Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-07-19
EironreIolln NJ TRome.

New YORK Ittnes,i
Vera Cruz seems to be yellow fe-
ver's fay9rite summer resort. Never
a summer passes without some cases,
and frequently there is an epidemic.
1t even STAYS there throughout the
winter, keeping occasional cases in
the hospitals all the year round. a
stranger going there in January, and
sleeping out in the open air, often on
the deck Of a ship, is in a fair way to
catch it. Strangers very often DO
this, unless they are warned in time,
for the heat, even at that time of the
year, Is almost unbearable, and moth
ing is more pleasant than to get up at
midnight and walk down to the Mole.
where there is always a breath Of air
from the sea. But u New Yorker
might as well look down a pistol bar
rel to see the cartridge explode Is to
do this. for he is sure to sit down or a
cotton bale, and almost sure to fall
asleep. Even the natives are afraid
of this, and keep religiously under
cover at Dlght.
The native Vera Cruzans have very
little fear of the vomito, although they
know that Il is continually lurking
among them, and most of them have
had it, some Of them several times. 1t
would be as reasonable to say that
because a mans right arm has been
broken, his left arm is forever safe, as
to imagine that yellow fever can oOly
be had once. Some old stagers in Vera
Cruz have had it half a dozen times,
and are ready for a fresh siege. After
they had it a few times, their skins
keep a permanent yellow tint. though
it does not usually leave as decided
marks as chagres fever.
With three or four stray cases of
fever in Memphis. tbe North begins to
cry out that after last years expert
ence Memphis ought to have been
cleanscd. If anything will induce the
Southern cities TO sconr themselves
mp, very good. But Vera Cruz. where
yellow fever has a permanent resi-
dence. is as clean as any of our Nor
thern cities. With the pains these
toasted Mexicans take to keep their
streets clean and their cutters pure,
aud everything about them sayory, i.
would be a mean fling az them to say
that Vera Cruz is as clean as New
York. 1t is at least 200 per ceat..
cleaner. They have a powerful in
dueement for keeping things clean.
Dirt in the hot season means almost
sure death, and when a man dies there
in the morning he.is safely settled in
the graveyard in the afternoon, Al
most anybody would Whitewash his
back fence under these circumstances.
This applies only to Vera Cruz, where
the fever yages. Up III Mexico Gig,
where II is cooler, the people expert
ment to see how long the Almighty
will let thom wsllow in filth before he
cuts them Oft.
If they know how 20 treat yellow
fever anywhere, they ought 10 know
how 10 Vera Cruz. FOR they have plep-
ty of practice. Their hospitals ace
almost as open to the air as tents-old
converts, seized by the government
long ago-Gne brick and stone build.
ings, far larger and better adapted ia
the purpose than cur Bellevue Horf
every yellow fever patient has a nurse
10 himself, usually a little Indian Girl
who, it is said. hardly ever catches it
although the Indian natives are liabl,
to have it. The patient is kept per
iectly quiet. Any motion is believe,
to be fatal If he has the genuip
vomito nothing eau prevent him frou
vomiting frequently over the bed
clothes. as the action Of che stomach
is entirely beyond the %controi &c ri
will. But the bedding is patieutl,
changed as often as it is soiled, an,
everything about Kept clean. 1t vii
easily be seen that il would be impos
sible to give this care 10 a patient i
case Of an epidemic. 10 ease a pst;en
is too far gone to be moved befos
notice IL given to the authorities, he !
treated ia bis own house.