Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-07-23
WEDNESDAY. JULY %, 1879.
THE DOCTORS AND THE VEL
Low FEVER.

We publish in another column
communication from prominent
physician, in which he takes excep-
tons to the remarks of one of our
city fathers, made at meeting last
Saturday night. We think he is
unnecessarily severe, and makes no
allowance for the circumstances IN
der which the remark was made.
Two or three physicians were pres
ent at the time the remark was made,
and we do not think they took it
for sweeping reflection on the
medical fraternity, such as our cor
respondent seems to regard it.
Men not in the habit of public
speaking are not likely to weigh
their words always as carefully as a
man does who sits down and DELHI
erately writes his views.
But after all there is some truth
in what DR.. Harris said. The doc
tors have not been "driven to the
WALL perhaps, but We all know,
or think we know, that the theories
of many Of them in regard to yell
low fever have been badly shaken if
not entirely upset. And again we
know that eminent physicians disa-
gree in great many respects as to
its contagious effects. Some say it
is transportable one way and some
another, and so on. 1t is not our
purpose to find fault with the medi-
cal fraternity, or to complain of
their want of knowledge upon any
point. The profession deserves the
gratitude of a world for the
progress made in alternating
human suffering and saving human
life. No field of service has been
more assiduously explored nor with
more wonderful and gratifying re-
suits.
But we do believe, in view of the
great yellow fever problem, that
better facilities should be afforded
the medical profession, for investi-
cation and for giving relief. The
act of Congress establishing MAJ
tional Board of Health is good as
far rs it goes, but future experience
may prove, if it has not already
proven, that the National Board of
Health must be clothed with
greater powers. The time may
come when all will recognize
the necessity of giving the Board
arbitrary powers equal to those be-
slowed upon the military authori-
ties in time of war. We say it
may come. Every one must see the
necessity of guarding against the
epidemic, and of prompt relief to
communities afflicted with it. The
National Board of Health must be
clothed with full power to do what
ever is necessary to accomplish
this, just as the fire department
may tear down a mans private
property whenever necessary to ar
rest the progress of the devouring
flames.
We see Memphis to-day at the
mercy of the destroying plague.
IF the disease continues to spread
another week nearly every Southern
town within three hundred miles
will be quarantined against the
poison>infected city. Mans in
humanity and mans frenzy in the
presence of danger will convert
whole communities into crazy mobs
and while cheap sympathy will be
expressed, and perhaps liberal con-
tributions for relief offered, the un.
fortunate men, women and children
who remain there will be closed in
to die. This at least appears to b.
the tendency of public sentiment
We trust that Christian men anc
women will not expunge the Colder
Rule from their Bibles, nor take 9
vacation from the exercise of the
cardinal principles of the religion
they profess; but man is a frai