The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1878-09-28

ture, which has moved the natu.
raj lines OF climate near one thou.
sand miles north of their leoiti.
mate range. AS a result the usual
climate OF the Gulf States has
been carried into Missouri, His
nols, Indiana, Ohio and SO on,
while a tropical climate has been
brought into the States borders
ing upon or lying near the Gulf
OF Mexico. In other words. the
Gulf States, SO far as climates is
concerned, lie precisely in the po.
sitiOn usually occupied by the
West Indies, and hence have up-
OH them oil the conditions entries
ly favorable to the spread and
perpetnatiOn of yellow fever that
the West Indies have
Now, ifthis change of the lines
OF climate had carried its acclima-
ted people with it nothing beyond
the usual order of things would
have occurred, but not so. 1t drop
ped strange climate upon an
unacclilnated people, virtually
pla cling us in exactly the same
position we should have occupied,
as far as relates to the fever, had
we last spring pulled up stakes
and moved to Cuba. AS the case
now stands the fever has for it,
self every advantage that it
conld possibly ask. while there is
not Il single advantage accorded
to MS. Ordinarily, when yellow fe-
yer visits this country it moves in
its work against great climatic
disadvantages, and is enabled to
stem the current only on account
of the excellent material that we
offer for its operations; bnt now.
lnconsequence ct the temporary
change i'll climate already refer
red to. it has at its disposal not
only the same material advant-
ges that enabled it to work up
everything it's own way.
While this may be accepted as
a new theory, can assure you
that it is based upon no new
thing. | have been making u
careful examination of the records
aud the results establishes the
fact that in every gear of the past
when we we've scOurged with yel-
low tever OF type unusually Sc
we're IdeDtically the same clima-
tic conditions existed that exist
now. There was a semi-tropical
winter the North, followed by p
semi tropical summer, and con.
sequently, although it may scarce
ly have been noticed by the in
habltants. Il regular tropical sum-
mer at the South. | find that this
was undoubtedly the condition of
affairs in 1893, in 1898, in 1889,
in 1S47, and in 1853. In some Of
the years first named the fever
went far above what we under
| stand to be the line Intervening
between the South and the North.
In 1893 there were 4O41 deaths
from it in the city of Philadelphia;
in 1898 it cut off $500 in the same
place, 20SO in New York, and 200
in Boston. OF course 1t could not
have done this in any ordinary
season, but the climate changes
of these particular years had car
ried these cities far south, so to
speak, aud | do not doubt for q
moment that the natural condi>
tiOns which enabled yellow fever
to make itself so much at home
up there in those early years exist
i to an equal degree OfperfectiOn to-.
day, and that, should our Nor.
thern friends permit it to secure
Il footing among them it would
spread it's banners to the breeze
and march through their ranks
with a sweep as irresistible as
ever characterized it mt any point
down South in any ordinary sea
son.