The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-07-14
Yellow-Fever and Quarantine.

The exceeding liability OF the American
public to sensationalism with regardto yell
ilow:fover is somewhat remarkable when we
remember that very large surface CT .coun-
try is decided to be within the yellow
fever zone; and furthermore the active
and intimate commerce and intercourse Of
the land, and how much tho cities and the
sections are dependent upon one another.
Public necessity can hardly permit a sus.
pension OF intercourse, and common hui
roapity Gan Lardi,-- ,ti.;uh IN n. Ine
nation should conclude that quarantine and
discontinuance of business intercourse
with people mongst whom an epidemic
has appeared should only be tolerated un-
der form that will admit Of tho main
tenance Of degree Of intercourse de-
manded by public comfort and health,
and bye common humanity. Society
should be determined upon this. Men cam
. not ignore the periodical appearance OF
~epidemics. They appear as we'll in
the heathicst localities as in others. II
such diseases as yellow-fever and the
miasmatic fevers OF loWlands have their
seasons for carrying distress amongst
people, have not typhoid-fever, searlet-fe-
Yer, diphtheria, and other scourges ef man.
kind, their irregular periods for carrying
death and its horrors into some OF the most
healthy neighborhoods? Are we act adj
monished that after all the gap between
the people who are supposed to live In
the land blessed with pure airs and per-
.ennial health and those who dwell In
the ,region where sickness is considered
.pathy is called flor everywhere; the offices
,of charity and coincidence, the acts Of visit
ing and helping the needy and the bereaNed
and,mitigatiug sorrow and diminishing SUI
iering, are requisite in every part OF a civil
lied land, and we-should hesitate, and as
far as possible make the harsh measures OF
quarantine consideEte and gentle, and
never allow them to- increase, when avaida
ble, the discomfort otdistressed and exiled
people-people exiled>srom their own kap-
Ply homes.
In our!land there is too much OF scare to
slow proper deliberation when the alarm
hoccasioaed by the announcement OF an
eahlemic. The scare is all the greater, and
thessteps taken all the more impulsive and
Often unkind and cruel because the means
OF communication in this country are 70
rap4G and general. Whereas this fact should
impress upon Us all the gyeater necessity
Tor hiaaness, mutual sympathy, aud de-
liberation. THERE'S great desl done under
The lnnRence. Of PERSONAL ambition. at the
time OF such excitement as Ii easily pro-
duced by an epidemic scare, there is sure
10 De little eSpedienss for promoting pro-
1essionai distinction and accomplishing Luz
cratiVe tobbery, and it Is not ua!requent
that it is part OF the strategy to aaske the
alarm as great as possibles for in tue wh'rl
.taat comes alMsst any extrayagant pEeposl-
;tlar may preaan.
Then Is thealne for our better tudgmsnts,
,onr practical sense. our caution, our nu-
manky, and our real and prudent interRo-
sitlon 6or the good and comfort OF our COLT
txymeu as well as for our oBa protection.
vi should never forget that there are other |
,peosJe In The world besides ourselves, and
that such contracted seldshness us confines
our fhsaghts and our acts to our own safety
will not fail to bring upon US some day the
mortifyisg recollection OF our want OF the
better feelings OF man, and possibly that
specification may derive poignsncy from the
feeling that ne may now complain OF sonc
Of that neglect which we had shown to,
others.
nat every preeaution that can tend to
Improve the health Of localities should sbe
taken is clearly the duty pI c5Rmnn.aes.