American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-07-19
THE YELLOW FEVER.

A FATAL case of yellow fever-the
first of the season-was reported from
Memphis on Wednesday the 9th OF July.
The victim was Frank Mulbrandon, an
Irishman, shoemaker by occupation, who
lived on the northeast corner of DeSoto
and Pontotoc Streets. Mulbrandon was
taken sick on the previous Saturday. He
was attended by DIR. w. E. Rodgers, who
at once recognized the nature of the
disease and treated him accordingly. After
death an autopsy was made by a number
of physicians, and all concurred in the
opinion that it was q genuine case Of yellow
fever. The news caused a sudden exit from
the city of a number of the more timid in
habitants, although the doctors say the case
was sporadic in its nature and does not in
dictate any thing in the nature of an cpl
denic.
A second death from yellow fever in
Memphis occurred on the 10th, the victim
being an infant child of Judge J. E. r. Ray.
Judge Ray himself and a son, aged %, were
reported down with the disease. Judge
Rays residence is in the outskirts OF
the city, at least mile distant from
the locality in which Mulbrandon
lived. The excitement caused by the
breaking out of the disease reached
almost panic to-day, and every train leav-
ing the city was crowded with refugees,
many being forced to remain over unwilling
ly on account of lack of transportation.
The Board of Health issued a proclamation,
recognizing the gravity of the crisis, and,
while expressing hope that the disease
would not assume an epidemic form, rec
ommending those who could to quietly re-
move their families to place Of safety.
DIR. Hamilton, Supervising Surgeon
General of the United States Marine
Hospital Service, does not apprehend
repetition of the yellow fever epidemic
of last year in the South. He thinks
there may be sporadic cases, but
considers that the precautions taken will
prevent any spread of the disease. The ne
gro exodus he thinks may carry considera-
BILE infected baggage into Missouri and Kan
sas, and thus cause some cases of yellow fe-
yer in those States.
On the 10th, New Orleans, Vicks-
burg, Norfolk, Va, and Holly Springs,
Miss, officially quarantined against Men,
phis, both by land and water.i
There were no additional cases of vel
low fever reported at Memphis on the 18th,
and the scare of the preceding two days was
considerably abated. One fatal case
was reported to the National Board
Of Health from Water Valley,
Miss. Quarantine against Memphis was de-
clared by Little Rock, Cairo, Greenville,
Miss, Montgomery, Ala, Houston, Calves
ton, and some other places.
The Executive Committee of the San
itary Council of the Mississippi Valley held
a meeting at Henderson, KY, on the 18th,
adn cd
immediate adoption by State and local
Boards of Health of the rules
and regulations of the National Board
of Health for securing the best sani-
tary condition of steamboats,, railway
cars, ETC., and also urging the National
Board Of Health to appoint Sanitary In
spectors for the various cities and all towns
where yellow fever may occur. The Ex-
ecutive Committee is composed of DIR. J.
ID. Plunkett, Tennessee; DIR. Pinckney
Thompson, Kentucky; DIR. John II. Rauch,
Illinois.
The Memphis business men held a
meeting on the 18th and passed resolutions
protesting against the hasty and unjust
ton of the authorities of the State of Ar
kansas and of New Orleans and other cities
in proclaiming quarantine against Memphis
in advance of an epidemic. They say there
have been no new cases in three days, and
that there is no probability of the disease
becoming epidemic. All trains arriving at
or departing from Memphis are inspected
by an authorized officer and a certificate
given each passenger.
Governor Roberts of Texas, on the
18th, issued a proclamation declaring quar-
antine against Memphis and all other places
to which the yellow fever may extend. Quar-
antine stations established at Orange,
Marshall, TeXarkana, and Denison, and at
all the towns and ports along the coast.
Persons from infected towns will be
promptly arrested.
Judge Ray of Memphis died of the
yellow fever an the 14th. No new cases
were developed and the excitement had in a
great measure ceased.