Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-06-20
SMALLPOX ROASTED OUT
ONLY ONE NEW CASE IN JACK
SONVILLE IN A WEEK.

ing Cured at the Pest HouSe-The
Worst Surely Over-Business Picking
Up Rapidly-Other Events in City and
State.
JACKSONVILLE, June 1S.-This section
has been favored daily the past week with
! copi0us showers of rain, which has tended
to moderate the heat. On several occa-
si0ns the thermometer has climbed up
into the nineties, but the usual gentle
breeze prevailing in this latitude has pre-
vented anything like excessive heat. Fri
day was a lovely day, cool and breezy,
and seemed to just suit the desire of all,
more particularly those engaged in out
door business affairs. The heat of the.
large Northern cities can beat the heat in
Florida at any time during the warm
months. Such thing as sunstroke is UNI
known in this State, and there are humid
reds of both white and colored men who
labor day after day in the sun without suf-
fering any ill effects from the heat. Perhaps
it would be different were il not for the sea
breeze, which is quite a luxury at any
time and anywhere in this country during
the heated term. At times the breeze
dies away here for a few minutes, and
then it is rather sultry to be pleasant; but
man can do a good days work here in
the sun now-if he can get the breeze-as
he can in the mild winter season.
1t is claimed by scientists that warm
weather is an antidOte for smallpox, and
if this be so, then old Sol is entitled to
some credit for the part he has taken in
the successful assaults made upon the
baleful disease here the past week. So
none will murmur should he pour forth
his heat this week in still greater proper
tiOns and annihilate the last germ which
turks in our midst. Nothing since the
close of the war has produced in
this city so much trouble in one way
and another as has this terrible
malady, but thanks be to Him from whom
all good cOmeth, the worst is over, and
the dreaded leper wkich defied for a few
weeks all efforts, is now enchained and
held under control. Only one case, so
members of the Health Board say, has
actually occurred in Jacksonville the
past six days. Hallelujah! Some three
or four cases have occurred in the county
while being guarded, and the hour the
disease developed the patient was sent
to the pest house. In fact, all except one
case was discovered a week ago, and
cannot be properly accredited to the past
six days. Some of our quarantine ene-
mics may think this is incorrect or say
that more cases have been reported
and to make sure, each case, on date of
occurrence, has been called over by the
authorities to your correspondent,
and he finds that three of the four
cases developed week ago yesterday.
l have inquired of different persons and
in every way sought to find out
as to the disease, and in no instance have
any one given another case in addition to
those reported above, and every one, both
white and colOred, firmly believe the
dr~na Il hae, hon Js~
should any new cases develop they will
be among the suspects, who are closely
guarded day and night.
do not wish any one to infer from the
above that no cases exist in DuVal cOun-
ty, as no such idea is intended to be con-
veyed. DR.. BabcOck, superintendent OF
the pest house, telephOned your corre-
spOndent last night that he had nine sick
and eleven convalescentS, all of whom are
cOlored except five. The doctor feels con-
tident that the worst is past, and that the
disease which has stalked abroad in our
midst since March, tainting our people
with its poisonous breath, shifting when
no hand was seen and no sound was heard,
only exists now in skeleton form, and that
it's emaciated hand will no more be able
to clutch victims day after day and hurl
them into eternity as it did IN May. At
the present decrease L hope soon to write
in sensational headlines, ''It is Gone
Farewell Foul Invader"
Ever since the wise and timely action of
our County Commissioners, Robinson and
L'Engle, in ordering DR.. BabcOck to va
cate the rude and temporary structure
used as a pest house, and occupy with his
patients the county hospital or poor house,
and cOnfining all exposed cases, affairs
have continued to change for the better.
This move on the part of the authorities
was not only humane, wise and proper, but
beneficial both to the sick and their attend
ants. 1t was the first effective blow struck.
and has been the means of saving the lives
of unfortunate victims; in changing all in
their open opposition to conform to the
rules of the proper authorities into quiet
submission; it at once made the attend
ants of the sick more contented. In a
word, it worked everywhere complete
and salutary change. To those
who first conceived this idea and so sue
cessfully carried it out are the people of
Duval county under lasting obligations,
and every citizen of Florida, who values
his own life, loves his family and respects
his neighbor, is greatly indebted to the
indefatigable efforts of a few active men
for what has been accomplished the past
two weeks. Some gave money, others
time, and all large quantities of advice
towards eradicating the disease. More
money might have been contributed. as it
can do an immense amount of good in
such an emergency. but EFWhereaS.v and
''be it resolved" which came in thick and
fast, did not amount to much. Had every
man been assessed dollar for his resolu-
ton, the treasury would now be in a
much better condition.
Upon the estimate of intelligent gentle
men this smallpox affair is set down at
an expense of $4,000, and the loss to busi-
ness, ETC., at $50, ,000-a pretty good sum for
nd
has got to pay this? Why, of course, the
taxpayers, of whom but few have receiv-
ed any benefits therefrOm, save in
keeping the disease from their doors. The
property holders are still burdened with
the class who never did nor never will be
capable of taking care of themselves in
such emergencies as the one just passed.
Heaven only knows what would become
of them if it was not for ''dat buckra"
man for whom they care so little.
Since compulsory vaccination has been
enforced among the negroes, and il has
been general, much less fear is appre-
hended. One can be among them now
with less uneasiness, and without feel
ing as if he was receiving cOntagiOn
at every touch. Your correspondent
would most earnestly urge the adOp-
tiOn by the authorities at all towns
along the lines of railroad compul-
sOIy vaccination, 1t is the only preventive
and hundreds of negroes from this city
have tiocked to the railroad towns aIfd
counties. One case cost Leon county $500.
more than it would have cost to have vac.
cinated its entire population. An ounce
of prevention is worth pound of cure.
Ever since the decrease of the disease
the neighboring towns, with officials dis
posed to be at all just to Jacksonville.
have either raised or modified their quar-
antine restrictions, and Thursday, Friday
and Saturday business was better with
our merchants than. it had been for
month previous. 1t was indeed gratify-
ing to see the lively throng on our streets
Saturday night, and the merchants busy
attending to customers. Some business
men are yet gloomy and despOndent, but
the majority take more hopeful view of
the situation and predict an early revival,
and, probably, better business than was
had before smallpox made its appear
ance. Of course this all depends upon
keeping down the disease. Last Saturday
night a week, was the dullest and gloom.
lest Saturday ever seen here by your cor
respondent during residence of nearly
twenty years-it was black Saturday,
Heaven grant another such day may never
be experienced by our business men.
Our summers are always dull and long,
but better prospects for a lively trade
were more apparent at the beginning of
this summer than ever before, from the
fact that every mechanic and labOrer was
employed at good wages. The mills were
all actively engaged in turning out build
ing material for local and foreign trade:
new railroads were being constructed and
operated; buildings were gong up as by
magic all over the city, and steamers
were leaving daily heavily laden with
supplies for the country merchant and
70 Int nffn