Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-08-28
WEATHER OBSERVATIONS, 9th.
WAR DEPT. SIGNAL. SERVICE u. s ARMY
LLLsDAY. AUGUST u. lSIS. lnalA % N

NINETY SIX new cases of yellow fever
were reported yesterday and thirty-two
deaths-the heaviest mortality we have yet
been called upon to report. The humid at
mosphere and cool nights which have pre-
vailed for four days has no doubt had great
deal to do in producing this result; the same
conditions continuing we may reasonably ex-
pect a steady increase until the epidemic
reaches its zenith, which will be in about
ten days. The disease is steadily gaining on
the colored people, yesterdays report show
ing fourteen new cases and seven deaths
The proportion of deaths among this class of
our people is double that of the whites, con-
sequent upon their habits and general def
ance of the simplest sanitary rules. Notwith-
standing the advice daily given them,
they continue to expose themselves and
TO eat every description of vegetables and all
the fruit they can put their hands upon
watermelons being their favorite. On Court
square and Second street they can be seen at
any hour Of any day, from nine to three, in
the vicinity of the citizens relief committee s
provision depot, sitting in groups under the
blazing monday sun, eating this death-deal-
ing fruit, and luxuriating in the prospect of
idleness aud plenty to eat. This should be
put stop to. The sale Of watermelons
should be interdicted, and provisions should
be withheld from all who will not leave the
city, except the sick and those convalescing.
The total cases TO date foot up six hundred
and sixty-ninf, and the deaths one hundred
and rfrak,- 80, ar1 kbatanl % rot ,-ak ~ n
Towards continue to work nobly, and
with system that promises hereafter
encouraging results. Among their recent
efforts for overcoming the enemy is the es
tablishment of an in6rmary, under the super
intendence of Major Walthall, of Mobile, to
be followed by others as they may be neces-
sary; also, the employment Of ten Of our best
physicians, who are allotted to districts, I'M
der the supervision of DIR. R. w. Mitchell,
who has the confidence of the people. This
will secure the sick prompt medical attention
at all hours, and under treatment that the
nurses as well as doctors will have to conform
to as much as the nature of the several cases
will permit The board of health continues
to recommend and TO pursue thorough sys-
tenn of disinfecting. and to-day will commence
the burning of tar in the infected districts,
to be followed, perhaps. by the firing of
trains of gunpowder and the maintenance Of
large fires in special districts. Under the
citizens relief committee, Mr.. Denie will,
to-day, pour FIVE hundred barrels of lime
into the bayou, which, we suggest, should
first be flooded with water. While our peo-
pie are thus, with heavy hearts, battling
with the fever, which claims every day its
scores of victims rrorn q population greatly
reduced, the people of all sections of the
country s1utiiAs contributions of
money, provisions and medical stores, and
Mobile and Charleston are contributing the
best nurses they have. How grateful we are
for these manifestations of generous, neigh
borly feeling, words cannot tell. Over
whelmed by a calamity that every moment
confronts us with death in its most forbidden
form, we are fully sensible of the good work
that warm hearts in every part of our COM
mon country are doing for us. We thank
them all.