Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-04-26
HEALTHOFMEMPH s
An Answer 10 the Statements that Have
Been Sent Forth Broadcast
by the
New Orleans Picayune in Relation to
the Existence of Smallpox in
this City.

The following paragraph is the substance
OF an article that recently appeared in the
New Orleans Rieayune in relation to the pre-
vaience of smallpox ID this city.
Since December 1881, smallpox has existed in
Memphis During that time $50 cases of the
disesse have occurred, resulting in total of
205 deaths. Notwithstanding this fact, DR.. G. 3
Thornton, president of the Memphis Board Of
Health, reports but thirty-two deaths from small
po1 in that city during the year 1852.
The above is net true. Where the Picayune
gets the shove Information from We do rot
know, but We de know il is positively with
ont any foundation for truth. During the
year 1881 there were Two Eases of smallpox
reported.at the Health Office in this city, and
no death. We extract the following from
the third annual report Of the Board of
Health for the yesr ending December 81,
1881: "Iwo caEes of smallpox occurred
one in March, on Avery street, and one in
December, the latter being PVT of q steam
boat. Both cases we're moved to the county
smallpox hospital the day reported at the
Health Office, and proper measures taken 10
| prevent the spread of the infection, which
were successful in both instances" No
death from smallpox occurred In Memphis
| during thst year. The following extract
| from the fourth annual report is verified by
the official record in the health Office, if any
| yerifcation is necessary:
No one disease has prevailed to the extent Of an
| epidemic. smallpox has prevailed in many To-
calitles through the couatry-in some places TO an
| alarming extent-and though number OF cases
| have been introduced into the city, from some of
which, at different times, nunb of our resident
popul alton mostly negroes) have contracted the
| disease, by prompt removal of some cases TO the
smallpox hospital and rigid isolation of others, to-
| gether with other means OF prevention, such az
d1siufection, vaccination, ETC., the spread of the
disease was controlled, and the city protected
from general epidemic. During the year 34s
cases occurred In the city, OF which 3lS were
negroes and thirty. whites. Two hundred and
| sixty-eight OF the former and ten of the latter
were promptly sent to the smallpox hospital, they
not being able TO give satisfactory guarantees thai
| ton from Others. Ten white and fifty eolored
were allowed 10 remain at their residences under
surveillance of the sanitary police Total death,
from smallpox for the year in the city thirty-two
eight OF which were white and twenty-.our colored
The number of cases reported at tn,
Health Office from January l, 1888, TO THU
r date is twenty ave, and no deaths. Some o
the above Gases were from steamboats,, auC
one guest of the Peabody Hotel directly
from New Orleans. They were all prompt
ly sent TO the smallpox hospital and succe e
full measures taken by The health authorities
t to prevent the spread of the infection. Th,
city at present is entirely free from smallp o,
or any other infectious disesss, and due visi
ience exercised to keep it so. Thinking tina
perhaps the PicdyUae had gotten hold Of tn
official reports of the phy,icia in charge O
the smallpox hospital, which il q county in
stitutfon located four miles from the city, a
our request, DR.. Purnell, secretary OF tn
a Board Of Health, to-day visited the hospits
| with the view of aEc.rtsiniDg from the regis
| ter the number Of deaths there for the tw
!. years in question, and he reports that TO
| 1881 two cases were admitted, aud q
:. death occurred. For 1882 S65 case
q were admitted, and 172 deaths &C
;. Cured. Where the Picaybne gels il
p igsres we are at loss to know. Will Ii
4 Picdyune make the proper amend to DIR. c
a B. Thornton, president OF our Board {
Health, gentleman who could not be "a ad
, 10 falsify his record-iet smallpox or IN
> I other disease occur in Memphis? Perhap
the Plcdyune fuds it convenient to divert a
!. tsntiou from New Orleans, which, sccordin
r. to the official reports from the Board 9
r Health OF that city is at present seriously Ell
r eTcised about the prevalence Of emsllPo
there. We symp.thizs with New Oflear
v and only row aliude 10 ils nisfortunes
! sugges, to the Picayuas it had better look
r. the public health of is own city than pul
. lish false reports about ours. For the f'
= weeks ending April 1s,, there were, aecor,
ing 10 the official reports from the Louis
y. ana State Board of Health, for the city ,
/. New Orleans, 800 deaths from snallpo,
. l0l of which were white and 1Ss colored
; The number OF cases WHICH occurred are nj
7 reported. That this disease, which is to
% certainty preveutablP, should prevail thel
- 10 this extent in a mild clim ste with an O
gsnizsd health service, which has repeated
;. boosted of its entire eapabiliiy to preser,
! the public health of that city, is simply di
N creditabie To il and tbs Picaytr.. had bett,
i confne itself TO the deficiencies OF its ov
IL Board OF Health rather han fslsifY ours