The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-19
BRUNSWICK. GA. Dec. 20, 1893.
IN. .Sd3n4nrE ca

Brunswick. GA. Dec. 49, 1893.
d.. r. j. Mum, SdUGHnI6. Ga:
DEAR DoCTOR-I must beg your indulgence for
my procrastiuation in responding to your letter
OF the 18th inst. but, in fact, my professional
duties have so absorbed my entire time, | have
not been able to make on. tabulated state
ment of the malignant fever prevailing here two
summers previous from my case book and in
leu OF same will submit in this communication
the factors causing these summer fevers to as
sumo such fatal type from my observation
and experience.
We baYe, in common with other cities and
towns, the mild type OF remttent fevers, run
ing their course, In many cases, without serious
complications, and ending with convalesCence
from fourteen 10 tweuty-one and thirty days
During the summer of 1890 there was an ex-
cessive rainfall for two months duly and Au-
Sust), saturatlng the soil, and causing a rapid
and vigorous growth or vegetation. This condi-
ton was succeeded in September by very
warm, dry period, causing decaying vegetable
matter to disseminate malaria; producing dis
tnct types OF intermittent fever
Our municipal government very ignoranty
and unwisely permitted extensive uptuFning Of
virgin soil in Windsor park (the property of q
private company, booming" their real estGte
interests here The result of such excavations
here was cases of hemorrhagic and congestive
levers, terminating fatally in my practice.
clearly and undoubtedly traced TO this upturn-
ing OF saturated soil to the hot sun, eliminating
all It's paIldal causes.
This observation of cause and effect as to dis
WI biuE JuS SOIL curing Jlb QbaLeQ term was
continued by me in 1891 and the present year
with the same unvarying results, clearly demon
strating to my mind the great danger of ex-
tensive and injudicious disturbing Of soil in our
southern climate during the heated summer
months (hay to NovemOerL Our city govern
ment, In their zeal for public improvements
mot seeing anything deeterious IN disturbing
pure sand) ignored the ordinance governing the
turning of soil during the summer months, and
the board of health found it necessary to get
out restraining order from the court forbid
ding the city from further excavation, ETC., and
since that date our city has been remarkably
exempt from severe forms of fever. In con-
cluslon l wish to say, ia my close and personal
observation Of our summer fevers that they
are intensified by extensive soil excavation and
diminished by its cessation with as marked Ger
tdtnty as the fall OF high temperature from
an untipyretic.
AS to Smelling streets, no I'll effect has been
experienced from that source, as all of the ex-
tensive boulevRrds were done in winter months
might add there was much cutting away OF
chapRrr8l and underbrush on the peninsula
point of our suburbs ia the summer of 1890
This was allowed to remain on the ground for
some time before burning, and observed cases
of intermittent fever about that period which
had not prevailed before.
This was in May, 1890, and the excavation or
grading of Windsor park was continued through
the entire summer. The severe types of fever
occurred in August and september in locality
adjacent to park
Not being a statstician, regret nv inability
to furnish you histories of these cases, which
would require much time to run through my
books, hunt them out and write them up.
hope these crude details may be- of service
to you. Iremain, very truly and sincerely,
HUGH BURFoRD.
OFFICE HEALTH OFFICER.