Evening star., 1934-01-14

IN 1861.
THE worst cholera epidemic here occurred IN
1882. when, according to the recollection
Of IN old-tmef, 20 many died that the dead
carts were driven around the streets and ave-
nues every morning. The drivers blew horns
tuss - the garbage cart drivers do now, but the
solemn cry, bring out the dead re-echoing
every feW minutes, was something different.
An Of t4e phases Of human nature developed
y historical disasters were exempined here =
Referring to the scourge at the time, the
National ntellgencer tells US that It was started
among . large number Of Irish and German
IMMIGRANT hborers who came here to macadam-
Ue Pennsyivania avenue and to work on the
canal and to dig trenches for water pipes.
They were housed In miserable huts and IN the
middle Of August Asiatic cholera broke out among
them The city at this time, We are told, Was
entirely without hospital facilities, except the
mnImary o( the Poor House ct Seventh and M
streets northwest. which was poorly equipped
ana q very limited capacity. As things became
more alarming three hospitals were opened in
leased dwellings: one, called the Western Hos
patal, In double brick house ON the south side
Of N street between Eighteenth and Nineteenth
streets; another. the Central Hospital, was
opened in house on the west side of Tenth
street. about opposite the gas once, and re-
NAMED there until moved to the site Of Harvey's
Restaurant, Eleventh street and Pennsylvania
avenue; the third one, the Eastern Hospital, was
On the west side OF Fourteenth street between
street and Potomac avenue southeast.
Dr.. William B. Magruder who many years
Aser became mayor Of the city, was then q
young physician, II years old. He was placed
m charge o6 the Western Hospital at the call
q the citizens. And here, 1t Is said, he re-
mained and did his duty when the other doctors
of the neighborhood had fed. "And he not
only prescribed for the patients but he stayed
m the hospital and helped to nurse them. al
the while making study Of the disease. And
whenever his great frame was overcome With
fatigue he would actually lie down ON the beds
beside the sufferers to rest and sleep. He made
record there As avery successful cholera doc
eof ana still higher place IN the respect and
adec1on Of the community. Subsequently he
went to Cincinnati, Ohio to assist in similar
epidemic and, after working unusually hard
was himself attacked by the dreaded disease.
Realizing his condition he went to the home Of
hb friend. the wife Of Col. Taylor, ct Newport,
KY where he was nursed In accordance with
directions he wrote out for her before he was
compelled to take to his bed"
A/E. Who today may feel our liberties ere
encroaehed upon, might take consolation
from the fact that they are not near 80 limited
as they would be, Or could be, during an
Epidemic such - the one of 1882 At that time
the sale of liquor was prohibited for q period of
30 days. The introduction OF seafood was NOT
allowed. - were nearly all classes Of vegetables
ana frutts and public theatrical performances
and religious gatherings during the evening
were prohibited.
The epidemic reached its height in the early
part Of September, when between 10 and is
deaths were reported each day, though probably
double this number were actually victims of the
disease. The total number Of deaths reported
md some were not reported-was 459, Of which
s6e were males and 100 females; 251 we're white
md 206 colored The highest mortality ap-
peared In those ranging tn age from 30 to 20
years. The population Of Washington In 1880
Vas 1887
In this connection it might also be interest,"
ng to refer to an act of Congress, passed Feb
uary Is, 17es which provides for just such .
'ondition as occurred here in 1882, and espe-
Tally Tor more imperative condition such A.
existed In Philadelphia . few years before the
vet was passed. and where Congress met under
he Constitution, from December 8, 1890, -
Nay IA, 1900. The act reads:
In case Of the prevalence Of . contagious o.
fddemical disease at the seat Of Government,
t shall be lawful for the President Of the