The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-08-06
LETTER FROM DR.. j. M. TAYLOR.
The Fever in Memphis in 1879.

EDITORS CLARION:
The occurrence of a number of cases OF vel
low fever in Memphis within the last few days,
has very naturally renewed the panic of last
| season, throughout the whole Mississippi Val
ley. Whatever the specific cause of yellow fe-
yer may be, it doubtless exisisted in Memphis
prior to the outbreak of the fever there this
summer Whether it originated there de moro,
whether its vitality preserved through
the winter in a state of Information, to break
out afresh, when warmed into activity by the
summer heat, is one of those Yexed questions
about yellow fever which medical men have not
yet been able to settle. Ii the latter view,
(which is more probable) be correct, we may
expect the appearance of the fever also at
Vicksburg, Jackson, Canton, Grenada Holly
Springs. and other places in our State; and in
deed at any place where it prevailed last year,
provided the necessary coneuJring causes ertst
Itseems to be an established fact that the spe-
cifc cause of yellow fever is powerle IS to de-
velop the fever, without certain, as yet, not
well understood concurring causes. Which are
supposed to be certain elevation of tempera-
ture for certain length of time, with moisture,
and decomposing animal and vegetable matter.
The same agencies are supposed to generate
mittent and remittent fevers. And indeed from
the close resemblance of yellow fever to some
forms of malarial fever, we may reasonably in
fer some community of origin. Yet we know
that the specific cause of yellow fever is not
competent to develop that disease whenever and
wherever brought in contact with common ma
laria in its active state; and that common ma
laria is not sufficient to develop it, without the
cooperation of that specific factor, which gives
the disease its characteristics. But what addi-
tional principle condition is required to de-
velop true yellow fever infection is the great
desideratum. This unknown something is the
magical talisman upon which hangs the fate of
cities, and communities often, instead of certain
quarantine or sanitary regulations which they
may adopt for that purpose. To find out this
something, to learn all that may be known
about il, is an imperative duty of the-medcal
profession. 1t is of the utmost Importance that
those concurring causes or conditions should be
thoroughly understood, so that, whether they
may or may not be within the reach of means
to destroy or prevent them, every community
can be forewarned, and take effective steps for
its own preservation. According to these pre-
misses, it viii be seen that though the specific
cause of yellow fever, (fever germs, as many
are pleased to call IT'D may exist in potential
state in any or all of the places where it pre-
vailed last year, yet ean only manifest itself
where these eoncurripg causes coexist If
Memphis is the only point where this is the
case, the fever viii be restricted to that point
even though no quarantine or other measures
to preqent its spread should be adopted Yet
in the absence of any definite knowledge of |
these concurring causes, and in view of our in |
ability to determine their presence or absence |
at any point, where yellow fever does not exist |
il Is very clearly our duty to resort to any and
all reasonable means of preventing the intro |
duction of the specific or exciting cause of the |
disease. We should take the benefit of the
doubt.
On the other hand. If the fever now IN Mem I
phls originated there de nopO, and was not nre- |
served over from last year, the exotic theory of
me olsease Is no longer tenable, and our hope |
p ever being able TO enjoy entire Immunity
from the disease, through . neFfect system 81 /
mari time quarantine, Is fallaciols . II
ceRNTH, July %, 1879. =