The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-08-11
YELLOW FEVER


DeclhFeu hIIueule.Iue SITUATION Cuti
urdRy.
MEMPHIS, August Cup to noon to-day
fifteen cases, ten white and five colored,
have been reported to the Board Of Health.
Among the number are Mrs. NJ. A. Taylor
and daughter, and Rev. ]. II. Ridley (cOl-
ored). Three deaths have occurred since
last night; Mrs. Absolom Boyd, Mrs.
Francis Getz, and Lizzie Getzell.
The weather continues cool. This morn
ing at daylight the thermometer dropped
to 64'. 1t is now 75o. Ed. Moon is con-
sidered out Of danger.
Six more cases were reported to the
Board OF Health this afternoon, all of
whom were colored. In addition, eighteen
cases were reported after the usual hour
for closing, which will be included in to-
morrow's list. Two deaths have occurred
tsince noon, Edward Tabler and l., Roberts,
both Mt the city hospital.
Following is the official announcement
of the Board of Health, declaring yellow
fever epidemic:
The Board Of Health, being informed
that there is a disposition manifested on
the part OF some absentees from Memphis
to return sooner than it would be advisa-
BILE, and as this disposition may be increas.
ed, it deems best to submit the following
statement in regard to the prevalence and
spread Of yellow fever in this city.
Though the death rate up to August I'd,
the date OF the last regular weekly report,
exceeded deaths from all other causes by
a few, and being less than that OF the week
previous, the Board OF Health was en-
couraged to believe that it would not ex.
ceed this number for any week during the
prevalence Of the disease, and as no prac-
tiCal good was thought would result from
the formal announcement Of epidemic, 1t
declined to make such an announcement
at the time. To August I'd, it prevailed
mostly in the neighborhood where the
first cases occurred in July, in the south
ern portion ofthe city, in the Fifth and in
a portion ofthe Seventh and Tenth Wards,
and in the northwestern portion OF the
city, in the Eighth Ward, and could not
be considered epidemic beyond those
limits, where It was hoped to be confined,
and cases have been reported and deaths
occurred in 80 many different localities OF
the city that it is now impossible to say
what portion is not infected. Therefore
the Board OF Health makes formal deClara-
ton Of general epidemic. The death rate
is small In proportion to the number OF
cases reported, and there are good reasons
to hope that it will not exceed, il 1t again
reaches rt1e present week r10rt tafttJ dur.
the prevalence OF the disease.
These reasons are that some escape in
every epidemic, not being liable TO disease,
from what cause We do not know. Many
OF those who remain are protected by a
previous attack, and it is reasonable to as.
sumo that many who contract the disease
will recover. A large portion Of our popu-
lation who are liable TO the disease have
left the city, and the work OF depopula.
ton is still in progress, which should be,
and no doubt will be continued, unless
free subsistence is supplied in the city,
which would not only have the effect to
prevent some from going into camps
where such provision is made, but would
induce others TO come into the city, there.
by become themeans OF spreading disease
10 localities now FREQ from infection. There.
fore, in view OF these facts, We are induced
to believe, although the disease is liable
to DO here until after frost, that the rate ol
mortality will not exceed, il it equals its
present number for any one week IN the
future. Every practicable means OF dis.
infection and local sanitation calculated
to arrest the disease has been and is still
being practiced. In this work the Board
Of Health has tho active cooperation o.
both the National and State Boards o.
Health, through retrospective represent
atiyes, DR.. K. ". Mitchell, OF the former
and Hon. John johnson, Of the latter.
J The following Is the number OF DEATH
from yellow fever since It's appearance, a,
reported to this Office: