Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-12-18
A VERY SERIOUS MATTER NEGLECTED

An intelligent observer, who has just re.
turned from Mexico, where he had two
attacks Of yellow fever, tells a RECORD.
UNION representative that he is perfectly
certain the fever will reach California val
leys next summer, if not before. We have
before expressed our bslief TO the came
effect. There is not that preparation being
made which should be made. The outlook
is that we will neglect precautions until it
Is too late. What then? 1t is fearful to
contemplate. Not the death and suffering ;
they will be the least fearful-but the
flight from the valleys; the cessation of
travel the stagnation of business the
stoppage Of industries the universal fear
and unrest; the cry of mourning and the
plants of want the search for food and
labor, with none to supply save in the way
OF frightened charity the exodus of the
rich and those able to flee from the pesti.
lence; the retrogression of the whole State
by years Of measurement the cessation of
immigration the financial embarrassments
to ensue; the bankruptcy and failures that
will follOw-all these are possible. Nay,
they are probable. We have not over.
drawn in the shading of a single line On
four separate occasions, when we have
forecast such results of our neglect, the
Seattle Herald, an able and conservative
journal, has taken occasion to warmly in.
dorse such expressions, and a late
article reveals the reason. The ed
itor of that journal passed through
all the horrors of the yellow fever
epidemic in Louisiana in 1858. He saw
the march of the monster from day to day
unstayed, because of neglect of ordinary
precautions. He saw the means of keep.
ing the disease out of remote towns neg.
iected until too late. He noted that vigi.
lance would have robbed the epidemic of
ntenths OF its horror and damage. He
became Convinced, as has Surgeon General
Hamilton, that the yellow fever can be kept
out OF a country by the adoption of proper
regulations at least its influence may be
reduced to a comparatively harmless mini.
mum. We pointed out not long ago, that
by absolutely shutting off communication
between Mexican and California ports, and
by fortifying the border line between the
two countries SO that passage will be i'm.
possible, or az less. improbable, we can, in
all reasonable probability, exclude the dis
ease. The Heraid, referring to these sug-
gestions, gives them its Endorsement, and
adds: We have more than once in these
columns adverted to the danger of a yellow
fever visitation which has threatened, and
certainly next year, if not this, still
threatens California. With the exception
OF the Sacramento RECORD. UNION, the
California newspapers seem oblivious to
the impending calamity. The Sacramento
journal above mentioned has contended |
manfully and intelligently for the exercise |
OF proper and necessary precautions" In
reference to the yellow fever patients |
landed in San Francisco, the same writer,
whose testimony as to the means by which |
the disease was propagated in Louisiana is
clear and undeniable, says the baggage of
these patienta, in all probability. will
plant the seeds Of disease and death.
which if they do not terminate will be due
wholly TO Gods kindly providence if they
do, the consequent crime and misery must
be laid st the doors of the sleepy and IN.
faithful watchmen whose duty it is to keep
watch and ward over the health and lives
of the people they are appointed to serve"
Now, we DO not mean to be mistaken for
an alarmist. Every tact advanced in all
this continued discussion is justified bv
the report OF the Surgeon. General of the
United States and fortified by the pub
lished proofs. Some Of these have already
been given in full in these columns. The
General declares that the disease can be
kept at bay by municipal cleanliness, iso-
alton, hospitals, national guarantees, and,
wherever it is possible, by the throwing of
,ordons o; guards about infected localities.
Examples are given where, in Texas and in
Alabama, cities, towns and sections that
Excluded incomers from infected places re-
NAMED unframed by single case Of fever, d!