The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-30

Boon to the Southern Country.
Probably there has not been in the his
tory OF Memphis an episode that could
begin to equal that OF "Biniords sus-
picious case, +" considered in all its phases.
From tumultuoHs excitement and paralyz-
ing alarm arising from Its announcement
one night, the entire populace of Memphis
were soon transformed into a state OF in
dignation, then good humor, and finally
paroXysms Of hilarty. Biniord is now
famous and the Cincinnati firm for which
he travels may find it necessary TO enter
upa doubled, perhaps trebled, salary in
order to hold him in its employ.
From the many papers whose editors
have seized his case MS test from
which 10 draw inspiration for Il humorous,
scientific, satirical, moralizing sermon,
here is the effort Of the New York Times,
which appeared on the 9th inst
'DINFoRD, OF MEMPHIS.
at is not often that n private citizen Is
the occasion of bringing such Joy 20 the
community in which he lives as Mr. Berry
ii. Binlord has just conveyed To the in
habitants of the Taxing District, common
ly and ineXactly known us Memphis,
Tenn. Mr.. Biniord did not confer this
bcneiaclion by any signal feat in art or
arms. lie did not found a college or Il
hospital, nor even present a copy Of Pow
ers' Greek Slave 10 the Memphian muse
INN. All that he did was 10 get extremely
drunk, and for this one act we trust, of
casual, unprecedented incbrlaton, he is
hailed by his fellow citizens as their de-
liverrr. Even ministers OF the gospel and
supporters OF the candidacy OF Fisk, il any
there be in Memphis, are filled with pious
gratitude and mild cXhilaration us they
exchange congratulations over the tstub.
lishmcnt OF the cOnsoling truth that Bin
ford was drunk.
at is not often that man has il in his
power 10 confer so great boon by 80
simple an cNpcdiunt litigints aud law.
yors in Macedon no doubt iclt grateful To
Philip for complaining the judiciary OF
that kingdom by establishing court OF
original jurisdiction consisting OF himself
drunk and an appellate tribunal comprised
OF himself sober. There are persons
whose social qualities stimulation is
considered by their acquaintance to i'm
prove, and others who are esteemed more
tolcrablc company after than before they
have drunk themselves into spccChlcss-
ness. But the obligation a man may con-
fer by having it authorilatiycly announced
that he was drunk can be bestowed only
upon a community that has uukindly and
unjustly suspected him oi yellow lever
"Moralists will probably agree that IL Is
bcttcrto die OF yellow lever than OF alcO-
holism, but even the stprncst morllist II
! he could choose with which malady
| lOdgcr In his house or n stranger within
| his gates should be afflicted, would be- apt
10 choose that he should die drunk.
Drunkenness is more slowly and circuit
ously contagious, although the prohibit
| tiOnisis hold that il has it, origin in pruX.
unity toliquor, and that under this conli.
| ton anybody is liable to catch IL. 4 drunk
ri ought perhaps 10 be looked upon with
much more dread than leper rs center
OF infection, but as matter of fact hc Is
not, and those who have fled bowling
| from Bniord when he was suspected oi
yellow fever, will converse with him freely
when the glad tiding have been sent forth
throughout the land and proclaimed 10 all
| the inhabitants thereof that Biniord has
been drunk.
at is to be- hoped that Biniord will bear
his honors mcekly, for, strictly speaking.
| intoXicaiiOn - not mcriturlous IN ltsCil
but only by contrast with yellow fever.
| Much Of the merit which hc may bc In.
clined 10 ascribc 60 himself for relieving
| his fellow citizens OF anxiety should IN
| Justice be transferred 10 the physicians ol
| Memphis. Though their final report Is
/ explicit, thcv srcm % have bad much
| difficulty in diagnosing the ease presented
| by Biniorl, and IN distinguishing the final
symptoms OF what one OF them technically
| describes ~ "a big drunk from the initial
symptoms Of yellow fever.
| "Medical science in Memphis must he
In truly wonderful condition, when the
difficulty Of Distinguishing these two com.
plants 6lfllcd the faculty fJr some hours.
aud throws the lay population IN acute
alarm. Now that the uncertainty iscndcd,
the people Of Memphis may begin 10 I'M
dcrsiand how foolish they have been In
giving way ~ a panic which had no more
rational basis than was supple by the
ease" Of Binford.
at is 10 be hoped that accounts OF this
case, when carefully iumigatcd. will bc
distributed throughout the other commu.
mites in the southwest which have broken
all communication with the outside world
because n few more than 200 people have
died OF yellow fever IN the southern States
within two months. by showing them
what spcctcn they are conjuring up "a
add 10 their own icrron such an account
might aid In bringing these people back Il
their senses"
And tho Nashville Drmocra makcl
funny illusions, ~ follows
"a STRANGE DISEASE.
"our sister city Of Memphis is rapid,
recovering her oquanimity, after having
been thrown into fever Of excitement b,
the case Of a man who was thought 10 b,
the victim Of yellow icycr The symptoms
Of the disease with which this uniofiunat,
man WIS afflicted wcc not exactly ihos,
with which Yellow Jack gives notice o
the fact that lac Is on hand, but In III,
time Of yellow fever scare nice dlslinc
lions are not made and past experiences
are forgotten. Tho patents symptom
were entirely new 10 tho godly people y
Memphis, and their very slrangenos
added 10 tho terror Of the people. Among
the remarkable outward symptoms u thi
case was n radiant and bloomy Hush Of
the end Of the nose aud marked an,
peculiar rrdnets oi the eyes. The pa
! tents uitomnce was thick and labocd
| ht. sp.ech Wild aud inroherpnt and hi