They
have established agencies throughout
those sections of the South where, dur
ing the past, this malignant epidemic
has been the most severe. Wherever il
has reared its head the Howard doctors
and nurses have been found at Their
post, and the amount of misery and suf.
fering which has been alleviated through
the exertions of the self-denying and
heroic members of this organization is
simply incalculable. Their plan of op
Grafton in New Orleans, and in fact in
all of the cities and towns where they
have agencies, is to have the cities
divided into districts, to which several
members are assigned, and when the
fever makes its appearance all cases arr
Immediately reported to headquarters
The visiting committee Immediately in
vestigate the matter, and physicians
and nurses are Immediately employed
The most of the nurses are colered men
who have had the fever, and conse
quently are not so liable to infection
although not necessarily exempt, as a
times it often happens that both nurs'
and patient succumb to the destroying
malady and both share common grave
Some of the nurses receive pay, bu
there are many volunteers to their ranks
/ these consisting mostly of Sisters o
Charity and members of benevolent as
sociations. The Howard Association
never appeals for funds, although a
times greatly in need, and all none,
or necessaries for the sufferers that
intrusted to their care is divided i'm
partially among those most in need, thei
actions being guided by the same spiri
that actuated the truly Christian ma
from whom they derive their name.