The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-17
TIE FLORIDA LESSON.
The Situation ne Jacksonville Discussed
by DIR. Joseph Holt.

Clil uutN III lllc ucallll department OF the
State by no means implies any loss Of ear.
nest solicitude in affairs concerning the
public welfare, especially in relation TO
matters of so grave importance as those in
volving the possibility Of pestilential in
yasion.
As citizen, alive to personal interest
which is inseparable from the general good
as affecting not only Louisiana, but all of
the gull and neighboring interior States,
feel as deeply concerned as when bur-
dened with official responsibilities. For
this reason and rom q sense OF duty, | am
impelled TO address you this letter where
in ! propose TO review briefly the
history and call attention TO the aspect
OF the yellow fever outbreak in Florida,
believing that the calamity which has be.
fallen our good neighbors teaches pre-
cous lesson for future good II properly ap.
preciated aud its warning needed.
In addition to this, and knowing that
their methods OF protection employed are
hopelessly futile, not to say absurd and in
| furious, | desire also 10 suggest to the Citi-
zens OF Florida line OF sanitary action
which claims at least the merit Of being
lll
! the experience OF the Louisiana board of
| health successful.
II became my duty Mt one time. antici.
| pating the present disaster, 10 watch closely
the conduct Of the health officials and
others concerned in the quarantine and
health management OF those places in
Florida associated with the introduction
and subsequent appearance of yellow fever
in that state, and now make the charge,
holding In my possession the specifications
10 prove that the fearful distress which has
come upon the people Of Florida land no
better people exist ON this contincntl u
the direct result OF combination OF Igno.
rance, sclishness and concealmcnt, the
ultimate consequence OF a seryile subOrdi
nation to the interests Of a railroad and
steamship line. Florida finds today the
lives OF her citizens, and before she is done
with this, millions Of dollars sacrificed 10 9
railroad and steamship line and 10 petty
local trade interests not worth a uthc o
the value OF one human life.
Knowing the origin Of the yellow fever
In Florida il is eXasperating beyond meas
ure 20 contemplate the mischief that h be-
ing wrought and the exaggerated terror Ia
which every State In the south stands al
this moment ON account Of the hardihood
negligence and deception, both 10y sup
preston OF facts aud direct denial, and al
Tor motives Of pure sclii,hncss.
The present trouble was clearly iorcscci
and warning given, with the effect Of ia
yolying n contumacious and rcscntiul ~
ply from the health authority Of Tampa
Into which town the pcstilcncc was intro
duccd about the 2Oth Of May last year
through a quarantine such ~ would hay,
disgrIccd the fourteenth century.
The circumstances Oi It's introduction
were announced 10y newspaper editor u
that place, and the same was promptly dc
MED and the newspaper man roundl'
abused and called liar by the quaraniin,
doctor In another local paper. 4 lew week
) later the mmor OF spreading pcstilenc
began 10 ny dick aud Inst, when this sam
quarantine official walked upthc world ON
morning with the announcement d
twenty cases, after the fashion ul maj
I determined 10 tell the truth aud nOihin
but the truth.
II l. TO be- presumed that the twcni
cases occurred during the night, while u,
the quarantine doctor, was In bed uslccI
OF course, this special communication
: hold ~ tclCgraphic and other press new.
1 We next hear Of the disease In Manalc,
\ Plant City and other small places au
/, ncishborhoods, but with such iniunmaiio
always prompt and positive denial.
Later In the season the physicians
y Florida assembled inJacksunyillc with ti
= view Of formulating some plan oi gcncr
= protection The Tampa quarantine Ollie,
!. was promptly but la a lengthy article,
4 which lac severely scored the flurd
!. physicians, ignoring their efforts and di
/: iiuctly intimating IN them 10 mind the
]. own business, ~ hc would his accordir
4 10 his own notion and pleasure.
n During the remainder oi the season ar
|. from time 10 time since the beginning
q spring We have received intelligence
% yellow fever still holding on in Plant Ci
!. and other points In that part oi the Stat
q and also tie information that every cll0
n was being made to conceal the facts i
II cause Il would injuW business and sea
J. away visitors.
4 Not ono time did we hear oi q dct,
mined effort boldly 20 expose thc irstcn
danger, and by LAYING Il open 81 apply
telligoutly then and there the SURE gvfmi
N ical agents offered by modern sanitary n
:. cnco. NO account came 90 us Of the isp
}. ton Of cases aud the treatment Of oil b.
IA ding, apparel and premises With layi
M use Of tie solution OF bichlorilo u m
AZ curry, aud oi rooms treated with sulphl
NO. Gus iumigation.
n Nothing worthy oi a name was 10
ks and nothing but cOncoalmcnt was aiiem
o. cd.
When the news came that the disc
had reached jacksonville, was anyone p
pnsCd2 Could any other result have b,
10 looked Tor? Aud when the disease
Ic. break ont In jacksonville, did not
NJ ubiquitous distinguished surgeon "
n. promptly appear 10 deny u, robhing
"A, people Of the only chance Of salvation
he a timely enforcement Of the necessary !
MT cautions, as In n case at least suspici0
This principle applies 10 diphihcria
other infections NJ well as yellow few,
Il Il not fearful 30 see n whole n
en- plunged into temporary ruin, aud the
I'm tire country put In jeopardy oi the u
~ dangerous kind through wrctchod IN
.ct, onccs, such M have characterized the in
to duciion and course Of yellow ioycl
for Florida7
Look at Jacksonville at this nom
After all that has been discovered
made known 10y Eaniiarians, the coul
I'M flooded with their literature, is Il poss
IN. that We should see In this year 1855 ~,
'cr. wociul exhibition ~ that being cnacte
IL Jacksonville Ia no particular less grOa