Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1878-10-17

NStei. 4iViCtOtVlC COulHiSICldt III
terests have had much to do with
this matter. The disease this
year has put on some very deci-
bed characteristics, such as are
likely TO control sanitary move
ments in the future. Physicians
have not heretofore been all Of the
same opinion as to whether the lie
yer was generally, or at all, con-
veyed to healthy towns, in la
tent state, ia persons or clothing,
| 60 IDS, ETC., sonie contending that
it was a mere, general atmospher-
ic action in lnalaIious or unheal-
thy regions. This doctrine has
been stoutly and generally con-
tended for in New Orleans. And
hence j, insisted that quarantine
is an unnecessary and I'M riols
restriction on commerce and gen.
eral business. And SO New Or.
leans Postmaster gave officinl in
formation to the General'Govern
ment that quarantine is an absur-
diiy. and asking for its removal
This opinion is. | think, partly
thoroughly dissipated, If not en-.
tirely exploded. The lesson is
a terrible one--written in sorrow,
bereavement, widowhood and des-
olation. The country never had
such visitation before.
Our information fro n nearly ev
cry yellow fever poiat in the coun
try, shows how and when it was
conveyed and introduced there
Some of them-Grenada, Wa.
ter Valley, Holly Springs, etc,
were not quarantined at all. 9th
ers, Vicksburg, Canton, Memphis,
and others, it was done too late,
or with insufficient. siringency
They let the incendiary slip in
and deposit the fire unawares.
With the exception OF Vicksburg,
Port Gibson, Canton, Grenada,
Holly Springs, Greenville, and a
few railroad villages, where the
fever was scattered and deposited
from Vicksburg by refugees, the
State has been unusually healthy.
This is the report, so far as | hear,
from all the towns on the Mississip
Ipi River, between Cairo and New
0 leans, except Hickman and B4-
ton Rouge, and tLo,e above nam
ed. Natchoz, Fayette, Liberty,
Brandon, and other towns in
the lower part of the State, as
well as those in the central and
northern portions, kept the yel
low lever points, report universal.
| ly good health.
This town was never more heal
thy. 1t has had bat two serious
cases of fever, OF any kind, since
last spring, and but three deaths
from any cause in the last TOUR
months. The yellow lever pays
no regard to general lIealthiness or
unhealthiness. Some of the most
severely scourged places are
mong the most healthy to be found
anywhere. Nevertheless there is
a point just here deserving efpec.
ial attention. Yellow fever seed
will propagate in any town will,
ten ur loriy.fold greater certainty
aud rapidity where sewers, back.
yards, cess pools and the like are
left with their natural dlmpness
and inlt ciion.
Quarantine is a question that
mus; have enlarged attention here
after IN the Mississippi Valley.
General Butler quarantintd NV
Orleans very successfully for sew
eral years, and ! know of no reu-
IN why it may not be done again.
The sceurge of this year, wide
spread as j; is. may suggest pro-
tecli.ma,y measures on the pant
of the General Government; but
if not, it would seem that New
Oheans will fiud herself COMPEL
ed to shut down against the i'm
poitstion Of yellow fever from
ports south of her, however loud
may be the commercial objections
to such course One thing may
be relied upon, | think: On the
first report Of yellow fever in New
Orleans hereafter, a hundred cit
les and towns, or twice ar thrice
that number, il the Mississippi
Valley and in Alabama, will i'm
quarantine against her.
The awful distress of 1878 will I
net soon be forgotten.
1Vo Ju,.o 1ooa.,,od fRuT o,o3Io,,.