Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-09-28
THE HOWARD ASSOCIATION.
A Brief Sketch of its Origin, Mem
bers and LabOrs i'm the south.
poefo,, TIaraId

Ders and LabOrs Ira the south.
Boston Herald.
i Numerous letters have been re
ceived asking for information as tC
the Howard Association, which has
been brought into notice so prOmi.
nently during the past few weeks.
In reply, we will state that it is one
of the nOblest institutions in the
land, aud is composed Of heroic and
benevolent gentlemen, who have
for years been bound together by
the grandest of human impulses.
This organization was formed 25
years ago, when the city of New
Orleans was almost depopulated by
the dreadful visitation of yellow
fever; and when, during the month
of August, 1853, it swept away g.
269 souls, and out of a population of
125,OO0 that remained in the city
during the course of the epidemic
30 ,O20 were attacked, and 8, 10l died.
In many of the smaller towns of
Louisiana the mortality was terri
bic. AT Providence, La, the pOpu-
lation was reduced by fight 20 about
400. OF these $50 sickened and 1855
died. AT Vicksburg the fever also
ragged terribly. In a reduced popu-
lation of about 5000, there were
2, ,l00 cases and 500 deaths. In Jack
son, Miss, out of 800 who remained,
$50 took the disease, and 112 died.
In other localities people were drop
ping in the streets; stricken dis
tricts were barricaded, and ingress
and egreSs denied; physicians and
nurses could not be obtained, and
throughout that section of the coun-
try perfect reign Of terror prevailed.
Such was the malignity OF the epi-
demlc that everyone seemed crazed
with fear of contagion. Parents de-
serted their fever-stricken children,
husbands their wives. and all i'm |
turn We're deserted by their friends |
when the dread malady made its |
appearance. Then ii was that this |
noble association had its birth. |
Aware of the fact that in New |
Orleans a yearly repetition of this
disease was to be expected, and that |
some measures for its prevention
and cure must be adopted. a small |
number of the wealthicst citizens
united and formed this Association,
naming it in honor of the worlds
greatest philanthropist, John How
ard. 1t was formed for the purpose
of procuring nurses, medicines and
physicians in such emergencies as
that through which they had Just
passed. AS soon as the terror which
had been inspired by the epidemic
was allayed, the public began to
take an interest in this Association,
and its ranks grew rapidly. Previ-
GUS to the war it was one of the
wealthiest Associations in the coun-
try, but like everything else, it has
felt the demoralizing Influences of
the late war, and, at the present
time, most of its members are poor.
They have established agencies
throughout those sections of the
South where, during the past, this
epidemic has been the
most severe. Wherever it has
reared its head the Howard doctors
and nurses have been found at their
post, and the amount of misery and
which has been alIeViated
through the exertiOns of the self
denying and heroic members of this
is simply incalculable.
Their plan of operations in New
Orleans, and in fact in all the cities
and towns where they have agencies,
is to have the city divided into dis
tricts, to which several members
are assigned, and when the fever
makes its appearance all cases are
reported to headquar-
ters. The visiting committee inn
investigate the matter,
and physicians and nurses are en-
plOyed. The most of the nurses are
oolOred men, who have had the
fever, and consequently are not so
liable to infection, although not
necessarily exempt, as at times it
)ften happens that both nurse and
patient succumb to the destroying
and both share a common
grave. Some of the nurses receive
Day, but there are many volunteers
% their ranks, these consisting
mostly of Sisters of Charity and I
of benevolent associations.
Hhe Howard Association never APP
)eals for funds, although at times
greatly in need, and all money or
lecessaries for the sufferers that is
entrusted to their care is divided
among those most in
iced, their actions being gui ed by
he same spirit that actuated the
ruly Christian man from whom
hey derive their name. ,