The New York herald., 1878-09-10
v.tlew Fever.

OAt OF our city cohtcui pofnftcns oi"iHs"y
accurate. describes yellow fever as disease
TO be absolutely prevented by drainage and
the kindred appliances Of sanitary science,
and refers In this connection 10 its relation
10 loS lands near tiaewater, alleging that
case has never been produced at five hun
dred feet above the level OF the sen. Our
contemporary Is I'm error. however, In this
statement. which is simply one Of fact
Yellow fever in Mexico and In the West
Indies, and at other places which can be
named IL necessary. is produced at lar
greater altitude than that given. But IL
what is said of altitude were accurate II
could hardly be considered as applicable
to the prevention Of this pest At place like
New Orleans, whose altitude cannot be
changed and to which all that sanitary sci-
ence can do will never supply an equiva-
lent for the air OF higher levels. But we do
not believe that yellow fever is disease
absolutely preventable at all points. That
it can be prevented and has been prevented
in Northern cities principally by sanitary
improvements we have already shown. New
York and Philadelphia are evidences OF this
fact. BY the same means IL can be modified
in Southern cities; but to suppose that II
can be eradicated is to leave out of view its
tropical, pestilential character. Upon
a people whose systems are enfeebled
by malarial cachcxia the fever acts with
more fatal vigor. no doubt, than IL can upon
a people not in that condition. by the re-
moval, therefore, of that which produces
the malaria its ravnges may be greatly re-
duced. md in that way sanitary science
can do great deal, and II the fever were a
malarious disease might prevent IL; but it is
not malarious disease--not malarious, that
is to say, in the sense In which
the use OF that adjective would
classify il As only q malignant form
of our intermittent. remittent and con-
gestive fevers due to marsh miasm. 1t has
no relation to them, and the clearest dis
tinctions may be made between II and the
diseases Of that class There Is no perio-
deity in yellow fever. Periodicity Is the
essential characteristic Of the other class.
Yellow fever cannot. exist ut the common
temperature of the countries in which ma
larious diseases are constant From yellow
fever men die or get we'll at once, while tho
malarious fevers have a tedious conva-
lesceuce and recur. Yellow fever does not
recur. All the garments ever worn by ague-
smitten mortality since the world began
may be exposed to the sun in any climate
and will not make a pestilence; but the
Jacket Of dead sailor who had yellow fever.
passing ashore as an heirloom. has
cost eleven thousand lives In q single
city. In short, between the most
pernicious remittent fever and any case of
yellow fever there is a sharp line 10 be
drawn equally as to causes, symptoms,
pathology and treatment. Yellow fever
may be modified ut New Orleans, and the
authorities there who have any regard for
the future Of that great seat of commerce
must do what is required toward that end.
or the disease will be prevented" in the
Crescent City as another malignant dis
ease has been prevented in the deserted
cities of the Roman campagna.
II THE roLIcE COMMISSIONERS will visit Clinton. be-
| tween nouston and stanton streets, they wili Gnd
that IL has not boon cleaned In two weeks lts
| dilion Us apominabe. Why 10 10 not ssepts oriccr
Kiernan rs paio TOR attending 10 u, bus ne eoss
| n hlnya nj Nho kind