Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-09-13
The Yellow Fever Scourae.

New Orleans dispatches Of the twenty-ninth
say "The board Of health discussed the
progress Of the epidemic, and the members
were unanimous in the belief that it was utter
ly beyond human control, and would have. to
run its course. Unless some great and rare
meteorological change takes place, the proba-
bility is strong that the city will be swept
throughout. Many of the best physicians in
the city are now refusing to visit new cases.
having their powers already taxed to the ut
most. This situation of affairs is far from
hopeful. The number Of new cases of yell
low fever reported to-day is 140; deaths. 49,.
In Memphis frightful condition of affairs
existed. The following dispatch tells the
melancholy story: "The scourge is increas-
ing in virulence every moment. To-day the
deaths numbered seventy-two; new cases, 140.
There is hardly house in the city not en-
tirely vacant which does not contain one or
= ore persons down with the disease, or lying
dead, awaiting burial. The increase Of the
malady among the colored population to-day is
frightful, while it does not seem to relinquish
its hold upon the white people. Every hour In
the day new victims are reported, and physi-
clans go from house to house on the run.
The county jail, which in 1873 was in the heart
of the infected district, yet was free from
the fever, now contains seven cases.
The prisoners, numbering nearly 100, are now
being removed to the Forrest Prison Farm. on
under a strong guard. The atmosphere is
thick with the pestilential poison, and as the
number Of victims increases there is q CORE
spending increase in the alarm among the we'll
ones who have thus far escaped, and large
numbers are moving into the country, some
preferring even to take up their abode in
freight cars on the lines of the railways, rather
| than risk their lives here. There are plenty of
thieves at work. Not day or night passes
that numbers Of burglaries do not occur.
From other points the reports on the twenty
| ninth showed a continual increase in the
number of victims to the plague and q spread
Of the disease. At Canton, Miss, the fever was
increasing and four doctors were down with it,
one having died. In the vicinity of Grenada,
Miss, 1T was also spreading. At Vicksburg
Miss, there were one hundred new cases of
fever and twenty deaths. Meanwhile contribu-
tons for the sick we're being taken up all over
| the country, and even in Liverpool meeting
| to devise means of aid for the sufferers was
held. In New York city boxes were placed in
many of the hotels and restaurants, 80 that the
charitably-inclined of limited means might
contribute small sums and thus swell the
heavier contributions of merchants and bust
ness men.
Up to the thirtleth there were 1864 deaths in
five Southern cities and towns, distributed as
follows: New Orleans, 926; Memphis, 1856
| Vicksburg, 1893; Grenada, 149; Port Gibson, So.
In New Orleans there were 1859 new cases and
81 deaths, the whole number of cases being
about 1000. A telegram Of the thirtieth says
'From Carrolton to the United States barracks
a sweep of nearly twelve miles, the yellow
fever scourge asserts its sway. The first dis
trict is still by far the most afflicted, and the
more fashionable the street the more rapid the
disease spreads. Corpses are now hurried to
burial at night, and the spectacle Of hearses
hurrying out with their rapidly purifying bur.
dens, unattended by a single carriage, is 9
frequent one. The latest tendency Of the
disease, almost invariably shown in fata
cases, is congestion Of the Kidneys" Al
Memphis there we're sixty-eight new casei
and sixty-fve deaths. Physicians and nurses
from other points continued to arrive. " Found
dead in a house " had become a common
report Of visiting nurses. The following ap
peal by committee Of citizens shows the
appalling condition Of affairs in the stricken
city. -" The unprecedented spread and fatality
of yellow fever, causing an entire suspension
of business, has left several Thousand pooi
people in the city who are destitute Of thu
means OF subsistence and unable to procure
work. A large portion Of these ere now sick