The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-03
THOMAS JEFFERSON on YELLOW
FEVER.
Likewise on the Sanitary Responsibilities
OF the City OF Now Orleans.

TO THE EpiTon or THE SUS.-'Sir: Yellow
fever t"Gebre amarilla." famillarly eaiieo
"vomlto negro" by the Spanish speaking
inhabitants Of the Antilles and the trop.ca.
countries to the south OF us). made 'ts hrs'
appearance In North America In 1850. raVasms
Boston during the summer OF that year: ~
subsequently visited New York and phiia-
delphla. especially In 1903 and 1897. the iattei
city having suffered later than 1922. Ana
this. be 1t remembered was be fore the advent
OF the Stepomyid fasc,atd and the discovery
OF above the frost line." which lnsures I'M
munity to this part OF our country.
A strange coincidence is noted by those
familiar with yellow fever epidemcs OF New
Orleans. which have occurred at stated IN
tervals. viz, 1883. 1867. 1878 and 1905. that
invariably they have broken out In the Same
section Of the "Old French Town" that caused
the immortal Jefferson when President. In
December, 1904. to write as follows to Gov.
Claiborne.
The position Of New Orleans certainly dost,nes
Il 70 he the greatest city the world has ever seen.
There Is no spot on the globe TO which the produce
OF 90 treat an extent Of fertile country must neces
sarily come II Is three times greater than that
on the eastern side OF the Alleghanies. which u
10 be divided among all the seaport towns OF the
Atlantic States. In the middle and northern parts
OF Europe. where the sun rarely shines. they may
safely build cities In solid blocks without general
Ing disease but under the cioudless skies Of Amer
lea, where there u constant an accumulation
OF heat, men cannot DO piled on one another With
impunity.
Accordingly. ws nnd this disease yellow fever,
confined to the solid built parts OF our towns ana
the parts on the watersde. where there Is most
matter for putrefaction bus rarely extending into
the thnly built parts Of the towns. and mover Into
the country. In these latter places cannon %
communicated. In order TO catch u you NV" 90
into me local atmosphere phere prevails Is not
tnAi 4 hat Wa
10 contend with the laws Of nature. but should
decide at once that all cities shall be thin oult'
After these Introductory observations.
Jefferson expressed the opinion that In build
ing cities In the United States the people
should take the checkerboard for their plan.
leaving the white squares open and unbuiit
forever and planted with trees. He observed
to Clalborne:
As 1t is probable that New Orleans must soon
be enlarged enclose you this same plan for con-
the yso. SsFG prs~a il The
this would be like the thin built parts Of our towns.
~ af.! ss.ssiss !: I. Ioea' 'ss'o", SI ca"
perity 81 New Orleans should be unchecked. and
great faith, founded / think on experience, In tho
soad not e CON- s
sao.s more Interested should mink :. i.ySIsSly
Of xS SS Fer Sssu ). and
In the italicized passages OF the letter OF
Jefferson quoted above we have the very
nub Of the present day dictum, that the dis
ease Is INFECTIOUS only in the locality where
one whS hss passed t tlh5oueh .o three
With ne al the tights hts q sosntc
research into the cause and effect Of disease
s brs se sn he and
the medical profession In the last twenty
aSs sesils san New oreans The
Tins Of yellow fever are far less In numbers
sR th9ss # p hos oses 1:ptsa. as
eases prevalent In the Northern. Eastern and
Western States at certain seasons Of the year.
in s any epidemic. and they are Beyond reckon
any ,bsS sms n hs to c Ts%na
Orleans, shossh r. Frequency Soia
Utter the isst malignant Visitation. IN 1873.
ths Crescent ely adopted risid and ss
sssd the sns aot systsm 1amed FOR he
dIstlpeuishsd Southern Physicisp scien u 81
the adoption OF this system OF quarantine
the barriers OF strict quarantine enforcement
shown show az and proven that the germ Of, yellow
fever Is not indigenous to her alluyial soil;
brought to her because her eff. officials and
city and State boards Fl health have siSnaai ay
quarters OF the city OF New Orleans by a
system Of tene ment house inspection similar
to those Of most OF our large cities and sub.
jecting shipping from infected ports to rigid
quarantine regulations, which are the only
salutary means OF avoidance. r. 4. N.
NEW YORK, Aug. I.