The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-10-01
YELLOW FEvER.

BATON ROUGE, Sept. 5O.-Ihe reports
for several days past show an average of
over fifty new cases daily. Our means
are nearly exhausted, and without assist
aBce there will be great loss of life aud sut-
fering.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 80. The following
circular letter was issued this afternoon by
the Surgeon General Of the Marine Hos
pital service:
To Chambers of Commerce and Boards
of Trade; Soon after the yellow fever ap-
peared in Memphis. several leading citizens
of that city appealed to the president to
appoint commission to investigate and re-
port upon the origin and progress of the
epidemic. The president would have
taken prompt action in the matter had
there been any appropriation available for
the expenses of such commission. For-
tunateIy 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 general
subscription for the purpose. My reply
led her to say that she would. if necessary,
contribute sufficient to meet the expenses
OF the commission, provided l would
promptly undertake its organization and
direct thorough investigation of the causes
of the epidemic. with a view of preventlDc
such a deplorable visitation of the yellow
fever in the future. In view of the fore
going, and acting upon the advice of mem.
bers of the American Public Health As
sociation, an organization representing al
sections of our country, have appointed
Prof. S. M, Bemiss, VI. D., of New Or
leans; Jerome Cochran, Nj. D., of Mobile
and third member whose acce ptance has
not yet been received, to act as such com
mission. DR.. Elisha Harris, president o
the American Public Health Association
has consented TO join the yellow fever com
mission 10 the field about the Goth OF DC
tober. Should the contributions of none!
be sufficient, or congress so direct. two o.
three scientific experts will be attached Il
E the commission for the purpose of extend
, ing the line of inquiry as far as practically
. and useful into the nature and causes 0
| and conditions governing the disease itself
| have Instructed the commission that tn
great object of Investigation should be t.
t gain all important facts possible to be OBJ
? tanned which have reference t
+ measures of prevention If future epi
r denies. The work will be commence,
: at once at New Orleans and as man,
: as possible of the afflicted cites an,
towns viii be visited before the 18th O
November next, on which day the Ameri
can Public Health Association will con
: vene in special session to review the fact
q which the commission have gathered up t
! that time, with q view to determine th
: best course TO be pursued By the commits
sion in concluding its labor. Being charge
9 with the execution of the national quaraI
!, |, tine act, approved April 29, 1878, sha
submit the report of the commission to th
e Secretary Of the Treasury to be transmit
ted to congress by the president. Maj. Gel
) W. Riggs, of Riggs Il Co., brokers. Wasl
:, ington City, has consented to act as trea
: urer. to receive and disburse the fun(
contributed, which will be devoted sxcl'
Isively to the expenses of the commissio
Ie and publicly accounted for. Should "
Il desire to assist in defraying the expens
\. of this undertaking, | beg to request tn
r, | may be addressed or contributions 70
n warded to Mr.. Riggs for this purpose.
st JNo. nj. WooDwoRTH,
,e Surgeon Gen. u s. Hospital Servic
Is CAIRO, Sept 3O.-The fever exeiteme
a in Cairo has su Jsided, Absentees are r.
TO | tuAhibks ou0 iil0 puOliC sCuOOic opcuSu
day.
GREENvILLE, Sept, 30.-Two hundr
and forty-three deaths to date. The few
,s is abating. Five new cases to-day. s
"A deaths since yesterday.
a The steamer Katie Dixon has just
"a rived with Bishop Leroy, Father Oberfel
:. and Mr. Fitzpatrick of the Howard AS.
N citation. from Vicksburg
- VICKsBURG, Sept 3O-There has be
=. - over 5000 deaths in Vicksburg from yell
= fever.
= T. MEMPHIS, Sept. 30-Twepty -eig
- deaths from the fever in the past "a hot
7 euding at o'clock tonight.
~ ST. Louis. Sept. 30.-Gov. Sheppal
~ president and Mrs. Twitchell. members
:. the National Relief Committee of Wa.
:" ington. arrived here to-day to superinte
the shipment of supplies to the fever g
ferers in towns along the Mississippi ri
below Cairo. The steamer War Eagle b
~ been chartered for expedition, but cont
buttons have come in SO generously Il
20 another and larger boat win have to be
,e tanned. $4,000 has already been dona
'e for this purpose, which it is expected ,
'u purchase upwards of four hundred tons
ny food and supplies of all kinds The p
e' chase of provisions will be made by G
1fs Beckwith, u. S. Commissary here, and
'1s medical stores by u. s. surgeon Wynn
"a 1t is expected that everything will be re,
to start " ednesday.
y" -