New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-22
TIRE YELLOW FEVER IN THE SOUTH

TIE YELLOW FEVER IN THE SOUTH
With the appearance Of frost in the infected
districts of the South comes the prospect Of
speedy relief from yellow fever. The frost
will modify, perhaps entirely end, the spread
of the disease in those places where 1t has
caused so much suffering and death. Now,
however, weighty question cOnfronts the en-
tire Nation, for North and South, East and
West. are alike interested That question in
wolves the possibility that the disease will be
extended through the South, and very soon
through Northern districts, by the use OF artl-
cles Of bedding and clothing stored and hidden
away or brought from the South by the refugees
who have been and are now quarantined.
study in the causation of the disease reveals the
fact that the introduction Of yellow fever In
the South was accomplished by the arrival of
bedding used by yellow fever patients escaping
from Havana. and that the spread Of the dis
case in Florida has been due to the same
means.
Recently pertinent case has come to the
notice of persons in this city. In white
family, one member Of which had had yellow
fever, another member was allowed to sleep
upon mattress that had been used months be-
fore by the patient suffering fiom the fever
The former died. This happened in family
in the South supposed to be intelligent, and
if such state of ignorance as to sanitary laws
exists among the whites, what can be expected
Of the coored people who have no knowledge
of these laws? The barrier to the necessary
burning of infected bedding is the disinclina-
ton which exists among the colored as well as
among some Of the white people to allow their
bedding to be destroyed Surgeon-General
Hamilton has laid the country under new
obligation by furnishing means to remove this
barrier effectually and without inflcting hard
ships. lie has approved an ordinance, to be
passed by the City Council of Jacksonville,
providing that mattresses, pillows and com
fortsn (by which no doubt he means bed cover
ings stuffed with cotton or DOWN shall be
burned; and he has rendered the passage of
such an ordinance reasonably effective safe
guard by officially announcing that the articles
thus destroyed will be paid for by National
authority. 1t is his opinion that everything
else can be made harmless by disinfection. The
ordinance proposes suitable penalties for the
possession or concealment Of infected articles,
and makes the local authorities responsible for
the enforcement of the sanitary regulations
thus prescribed.
1t is plain that these measures of safety
should be most vigorously and conscientiously
applied and that The articles destroyed should
be fairly appraised and promptly paid for. 1t
is essential to demonstrate at the outset that
punishment and recompense will be meted out
with equal strictness and with absolute I'M
partially. Otherwise suspicion and misunder-
standing will be engendered, and ignorance
will fnd an opportunity to spread contagion
through the country. The North is directly
interested in this matter, because the disease
may be brought to our very doors by refugees,
and in our furnace-heated houses some one of
the many infected articles may introduce the
scnnrgn under favorable conditions.