USA > Tennessee > Shelby County > Memphis > A history of the yellow fever : the yellow fever epidemic of 1878, in Memphis, Tenn., embracing a complete list of the dead, the names of the doctors and nurses employed, names of all who contributed money or means, and the names and history of the Howards, together with other data, and lists of the dead elsewhere > Part 48
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#Dr. E. D. Dickson, at present physician to the British Embassy at Constantinople, ina re- cently prepared paper on the plagne which again recently afflicted Russia, says, "that it began to appear in the autumn, continued through the winter, and reached its acme of intensity in the spring, and diel out suddenly during the summer season. During the prevalence of the plague the thermometer ranged between five and thirty degrees, and as the thermom- eter increased from thirty to forty-five the epidemic began to diminish. The symptoms -its glandular swelling-, attacks of carbuneles, sanguineous diarrhea, convulsive shakes -were described in detail, and in regard to its treatment it was pointed out that there was no instance on record of plagne having been cut short by the administration of sul- phate of quinine. With regard to the contagion, Cabiadis who had had much personal experience, held that the atmosphere which surrounded a person affected with the disease was the true medium of transmission. With regard to the etiology of the plague, Dr. Dickson acknowledged that the origin of plagne, and the causes that brought it into activity, were utterly unknown, and he disputed the idea that marsh-miasm might be the exciting cause of it. The proximate cause which predisposed an attack of plagne during an epidemic outbreak was poverty, and it was styled miseride morbus. The wealthy were hardly ever attacked. The prophylactic measures to be taken were the isolation of the sick, the destruction by fire of their clothes, the whitewashing with lime, and the free ventilation of their domiciles. The cordon sanitaires were regarded as valuable in check- ing the extension of the outbreak of the plague ; but the practice adopted in Bagdad of shutting up persons smitten in their houses was condemned as leading to concealment, and helping to intensify and propagate the evil it was intended to mitigate.
325
A HISTORY OF THE YELLOW FEVER.
body, which gradually dwindled with the progress of the epidemic until it was governed by only two of the survivors, made provision for the camps to which so many owe their lives, policed the city, maintained the military organ- izations, and sustained the city government, which was reduced to the mayor or acting mayor and comptroller. Only heroic measures will do in such an emergency, and only by the most arbitrary will, guided by the best intel. ligence can it override the fear and dread that sits on every heart ; only a supreme power can bring order out of chaos and compel obedience by the citizen to laws which are enforced for his own safety. But better than this terrible necessity, this last resort, is the ounce of prevention that may kill the causes and so prevent an epidemie of yellow fever. This will be found in the active intervention. as has already been stated, of national, State, and local boards of health, composed of sanitarians* who have experience in all that concerns human life in large cities. As the Homeopathic Commission suggests, they " would enforee the frequent emptying and disinfection of water closets, sewers, and all places containing putrescent matters, vegetable or animal. They would see that no sacks of decaying coffee, or chaff in rice pits, or dead animals, or any offensive matter was left exposed, so as to poison the atmosphere. They would prevent, so far as possible, the destruction of trees, and in every way encourage their planting and growth. Above all, they would forbid the upturning of the soil during the spring and summer months, as epidemics of yellow fever have followed such upturning at New Orleans, Natchez, and Vicksburg, in such a manner as very strongly to suggest that the relation of cause and effect existed between this exposure of the earth and the develop- ment of the disease." They would see that cities were properly drained, that the gutters were regularly flushed with fresh water, that the water-works system itself was a prime source of health, and, that the ashes, garbage, vegetable
# Dr. J. P. Drake, of Nashville, a distinguished homeopathist, in this connection. suggests that : " What the people of this age and country desire, is not the aggrandize- ment of any set, sect, or school of medical men, but such a knowledge of the yellow fever and of Asiatic cholera, and other destructive epidemic diseases, as may enable them to prevent their visitations, orovercome their attacks, by any means, orthodox or het- erodox, new or old, in the hands of physician, nurse, or friend. Since the grocer-boy and afterward philanthropist, John Howard, and not a titled and arrogant doctor of med icine, inaugurated the great prison-reform of the world ; and since the gentle Florence Nightingale, and not an epauletted surgeon-general, led the greatest of all improvements in the sanitary arrangements of army life; and since our own Miss Dix, and not a titled medical superintendent, revolutionized the management of asylums for the insane, every worker among sanitary facts, whether titled or untitled, 'regular or irregular,' man or woman, must have a recognition and a voice in the health and life-saving efforts of the public. The arrogance and exclusiveness, hitherto displayed by army surgeons and the American Public Health Association, are not in keeping with the beneficial and scientfic character of the work proposed, nor at all calculated to inspire confidence in what they may say or do. When they enter the arena where stricken humanity struggles with the pesti- lence, laying aside all prejudice and all sectarian hatreds, ready to gather facts from all experiences, new or old, and to render praise where praise is due, to this preventive mens- ure or that, this remedy or that, then will their coming be hailed with joy and their efforts be crowned with some degree of success."
