The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-10-10
Tbc Ye:Iov Fever CommI..ion,

The following circular letter has been is.
sued by the Surgeon-General of tine Marine
Hospital Service:
DEPARTMENT OF THE UNITED STATES TREAsURY,l
Office Surgeon. General U. s. Marine Hosp. sery.,
WASHINGTON, September 90, 1873.
To the Chamber Of m and 30 ,rds of
Trade Of the Cities OF New York, Philadelphia,
Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, st. Louis and Gin
cinnati: rl
Soon after the pestilence appeared in Mem
phis several leading citizens of that city ap-
pealed to the President to appoint a Com
mission to investigate and report upon the
origin aud progress of the epidemic. The
President would AVE aiken prompt action
in the matter had there been any appro-
~priation available for expenses for such q
Commission. Fortunately a noble lady,
Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson, of New York,
actuated by the same motives that prompted
the citizens of Memphis, addressed me,
asking what she could do toward the great
end in view, and pledged an amount to start
a general subscription for the purpose. My
reply led her to say that she would, if neces-
sary, contributed sufficient to meet the ex-
penses of a Commission, provided would
promptly undertake its organization, and
direct a thorough investigation of the
causes of the epidemic, with the view of
preventing such deplorable visitations of
the yellow fever in the future.
In view of the foregoing; and acting
upon the advice of members of! the
American Public Health Association
an organization representing all Sec
tions Of our county, have appointed
Prof s. NJ. Bemiss, NJ. D., of New Orleans
Jerome Cochran, ND, of Mobile, and a
third member, whose acceptance has not
yet been received, to act as such Commits
SION. DIR. Elisha Harris, President of the
American Health Association, has consented
to join the Yellow Fever Commission in the
fed about the 10th of October. Should the
contributions Of money be sufficient, or
Congress so direct, two or three scientific
experts will be attached to the Commission
for the purpose of extending the line of in
quiry as far as practicable and useful into
the nature and cause of and conditions gov
erning the disease itself. | have Instructed
thee mmission that the great object of the
hives igation should be to CLEAN all import
ant facts possible to be obtained which have
reference to measures of prevention of
future epidemics The work win be COM
menced at once, at New Orleans, and as
many as possible of the afflicted cities and
towns will be visited before the 18th of No
veInber next, on which day the American
Health Association viii convene in special
session to review the facts which the Com
mission shall have. gathered up to that time,
with q view of determining the best course
to be pursued by the Commission in con
Guiding its lsbors. sHoJ sri laE
Being charged with the execution of the
National Quarantine Act, approved April
80, 1878, 1 shall submit reportof the-Com.
mission to the Secretary of the Treasury, to
be transmitted to Congress by the Presi'
dent. Mr.. Geo. w. Riggs, of Riggs & Co.,
bankers, Washington City, has consented
ted exclusively to the expenses OF the Com
mission, and publicly accounted for