Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1879-04-19
An rmnnrtnnt Address.

An Important Address.
The State Board of Health which |
recently met in Nashville issued /
the following important address to
the citizens Of the towns and villa
ges of the State of Tennessee:
1878 viii long be remembered by |
the people of Tennessee as a year
especially marked as one of disaster
and death. The yellow fever was !
brought up the Mississippi river
and fastened its deadly fangs upon
the city of Memphis. From thence
it radiated through the Western
Division of our State, carrying dis
may into almost every household.
1t did not stop here, but travelling
with dread fatality on the lines of
the railroads and river, it swept
into the mountain city of ChattanOO-
ga, and into various towns and cities
of Kentucky. Nor were its ravages
confined, as heretofore, to towns,
but il scattered all through the viii
lagos and farms of West Tennessee,
with a virulence aud fatality I'M
known heretofore in the annals of
this dread pestilential fever. Its
damage to life and property was
beyond computation. Commerce
ceased at its approach. Business of
every kind was destroyed, and the
people suffered all the horrors of
disease and want. Had Ii not been
for the royal munificence of our
friends and brethren throughout the
Christian world, famine would have
been added to the horrors of pesti-
lence. But when our people were
Frustrated and dying, pOwerlesS to
stay the hand of the destroyer, the
brotherhood of the American citi-
zen asserted itself, overcame all
sectional jealousy, and they came
promptly to our assistance. The
scenes of 1878 are liable to be re-
peated. Although no case Of yellow
fever has yet been developed in our
borders, or indeed in the United
States, there is a possibility of a
recurrence with the returning
warmth Of summer.
In view of this fact, the Iyegis-
lature, at its last session, just closed,
by enactment enlarged the powers
Of the State Board of Health, in
giving it authority to declare quar-
1ulll6 dAAn. 10 llldA0 SdLALhAH lu4Co
and regulations with a view to pre-
vent the introduction and spread of
epidemic diseases in our border, or,
if possible, stamp them out should
they unfortunately get footing in
our midst.
Though the general Government
has established National Board of
Health, it gave it only advisory
powers, without means or money
to aid us in an emergency. And
thus we are thrown upon our own
resources. The establishment of
State Board is but step in the
right direction, and without the
active cooperation of the whole
people of our State their efforts will
be, in a great measure, futile. Ev-
cry one knows the Importance of
preventive measures, We all re-
member that some towns, almost IN
hearing of the shrieks of the dying,
by a strict quarantine and season.
able sanitary measures, escaped
completely. This exemption, it
was thought, was due to determi-
nation, inexorably carried out on
the part of the citizens of those
towns. However severe this may
work upon few, it is safety TO the
many.
But it is to be hoped that by a
cooperation of the local authorities
with the State Board of Health,
should the occasion again arise,
much alarm and needless sacrifice
of life and property can be prevent
ed. Arguments, however, on the
propriety of sanitary measures are
Unnecessary, as the dearly bought
experience of last year 10 conviction /
enough. To gain the cooperation
of a people scattered over large
extent of territory, 1t is absolutely
necessary to adopt uniform sys-
tenn under which to operate. With
out system nothing can be done.
With it such measures can be car
ried ont as will almost assure this
State against another invasion. In
order to enforce such regulations as
the State Board in its wisdom may
adopt, it is absolutely necessary
that each town in the State shall
establish a Board of Health, as aux
Hilary to the State Board, and we
now appeal to every city, town and
village in Tennessee TO at once pro-
coed with the organization of such I
Boards. They should be constituted 1
of firm, prudent and wise physi-
clans. with one or more citizens. !
They may have to take such action
as will require the experience of all |
these qualities to the fullest extent.
They NAV be placed in such a con-
ditiOn rs will tax to the utmost all
fhe best powers of the human heart |
O. os,-s-kA1 tho State
Board would, indeed, feel that half
its labors were already accomplished.
Without it, its efforts to secure |
safety would fall to the ground, |
We therefore appeal to you all, in
the name OF our common humanity, |
TO at once proceed to organize. /
When organized, they are requested |
10 communicate at once with this /
Board, that it's aid may at any time
Zoe invoked, if found necessary. We |
especially urge upon the citizens of
the State to organize everywhere.
DO not rest in fancied security upon
any wild theory of atmospheric or
Typographical Immunity. Remem-
Der Chattanooga. Whether your
corporation is situated upon the
marshes of the Mississippi or the
plateau of the Cumberland Noun
tains, we beg you to organize. No
harm viii reaplt should there be no
epidemic. Should it come, you
will be prepared to receive it. There
Is safety in preparation. ''In time
Of peace prepare for war;" is so adj
age that applies better to our situa-
tion than to the necessities of any
warlike nation. We are no alarm-
lists, and hope there will be no ne
ceSsity for action. But should the
necessity arise, the want of these
bodies would be fatal. Once more /
Re urge you to organize Boards of
Health 10 all cities, towns and viii
lagos, sRd proceed without delay to
adopt such sanitary measures as /
may be indicated by your several I
Boards of Health, and should no [
emergency arise, you win be more
than compensated by the improved
general health Of your community
and the salubrity of your Surround /