The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1879-04-17
ADDRESS
TO the Citizens Of the Towns and
Villages Of the State Of
Tennessee.

elSni VIII long ne rememDefeu Dy
the people OF Tennessee as a year
especially marked as one of disas
ter 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, car
rying dismay into almost every
household. II did not stop here,
but travelling with dread fatality
on the lines of the railroads and
river, it swept into the mountain
city Of Chattanooga, and into vari-
Gus towns and cities of Kentucky.
Nor were its ravages confined, as
heretofore, to towns, but it scatter
ed all through villages and farms
OF West Tennessee, with virulence
and fatality unknown heretofore in
the annals of this dread pestilential
fever. Its damage to lite and prop
erty was beyond computation
Commerce ceased AT its approach.
Business OF every kind was de
stroyed, and the people suffered all
the horrors of disease and want
Had it not been for the royal NUM-
ficence of cur friends and brethren
throughout the Christian world
femme would have been added to
the horrors of pestilence. But
when our people were Frustrated
and dying, powerless to stay the
hand of the destroyer, the brother
hood of the American citizen asser
ted itself, overcame all sectional
jealousy, and they came promptly to
our assistance. The scenes of 1878
are liable to be repeated. Although
no case of yellow fever has yet
been developed in our borders, or
indeed In the United States, there is
possibility of recurrence with
the returning warmth of summer.
In view of this fact the Legislature,
at its last session, just closed, by
enactment enlarged the powers OF
the State Board of Health, in CIV
ing it authority to declare quaran
tine and TO make sanitary rules and
regulations with a view to prevent
the introduction aud spread of cpl
demic diseases into our borders, or,
if possible stamp them out should
they unfortunately get footing in
our midst.
Though the General Government
has established a National Board OF
Health, il gave 1T only advisory
powers, without means or money to
aid US in an emergency. And thus
we are thrown upon our own re
sources. The establishment of a
State Board is but a step in the
right direction, and without the ac-
tive cooperation of the whole peo-
pie of our State their efforts will be
in a great measure futile. Every one
knows the importance of preventive
measures. We all remember that
some towns, almost in hearing of
the dying, by a strict quarantine
and seasonable sanitary measures,
escaped completely. This exemp
ton it was thought was one due to
determination, inexorably carried
out, on the part of the citizens OF
those towns. However severe this
may work upon a 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 proven
ted. Arguments, however, on the
propriety of sanitary measures are
unnecessary, as the dearly bought
experience of last year is conviction
enough. To gain the cooperation
of people scattered over a large
extent of territory, it is absolutely
necessary to adopt a uniform sys
tenn under which to operate. With
out system nothing can be DONE
With it such measures can be car
fied out 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 es alb
lish a Board of Health, as auxiliary
to the State Board, and we now ap
peal to every city, town and village
in Tennessee to at once proceed
with the organization OF such
boards. They should be constitu
ted of firm, prudent and wise phys
icians, 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 may be placed in such a con
dltion as will tax to the utmost all
the best powers of the human heart
and brain. So assisted, the State |
Board VIC uld, indeed, feel that hall |
of it's labors were already accom-
plished. 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 or
ganize. When organized, they are |
requested to communicate at once
with this board, that its aid may at |
any time be invoked, if found neces
sary. We especially urge upon the
citizens of the State to organize ev
Do not rest in faneied |
security upon any wild theory of at
or typographical immu
nifty. Remember hattanooga.-I
Whether your corporation is situa
ted upon the marshes of the MIssis-
sippi or the plateau of the Cumber-
bertrand mountains, we beg you to
No harm will result
should there be no epidemic. Should
it come, you will be prepared to re
ceive it. There Is safety in prepa-
ration. ain time of peace prepare
for war;" is an adage that applies
better to our situation than To the
necessities of any warlike nation
We are no alarmists, and hope there
will be no necessity for action. But
should the necessity arise, the want
OF these bodies would be fatal. Once
more we urge you to organize boards
of health in all cities, towns and vii
lagos, and proceed without delay to