Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-09-14

I here repeat the affirmation that
while the later symptoms described
are those occurring in yellow fever,
they also frequently occur in other
diseases and would not have given
grounds for alarm in any season but
tbs present; moreover, that the
earlier symptoms were diverse from
those of yellow fever, if not incon-
sistent with it. The truth is that
nearly all the symptoms of yellow
fever as we'll as those of epidemic
cholera are sometimes manifested
in sporadic cases where there is on
epidemic, the only essential differ
ence being that in one case individ-
uals only are attacked and in the
other large masses of men. In the
present case if this was yellow fever
at all it was yellow fever compli-
Gated with, or rather supervening
upon the ordinary intermittent
fever of malarious countries.
To complete the history before
making therstatements, it should
be stated that no case of yellow
fever has been imported into Erin,
that the only opportunity for the
disease being communicated is that
cases have been carried through the
place on the train, and the nearest
place at which yellow fever patients
had remained and been treated was
Paris, Tenn, between which town
and Erin occur first the Tennessee
river and, secondly, Tennessee
Ridge, an elevation of between 300
and 400 feet.
The attitude of my mind there
fore in reference to the subject was
that of opposition to the probability
of an epidemic visitation, with the
opinion reserved that should other
patients die with the same symp-
toms grave anticipations of an cpl
demic visitation would result.
On Tuesday morning / received
the following telegram, with the
signatures of Drs. Sizemore and
Grigsby:
symptoms have come up since you left
satisfying us that Baird died of yellow fever
DIR. SizemOre has since stated that
though bearing his signature this
telegram was not authorized by
him, but through Tuesday, while
supposed it genuine, my opinion
was somewhat shaken by it, as
have confidence in his judgment
and he had hitherto assumed the
negative. The same day l received
a note from DIR. Edwards, another
Erin physician, not giving an opin
ion on the cause of Mr.. Baird''
death, but saying
The panic still prevails; quite numbe
| are complaining; some have gone to bed
mostly nurses. Probably it is fatigue, anC
nothing more, with some of them.
This suspense lasted till Wednes
day morning, the 18th, when {
gentleman who came up from Erir
brought intelligence that all the sicl
were getting well, and that DIR
Sizemore denied the authenticity o
the telegram bearing his signature
of the day before. The same morn
ing received by the train the fol
lowing note from him:
My opinion is the same as wnen you wer
here; l do not believe there has been a cas-
of yellow fever here; all the sick are re
ported as doing well; alarms unnecessary
viii give my opinion more freely at a tutur
day.
Perplexed by these contradiction!
dispatches, telegraphed to DIR. S
enquiring whether the despatch o
| Tuesday was genuine. The follow
ing is the answer:
ERIN, Sept. IL, 2:I5 P. MI have no
changed my opinion since saw you. dit
not authorize anyone to use my name to
despatch. I do not believe there has beel
any yellow fever here; think all this eX
element unnecessary. r. H. SIZEMORE.
During the 18th several despatche
arrived in GAINESVILLE from Erin t
different persons, saying that tn
sick were all getting well. Thi
confirmed me in my first judgment
as the information / was waiting
for was the tidings whether or no
the disease, whatever it was, shoult
assume an epidemic form. Writing
as I am on Wednesday night l cal
only say that the information a
present before me leads to the con
firmation of my first impression
that the disease of which Mrs
Bradley and Mr.. Baird died is no
epidemic and not yellow fever.
If further information is receives
before this paper goes to press,
will be communicated.
POsTsCRIPT.-Since writing tn
above l have been receiving dali,
dispatches from Erin which repre-
sent all the sick as recovering with
out presenting any symptoms O
yellow fever. If Mrs. Bradley ant
Mr.. Baird did really die of yellow
fever, then the plague has taken
course entirely new in its history t
take off two victims from tow
and then leave it free from furthe
visitation. | feel fully satisfied tina
there has been no case of yellow
fever in Erin.
DANIEL F. WRIGHT, M. d.
READ Colonel Houses clear ant