Year: 1873

THE FEVER AND HIS LESSON.


1t will be seen from the official NOR
tuary report that the total deaths yester-
day were as sffty-oneto sixty-two theday
before. a adeerease ofeleven. There is also,
it will be seen, a decrease of ten in the
number Of deaths by yellow-fever. For
this we are devouily thankful. Any
abatement Of the dreadful scourge, how
ever small, furnishes occasion for earn
est, prayerful thanks to God. We have
been feSrfully visited, and the end is
not yet. Since the thirteenth |
o, o,Ssptember, just one short month ago,
we have lost nine hundred and serenity |
So, souls, representing every age and |
condition of life. Nearly seuea hundred
OF them by yellow-fever. This is pay
ing fearful penalty, truly, for supine-
ness, ignorance and want of proper !
organization to cope with disesse in any
form that is possible to become epidemic. |
1t is paying dearly to learn that no
amount of money for the pres
.ervatiOn Of the public health is TO be
weighed in the scales against
human life; and that a board of
health, composed, as the present
is, Of energetic, brave and discreet men,
is better worth to US one hundred thou
sand dollars than the executive and leg
isIative branches of the city government
together. We can hardly credit the fact
now, by the baIeful light of the epi-
demic, that but a few days ago
members OF the general council,
unable to comprehend the possibilities
of the fever, higgled over an appro-
priation of ten thousand dollars, and
gave vent to much feeling over the pos
sibIe cost, over that amount, of the board
of health. And yet so it is. Where
is thSt ten thousand dollars now, and
where the numerous ten thousands
poured in upon US SO generously from
every part of the Union? Nearly all ex-
pended for the sick and the needy, and
more has already been called for. The
NssOns are out Of money and means,
aud so are the Odd-FeIlows, and other
equally benevolent organizations can
only look into a nearly depleted treasury.
1t is safe to say that almost one hundred
thousand dollars have been expended the /
past thirty days, and that it will take
another one hundred thousand TO pro-
vide for future demands. Our orphans
are without clothing, and as Inspector
O'BannOn has wisely commenced
to burn the infected bedding and
clothing Of the poor, it will be
necessary for US to replace them |
and continue to tax ourselves, and
perhaps even the God-blessed friends |
who have helped us from othercities, in


order 10 prevent deaths by starvation


and destitutiOn. Indeed, We are not sure
that the visitation and its dreadful
consequences will not justify the COVER
nor in calling the legislature together in


extraordinary session to make an sppro-
priation to help US in this our hour Of
greatest necessity. We remem-
Der that in Wisconsin tLis was
done when that State was
overrun by fire, and her people were
left destitute. We cannot now enume-
rate the number of children that have
been left fatherless, in some cases pa
rentless. Those who know something
about it say they are over
three hundred. If 50, our friends
and our citizens can realize
the magnitude Of cur losses, sUfierings
and condition. As we have before said,
this is a fearful lesson at a terrible price.
1t is one not likely to be forgotten. And
yet we have not told the half There re-
main to be considered, when present
horrors have passed away, the demorsli-


zation Of the community, the disturb
anoe Of all the economies of life, the loss
Of trade and the tendency that frequent
fright and scare has toward unlOosiDg
the hold our city has upon its
people, begetting a feeling Of in
difference as to any future in connection
with it. We do not expect these things
to be thought Of to-day. Sufficient for
the day is the evil thereof But it is
well to put them on record here as sug-
gestive Of the cost of ignorance
in and out of office, the blunder-
ing of inespseity, and the pen
ny-wise aud ro~rd foolish economy
that has charGcte. ized the conduct OF
our local government in regard to the
very lives of our citizens. We must
bear it in mind, and never forget it, that


a vigorously administered board Of
health is Of infinitely more consequence
to Memphis than the general council
and all the city officers together. That's
the lesson Of to-day.


rHE WASHINGTON FRACAs.


Our Washington dispatches Of last