Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-08-10
FEVER FUEL.
FURNISHED BY THE NEGROES OF
MEMPHIS.
They Refuse to Leave the City in Hope of
Receiving FREQ Subsistence-The Disease
Increasing in virulenoe and Declared
Epidemic bv tho Board of Health-Mis-
cellsneous Notes,
A RESUME OF THE SITUATION

LangstaH, president of the Howard association
Memphis. has sent telegram giving the con-
ditions of that city and containing the follow
ing points. Total number of cases of yellow
fever to this hour within the city officially re-
corded is $50. OF this number ninety died.
In addition there have been about twenty cases
and i've deaths of Memphis refugees located
within six miles of the city. The disease has
not communicated to any of the surrounding
towns on account of rigid quarantine. The
faver has increased in Memphis very per-
ceptibly in the past ten days, and is
spreading from the original centers. We can
not hope for q discOntinuance until frost.
At least 10000 persons have left. of which
1900 are located in Camps Father Mathew
and Marks, situated four and seven miles re-
spectively from Memphis. There have been
three cas- in Camp Marks and one DEATH At
least r. 00O negroes in the city, only 100 hav-
ing gone to camp. They have declined to
leave the city. hoping to receive rations here
which is in opposition to the views of all par
ties who are laboring here to attend to such as
may be taken sick. Our only safety is dcpopu-
lation. In consequence of the fever spreading
among the negroes in the past five days there is
q growing disposition to 60 to the camps.
Should this appeal to the people of the United
States for rations not meet with favorable
answer the negroes will no doubt move as soon
as they get hungry. No one but Howard
visitor ply sican knows of the filthy novels that
these people live in, and in which they are taken
and too frequently die. We have six physicians
On duty, and have had under our charge 49,
patients sick with various diseases. To these
al people we furnish nurses, medicines, slim
ulent and food. About 200 have been dis
charged. Our expenses are now $500 per day,
and will probably increase. We have on hand
$lS.OOO. This amount would have been suffi-
Gent if the negroes had foil ,wed the example
Of the white people and left the city. We hope
not to be forced to ask assistance, but fear his
nol-action of the negroes will compel US to do
So; The sanitary condition Of our city is ex-
cellent.
FIFTEEN NEW CASES.
MEMPHIS, Aug. 9.-Up to noon to-day fifteen
new cases were reported to the board of health,
ten white and five colored. Among this num-
Der were Mrs: M. A. Taylor and daughter, and
Rev. j. P. Ridley, colored. Three deaths have
occurred since last night, Mrs. Absalom Boyd,
Mrs. Frances Getzell and Lizzie Getzell The
weather continues cool. This morning at day.
light the thermometer dropped to 81; now rs.
Ed. Moon is considered out of danger.
DECLARED EPIDEMIC.
MEMPHIS, Aug. Six more cases were re-
ported by the board of health this afternoon,
all of whom were colored. In addition IL
cases were reported after the usual hour for
closing, which will be included in to- morrow 3
list. Two deaths have occurred since noon,
Edward Tobler and L.. E. Roberts. both at the
city hospital. Following is the official annouce-
ment of the board of health, declaring yellow
fever to be epidemic:
The board of health being Informed that
there is disposition manifested on the part of
some absentees from Memphis to return sooner
than it would be advisable, and, as this dis
position may be increased, it deems best to sub
nit the following statement in regard to the
prevalence and spread of yellow fever in the
city. Though the death rate from yellow fever
weekly report, exceeded the deaths from all
1 beieg isss than that of fa the w saa
previously, the board of health was encouraged
to believe that it would not exceed this num-
Der for any week during the prevalence of the
disease, and as no practical good, it was
thought, would result from formal an
nouncement of the epidemic. it declined to
make such an announcement at that tim e.
August it prevailed mostly in the neighbour
hood where the first cases occurred in July, in
the southern portion of the city the fifth and
in portion of the seventh and tenth wards,
and in the northeastern portion of the CITY, in
the eighth, and could not be considered epidem-
&c beyond these limits. During ten days it has
extended beyond these limits, where it was
hoped to be confined, and cases have been re-
ported and deaths occurred in 30 many differ
ent localities of the city that it is now impos-
sible to say what portion is not infected.
Therefore the board of health
makes the formal declaration of an
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, if it again reaches the present
weeks mortality during the prevalence Of the
disease. There are reasons why some escape
in every epidemic, not being liable to disease
from what cause we don't know. Many of
those who remain are protected by previous at
who contract the disease will recover, that q
large portion of our population who are liable
to the disease, have left the city, and the work
of depopulati0n is ill in progress, which
should be and no doubt will be, continued un-
less free subsistence is supplied in the city,
which will not only have the effect to
prevent some from getting into camps where
such provision is made, but woult induce
others to come into the city, and hereby be-
come the means of spreading the disease to
localities now free from the infection. There
fore, in view of these facts, we are induced to
believe, although the disease is liable to be
here until frost the roll Of mortality will not
exceed, it it equal. its present number for any
one week in the future. Every practicable
means of disinfection in local sanitation cal.
culated to arrest the disease, has been and is
still being practiced in this work. The board
of health. has the active cooperation of both
the national and State board Of health, through
their respective representatives, DR.. r. u.
Mitchell of the former, Hon John johnson. al
the latter. The following is the number Of
deaths from yellow fever since its appearance,
as reported to this office:
For the week ending July IL, 8; for the week
ending July 10, s.; for the week ending july
rs, 81; for the week ending August Q, rs; for
the week ending August 8, 20. Total number
of deaths to date, 81.
As is customary the board of health will a \.
nounce officially through the papers when il ia
thought safe for absentees to return.
(Signed) G. B. THORNTON, M. D.,
President Board of Health.
At meeting of prominent citizens, held this
afternoon, DIR. Jerome Cochrane, representative
OF the national board Of health, submitted q
letter which had been written to DR.. 8. j. Tur-
ner, secretary of the national board, in which
ne recommends: First, That the work of re-
moving the unacclimated population be contin
ued until no left here to feed the epidemic
Second, The removal of the sick as far as
possible to camp hospitals outside Of the city
limits. Third. The isolation, as far as posi-.
BILE, of infected persons and places within the
listing knowledge makes it possible, of infected
clothing. bedding, dwellings and letters. 1t
urges the national board to at least make an
effort and exhaust every possible device to
check the spread Of the pestilence further, says
this board is on trial before the public opinion,
and has already become an OBJECT of assault for
the public press. appeal to the national
board Of health, the legal guardians of the
country's welfare, and think the board would
act wisely to authorize the expenditure Of
85O. 600 or whatever sum may prove necessary.
The meeting by resolution endorsed the sug-
gestions and recommendations submitted by
DR.. Cochrane.
THE HOWARD ASSOCIATION.
The Howard association have under thei,
charge 146 sick, of these 100 white. AZ colored