The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-18


The present open winter has caused the
health authorities OF various Southern
cities to get au earnest move on them and
TO enlist their minds in plans for safety
and convenience during the coming sum
mer.
In the event OF q recurrence Of yellow
fever in Florida when the hot weather
shall return, what shall the harvest be?
At the recent meeting of the Tennessee
State Board OF Health the question OF ways
and means to obtain freedom from 1t for
the State was earnestly discussed. The
board resolved to have bill looking to
the creation of fund ample for any pos
sble demands introduced into the Legis-
lature and pushed through, II possible
Then came the proposition from the
president of the Louisiana State Board
OF Health TO hold meeting OF the
various Southern State Health Boards,
in order that there might be harmony
and concert of action among them should
the emergency arise. DIR. Plunkett, Presi'
dent OF the Tennessee Board, was in
structed 20 attend the meeting, and advo-
cate Montgomery, Ala, rs against Jack
sonyile, Fla, as the place for its holding.
This movement was doubtless set atoot
| because OF the remote possibility OF Con.
grcss taking any steps to control the
scourge should it reappear in Florida, and
perhaps elsewhere in the South.
There has been some concern over tho
| idoness OF health authorities in dsposing
of supposed sources OF danger ut Decatur,
Ala. The majority OF sanitarians are Of
opinion that distinction should be vigor-
| ously pursued, and infected articles, such
rs would conceal the germs OF disease
and send them forth alive and active
so soon as hot weather returns de-
stroyed by fire. Pursuing this theory,
letters were addressed TO DIR. Jerome
Cochran, health officer Of Alabama, sug-
costing that some steps OF this kind should
be taken before too late to be OF value
DIR. Cochran doesn't seem TO be built that
way. The theory may be good one, but
hc doesn't think so, and has written let
ter expressing his convictions on the sub
jcct in unmstakable terms. The Doctor
is not q believer in the Information theory,
not by d. =. lie cites the experience Of
| Memphis in 1859, when lac was here,
and remembers they were "a severe win
tiers rs We have seen for many day,
though he admits his inability to trace the
introduction OF the fever in 1879, notwi,h-
standing his six weeks Of labor 10 do 80.
Dr. Cochran concludes his surprising let
ter with the statement that "thc greatest
OF all disiniectants, frost, has appeared,
and did more good in one night than all OF
Surgcon-Goncral Ilamil.on's disiniecters
could do in a MONTH"
There Is a wcll-defned conviction
among the health men that Florida will
not escape the plague this year, and with
them the contemplation IL serious one.
IL Tennessee TO 90 through the same ex.
pcrience she wrostlcd with last summer!
II so, is her Board Of Health to be-
hampored rs then by shameful scarcity
of funds2 These are questions which the
Board proposes TO bring fairly before the
Legislature, and give the members no
chance 10 escape the responsibility i'm
posed upon them. As 10 what Mcmphans
think OF these advance safeguards, even
though there exists q feeling OF security,
there can be- little doubt But rs a learned
physician expressed il 10 an ArrEAL re-
porter yesterday, referring 10 the tickle.
ness thoroughly disclosed a few month,
since. their views OF January II may not
harmonize with those Of September II. VI
That's about the size OF IL; for iickcneS
Memphis Is equal TO any school girl.