The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-06-18
Early Oyerfows and Epidemics.

Early Overtiows and Epidemics.
The following information in reference
to overfows of former years. and the
yellow fever epidemics in Alexandria dur
ing that same period, we find in a letter
written from here by G. 3. D. Anderson.
NJ. D., to DR.. ChsilIe, of New Orleans,
and published in the Medical and Surgical
Journal, of that city:
ALEXANDRIA, La,
April LIST, 1889.
DIR. CHA1LLE: Dear Sir.-Your inter-
rogator,es in regard to the history OF yell
low fever at this place, and its connec-
tons, if any, with its foundations, re-
ceived my particular attention, and
have elected the following reliable lnfor-
nation:
There have been ten epidemics of this
disease in Alexandria, the first occurring
in 1919; since which time Alexandria has
been six times inundated. The years OF
yellow fever were 1919, '22, ~, 81, 49,
'39, al, '53, '54, '56. The six years in
which overAows occurred were 1928 in
May; 1885 [partal overfow] in May;
1874, in September; 1919, in August; 1851
in March and April; 1858, in February,
March and partially in april.
The epidemic of 1899 was considered
by DR.. Dudley an epidemic of violent
gastritis and not of yellow fever. And
DR.. S. A. Smith, one of our ablest physi-
clans, thought the disease which pre-
va lied in 1854 was dengue, in which he
was, however, at variance with his pro-
fessional colleagues here.
In 1919 the population of Alexandria
was about 500, and is at present three
times as great. am not aware that any
meteorological observations were made
during the prevalence of our epidemics.
In 1S47, yellow fever for the first time at
tackled negroes, among whom there was
one death and the epidemic of 1853 diff
fered from its predecessors in that it
spread from the town into the country,
prevailing in the pinewoods as we'll as in
the low or "bottom" lands. In one fami-
ly, living in what is here known as the
"Cotile Pinewoods," there were sixteen
cases. The disease did not, however in
tins case spread to the neighboring
houses.
!. In 1855 there occurred some interesting
, facts, which deserve record in the his
tory of this disease. In this year it pre-
vailed at the house of John j. Irwin, who
resided in the pinewoods Of this Parish
!, TRapides] on Gray's Creek, some seven,
teen miles north of Alexandria. On the
night of the 18th of September, 1855, 9
!, Mr.. Griffin, accompanied by his wife
called at Mr.. Twins. They had been or
visit to their son, who was i'll of yellow
! fever at Point Meagher, about twenty
. five miles below Alexandria, OH Red Xiv
er. When they arrived at Mr. Twins
}. Mrs. G. complained of being very mucl
fatigued [having ridden about fort.
miles1, but was not otherwise indisposed
. The next morning she had fever, and wa
so unwell that she had to be conveyed
- home, about fifteen miles, in carriage
"a She did not leave Mr.. Irwin's until abOu
a 10 o'clock q. M. In the mean time sh
+. had pallet spread on the floor. Thi
20 pallet was not the bed or mattress %
!. which she had slept the previous night
Is A short time after Mrs. Griffin had lei
y Mr.. Irwin's, o. p. Alexander, the son-il
! law of Mr. Irwin, called at MIR. Irwin
es house. Tho pallet on which Mrs. G. la
ID been lying was still on the floor. Will
out knowing that Mrs. G. had been lyin
q there, lie laid down on the pallet to rel
for a short time. He went home, di
~ lance of about one and half miles, an
a. did not complain of being ,ndisposed III
n. til the morning of the 29th of Septembe
n when, on rising from his bed, he said !
II felt tired. About II o'clock a. NJ. tn
u same day, he had chill. This was fo
of lowed by violent fever. Gu Tuesda
We October 4th, his wife observed sma
II. dark "spots or specks" in the matt
vomited. On the following night I'll
5th of October after having thrown
considerable quantities Of black vom1
he died. Ebout the same time Mrs. Gr
on fin died at her own house.
ur On the morning of the 9th of Septer
gu Der, one of Mrs. Irwin's daughters, abo
So twelve years old, was taken i'll, and I
il the following day younger sister W
th also taken with the same disease. Eve
:; ~ member of Mr.. TWINS family, eight
to number, were now successfully attacke
t." In addition, his son-in-law, B. j. Gore
es his wife and father, E. Evans, q neig
Far Dor, man by the name Of Wilkins, WI
was living with Mr.. Irwin and his mot
err, and Mrs. Alexander aud child. I
nd whole number of cases was nineteen.
IN. these, five-that is to say, Mr.. Irwin al
,es wife, Mr.. Alexander, Mr.. Wilkins a.
Mrs. Griffin, terminated fatally.
What is remarkable in this epidemic
that it did not spread from Mr.. Irwi1
house. None took it but those who vi
ted Irwin's. Mrs. Griffin went home a
~. ~ died, without any of her attendants ia
40, ing it. Mr.. Alexander went home a