Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1878-09-17
rHEHowARD ASSOCIATION.
A Brief Sketch of ats Origin,
Members and LabOrs In
the South.
From the Boston Herald.

From the Boston Herald.
Numerous letters have been receiv-
ed asking for information as to the
Howard Association. which has been
brought into notice so prOmin n ly du'
ring the past few weeks. In repiy we
will state that il is one of the nubltst
institutions In the land, and IL COM
posed of heroic and benevolent
gentlemen, who have for years
been bound together 10y b e
grandest of humrn impulses. This
organization was formed % !'ears ago
when the city of New Orleans wa. al
most depopulated by the dread vista
ton OF yellow fever; and when during
the month OF August. 1853, II swept
away s. 269 souls, and out OF 8 popula-
ton of $4,000 that remained in the
city during the course of the epidenl-
ic %. O2O were attacked. and 6.O4l died.
In many of the smaller towns OF Lou
isiana the mortality was terrible. AT
Providence, La, the population was
reduced by flight TO about 400. Or
these $50 sickened and l65 died. At
Vicksburg the fever all ragged terri
bly,. In q reduced population OF about
900. there were 2.100 cases and 500
deaths. In Jackson, Miss, out OF
$50 who remained, $50 took the dis
ease and 112 died, In other localities
people were dropping in the streets;
stricken districts were baricaded, and
ingress and egress denied; physicians
and nurses could not be obtained, and
throughout that section of the cOun-
try q perfect reign OF terror prevailed.
he ffvr, tn nf hn 0ni0ams
| ic that every one seemed craZed with
fear of contagiOn. Parents deserted
their fever stricken children. hus-
bands their wives, and all In turn
were deserted by their friends when
the dread malady made its appearance.
Then IL was that this n oble association
had its birth. Aware Of the fact that
in New Orleans q yearly repetition OF
| this disease was to be expected and
that some measures for its prevention
and cure must be adopted, an al
lumber of the wealthiest citizens unl
| ted and formed this Association. nam-
| ing it in homer o: the world greatest
philanthropist. John Howard 1t WAS
formed for the purpose of procuring
nurses. medicines. physicians in such
emergencies as that through which
they had just passed. Az soon as the
terror which hid been inspired by the
epidemic had been ailayed. the public
began to take an int rest in this Asso-
citation, and it grew rapidly. Previ.
Gus to the war il was one OF the veal
thiest Associations in the country, but
like every thing else it has felt the de-
morslizing influences OF the lac war,
and, at the present time most OF itr
members are poor. They have estab-
lished agencies throughout those sec
tions of the South where. during the
Fast. this malignant epidemic has been
the most severe. Wherever it has rear.
ed it's head the Howard doctors and
nurses have been found at their posts
and the amount of misery and sntfer
! ing which has been alleviated thruush
the exertions of the self denying and
! heroic members of this organization il
simply incalculable. heir plan Of
| operation in New Orleans, ard in
| fact in all the cities and towns where
! they have agencies, is TO have the city
| divided into districts. to which sever
al members are assigned and when the
! fever makes its appearance all cases
are immediately reported to hssdquar-
tiers. The visiting committee imme-
| diately investigate the matter, ard
physicians and nurses are employed.
The most of the nurses are cOlOred
men, who have had the fever and con-
sequently are not 30 liable to infection,
although not necessarily exempt, as at
times it often happens that both nurse
and patient suceumb to the destroy
ing maladv and both share common
grave. Some of the nurses receive
pay. but there are many volunteers
to their ranks. these consisting most
ly of Sisters OF Charity and members
of benevolent associations. Il Q
Howard Association never app ais for
fUnds, although at times greatly IN
need, and all money or necessaries en-
trusted to their care is divided impair
TALLY among those most in need. their
actions being guided hy the same spir
it that actuated the truly Christian
man from whom they derive their
name.