Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-11-19
PROPOSITIONS.

PROPOSITIONS.
Twelve propositions adopted by the
Shelby county medical society en-
bodying the result of the experience
of its members in the yellow-fever
epidemic of 1879.
In response to the resolution for the
preparation Of a paper. to be read at
the meeting of the state medical society
and American public health %associa-
ton, your committee would beg leave
to make the following report
Resolved, That it is the opinion Of
this society that the specific poison
generating yellow fever this year,
remained over from 1873, either in
privy vaults, infected bedding, or other
fabrics and textures.
Resolved, That the type of the dis
ease was as malignant as in any former
epidemic.
Resolved, That the three houses in
which the disease was first reported
this year, were all closed last year, and
have never had any previous cases Of
fever in them.
Resolved. That there was no con
nection, communication or social re-
lation between the families occupying
those houses, and they were situated
from a half mile to a mile apart, and
that the disease made its appearance
in all ofthem within forty eight hours
of the same time.
Resolved. We have seen nothing
that would lead us to draw any line Of
distinction between the different
houses, as to the liability of attack,
or the violence of the disease. for in
houses where the disease prevailed
last year, and in houses where it did
not; and in houses favorably located
in the city in regard to health, c%leanly
and well ventilated; and in houses un-
favorably located, uncleanly and badly
ventilated, we have seen just the same
liability to al attack Of yellow fever,
and lust the same degrees of severity
after invasion.
Resolved, We cannot agree that we
have derived any benefit this year
from quarantine-for, as there was
constant communication with Mem
phis, by every road leading into it.
from the beginning to the end of the
epidemic, if the disease did not invade
the country, we cannot attribute it to
a want of intercourse.
Resolved, We Go not think that
disinfectants have accomplished any
thing toward arresting the spread of
the disease, or in mitigating its sever.
lty; in numerous instances where
houses aud yards we're well supplied
with them weeks before the invasion
of the disease, they signally failed to
have any appreciable effect upon it.
Resolved, We attach no importance
to the fact that in some few houses,
after one msmber had died, and disin-
fectants were used, the other members
escaped the disease we look upon il
in the light of a coincidence. and
nothing more than we have found in
all previous epidemics in which there
had been no resort to dislnfectants.
Resolved, In comparing the spread
OF the epidemic this year with that Of
any previous year, it must be borne in
mind that a smaller population was
LETT IN Memphis than ever before and
that there was a larger proportion Of
acclimated persons among the number
than ever before and yet, notwith.
standing these facts, and n~otwithstand.
ing the assistance given us BY the
National and State boards Of
health, assisted by quarantine.
and by all the means re.
sorted to to prevent its spread, we arc
sorry to be compelled to admit that
the disease has spread more this yeal
than IN any year previous, except
1873. 1t IS a matter of history that IN
1880 it did not get north Of Unior
street; in 1867 it confined itself almos,
exclusively to a few squares in Nh,
vicinity Of Charleston depot; in 1874 4
was pretty general over the CITY. bu,
did not invade the country; and in Al
those years there were no restriction,
OF any kind upon travel or commerce
but IN this year, notwithstanding al
the means used, it has invaded ever,
locality in this city, and almost ever
occupied house in each locality. ex
cept where the inmates were secure,
against it by a previous attack.
Resolved, That having never seen
falr trial Of isolation, we feel unpre
pared to express any positive conyic
tons IN regard to its efficiency. bn
would urge its adoption in futur
whenever practicable.
Resolved, That it is our unanimou
opinion that at present we know !
but two agents upon which we ca.
confidently rely to check the spread :
yellow fever; and these are deponula
] tom uN...