The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-09-26
~ A1rrHoRIrY,s VIEWs.

| Of the disease obtaining a firm fOothold.
| DR.. ]. Touatre. who obtained his diploma
| In Paris. France, and who after serving
/ in tho French navy, has practiced here
/ for thirty years or more, nn1 is consider
| ed an expert. diagnoses the situation as
| follows:
at IS an error 10 suppose that yellow
| fever spreads rapidly after its first ap-
/ pearance. Ike the grip. cholera, the
| plague. and other contagious diseases. or
| that many people fall Immediately a vic
/ tim 90 Il. Experience proves that II
/ takes time before st forms its focl and
/ becomes infectious and epidemic.
'If we study the history Of all the cpl
| denies within the past fifty years, or
| between 1917 and 1897. one law IS evident,
| viz. That between the first case Of yell
| low-fever and the time when the disease
| becomes infectious and is declared epi-
I domic on account Of the large number Of
| cases and Of deaths. there is a lapse Of
! from one and a half 20 two months.
"The first case in the epidemic Of 1853.
/ the most deadly we have experienced, Was
/ traced TO May %. In June there were
4 thirty-one deaths; but it was only IN
| July, that IS two months later, that the
disease became epidemic.
! "In 1853 there was another epidemic;
/ the first case was discovered on June 3D.
| in July there were twenty-nine deaths
and in August, or again two months after
| the discovery OF the first case, IL was de-
! clared epidemic.
In 1867 the first case appeared on June
"a. July showed II cases. August %. Az
ter the first month II was declared cpl
demic
THE fourth and last serious epidemics
| occurred IN 1878 The first case was notic-
/ ed May I'd. There was not single death
I'm June, in July there were so deaths.
/ only in August or three months after its
| first appearance was the disease declar-
| cd epidemic.
AN EPIDEMIC IMPOSSIBLE.
"On the other hand, the history OF al
/ the epidemics since 1871 proves that they
! decreased with the first cold weather IN
| October, and disappeared almost COM
pletely in November If tho present at
tack Of yellow fever follows the same
| law-and there IS no foundation upon
| which 10 base an exception-an epidemic
| IS simply impossible The first case was
| discovered on september 9th; add one
month and a half for incubation to form
/ infectious foci. and we come TO the latter
part OF October when an epidemic must
| cease.
'The disease at present IS OF a very
| mild character All the children suffer-
ing from # have recovered except two,
and one Of these had relapse from care
Iessness. Patients sufferings from black
vOmit have recovered, which, as exper-
fence teaches, indicates a very light at
tack. In 1867 all the patients who vomit-
ed, died"
Thus argues a physician who Is coLsid-
cred an authority by members OF his pro-
| ression will add these lists Of deaths
in New Orleans, promising that the one
OF 1897, gives the mortality from all
! causes:
week ending September 3. 1S1S, deaths,
I 593: week ending September 10, 1873, deaths,
/ 1862; week ending September p, 1873,
deaths, 7O2 total, ?, 057; week ending Sep
tember 4. 1897, deaths. 6l; week ending
| september II. 1897, deaths 1oi week crd-
/ ing September is, 1897, deaths, JOS; total
273.
thus far have attempted to establish:
/. That the prevailing panic Is unwar-
I ranted.
2. That there is no epidemic; and
3 That the Individual cases Of yellow
fever are Of a very mild character.
trust that my investigation as to the
origin of the panic will prove interesting.
DON'T MENTION TT.
have stated before my reasons why
| concluded 10 20 on TO New Orleans IN
face of the frightened feeling / had an
| onportunity TO look over the files or
| local paper covering May, June ana July'
| ISIS. and / found that during that time no
mention was made Of yellow FEVER. rms
strong corroboration Of my opinion leu
To the following:
when the existence Of yellow fever in
the state was first admitted the press,
trusting TO the ability Of the authorities
o stamp II out gave due prominence TO
the reports as a matter Of news. FROM
the larger dailics these reports were
copied I'm the smaller papers, and other
reDorts began TO como In OF suspected
cases which were often contradcted on
tne following day The newspapers con-
tanning column upon column or yellow
fever reports. the moro timid grew
frightened. made hurried preparations
and left Example in such cases is as
coutacious-f not more sO-as the dis
ease itself, and the exodus became
stampede. This compelled the authorities
TO act.
They would mast likely have been ac-
cused OF neglect Of duty if they had not
taken the matter up. and their action nee
cssarily increased tho alarm. 1 am no
horo-at least. not 10 my knowledge-and
am no fonder than any other man OF oX-
posing myself TO q contagious disease
especially when it has the bad reputation
| Of yellow feNer-pul / am as CAIN ana
comfortable here as I would be were
now in your city
BUSINESS DEMORALIZED.
The effect upon New orleans IS espe-
clauy deplorable. Trade was reWving
business was picking up, when this most
! unfortunate setback came, which
| promises 20 be @ sore inhicuon
upon her business men.
This city carries on considerable trade
with European countries. tho West In
dies and South America. 1t is also the
ontrepot for an extensive territory North
and West. Louisiana, Mississippi, part
of Alabama and Of Texas obtain their
supplies here. That trade, for the time
being. is ruined. The people Of the smaller
towns. especially Of Mississippi and Ala
| bama. really seem to have gone dart.
| They must consider New orleans verita-
hle pest hole If they can be held account
able for the measures adopted against
| communication with this city.
one man writes TO q leading morning
| paper:
Don't send me the paper while this
| epidemic lasts. 1 will pay for It, but
don't send the paper"
His request. which is one out OF many.