Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-01-31
A LIE NAILED.
The Statement that the Death Rate OF
Memphis Has Increased Since the
Sewers Were Constructed
Proven 10 be Gross Uniruth from the
Reports Of DIR. Thornton, the
District Health Officer.

Ever since the great epidemics OF 1878 and
1879, whenever a frightlul example was
needed upon which 10 air the opinions or
ideas Of some INSCRIPTIONS or ignorant per-
son, or to further the interests OF some rlval
CITY. Memphis has been made the convenient
scapegost for such purpose, and this, too, In
the face of the repeated and emphatic de-
mails OF both the press and the health au-
thorities of this city. Too much OF thing
becomes nsuseatiDg, and it ia about time that
this malicious misrepresentation and maLg-
naut persecution should come TO an end.
The latest thing OF the sort brought to the
surface is The following from the st. Louis
Republican, based upon an editorial from the
New Orleans Picaprne, which in turn was
written from an editorial in the New York
Times:
The fact that the development and completion
of an elaborate system of sewerage at Memphis
movement in the sanitary condition Of the city is
certainly that should set people 70 seeking iof
been laid and 5000 houses have been connected
with them. 1t is claimed that the work mas been
well done and that the most approved appliances
have been used with view to preventing the in
PRODUCTION of sewer gases into the houses yet the
result has been considerable increase in the pre-
vale nee of zymotic diseases as compared with the
wears before The sewers were laid. There has
been no epidemic but diphtheria and dysentery
have prevailed 70 an unusual degree ana VIII
shown similar results, and it has been generally
ascrbed to the fact that the sewer were
improperly guarded. No doubt the plumber Is at
fault for much OF the trouble but it does seem a
very difficult thing to make these supposed SAM
tary appliances effective Inc sewer anu I'M,
proved in the past five years, yet glance AZ their
mortality statistics would seem 10 indicate That
the death rate has increased out OF proportion 70
the growth Of population. Many people have be-
come satisfied that II is not desirable to have sew
also that ANYTHING which tends to keep houses
shut up tight and to interfere with frequent
changes of air is most prolific cause OF disease
statement 60 obviously false in every
particular should not be allowed to go unsn.
swered, and in order to get the official
| figures and thus give the lie the emphatic
denial which ii merits. an APPEAL reporter
was sent 10 interview DR.. Thornton and find
out the exact state of the case. The doctor
was found in bis Office on Madison street,
and the reporter opened the interview by
handing him the above extract, asking him
to read it, and TO tell what he thought OF 1t
"Why," replied the doctor, there IS not
word of trutk in it. The sewers are perfect
success, and zymotic diseases have decreased
steadily since their introduction. | do mo-
know OF single case of disease that could il
any way be traced to the sewers"
The reporter then asked the doctor il he
would make an official statement in reply to
The paragraph, bnt he declined, stating that
be would like 10 have further time, but thai
he would furnish all the nee sssary docu-
meuts, and accordingly, in company with
/ the APPEAL man, he visited the office OF tbs
Board of Health, from the records of which
| the following figures are compiled.