326
A HISTORY OF THE YELLOW FEVER.
debris, sweepings of stores and factories, excreta, and offal of whatever nature, was cremated, and so placed beyond the possibility of injury. " Quarantine," says the Homeopathic Commission, "is a delusive security ; home prevention is the great desideratum. Aggregation of human beings is one of the factors of yellow fever. Yellow fever germs always exist in New Orleans, and other cities in a feeble and latent state, waiting to be aroused into activity by some fortuitous combination of some or all the factors necessary to its vitalization. New Orleans is notably the point of its development, and the center of its radi- ating violence. Keep New Orleans in a perfect sanitary condition, and the great valley of the Mississippi is safe. Let it lie in its present state for another generation, and it will become a hot-bed of pestilence, which will dart its baneful influence along the lines of rapid transit, and repeat in St. Louis and Chicago the horrors which befell New York and Philadelphia in the last century."
APPENDIX.
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THANKS TO ALL.
Resolved. That the Howard Association of Memphis, speaking for the dead as well as the survivors of the epidemie of ISS. with hearts overflowing with gratitude. thanks all, every one, who contributedt in any way to the relief of our fever-stricken people, thanks the people of the whole world who, with a generosity unsurpassed, relieved our necessities, and, with a sympathy that never flagged, sustained us in our work.
Unanimously adopted, January 6, 1879.
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APPENDIX.
APPENDED are the Reports of the President, Secretary and Treasurer, Medical Di- rector, and Superintendent of the Nurse Department, of the Memphis Howard Associa- tion, and of the survivor of the two members of the Association --- Gen. W. J. Smith- who went down to Grenada and labored there until nearly the close of the epidemie, their work being continued by Messrs. Coan and Brogan until the end. In present- ing these reports, in justice to them, as well as for. the information of the public, the names of the members and officers of the Howard Association," who served through the epidemic of ISTS, are given as follows :
A. D. Langstaff, President.
W. J. Smith, Ist Vice- Pres. ; J. II. Edmondson, 2d Vice-Pres .; J. H. Smith, Secretary; John Johnson, Treasurer.
" It is deemed proper here to append a synopsis of the report of the work done and receipts and disbursements of the Howard Association of New Orleans during the epidemie of 1-7. The report of the Howard Association, prepared and published in the New Orleans Demeant by the Secretary. Mr. F. B. Southinayd, is a simple, straightforward, business-like account of their work, receipts, and expendi- tures during the yellow fever epi lem.c of the past autumn, but it forins a striking record of the dire. plague's rapid spread and fatal work. and of the boundless generosity that poured into the hands of the Howards great sums of money for their noble work. But if the response to their demands was innnificent. their own deeds provy I them worthy executors of such a trust. They labored with a zval and utter forgetfulness of self that is almost unparalleled in the history of epidemics, yet they are able to show, with all the clearness of a banker's balance-sheet, to what use they put the money con- fidel io their rare. The hope that the fever would be inibi and of short duration was abandoned on the 15th of August, and on the morning of the 17th the New Orienne newspapers published the How- ardis' appeal for help to byrin their work. The same morning their doors were open for the relief of the destitute sick, though they had not then a dollar in the treasury. But their appeal was quickly answered, and, as the fever spreat, funds began to pour in from outside the city and, as days passed, from the whole North and South. Railroads and telegraph lines and steamboats were placed at thei: free disposition ; and their numbers were increased by new members anxious to join the work. The eity of New Orleans was divided into 20 districts, and slates were hung up at convenient points where- on applications from the destitute sick were written Including members and physicians, the work- ing force of the association was 125 men, whose time was entirely devoted to the sick and suffering. The total number of patients cared for by the Howards in New Orleans during the il days of the fever's rage, from Ans. If to Oct. 26, was 22.244; of these 5.1:2 were blacks and 16,112 whites. It should be understood that this does not include all the cases occurring in the city. but only those cared for by die Howards As som. members only reported the first case in many families where there were several cases, the total probably did not fall short of 24.000. Mr. Southinayd's report covers also the country towns and villages of a wide sertion of territory around New Orleans, where assistance was rendered by the Howard. Thus, at Grenada they cared for the cases, at Holly Springs for 9000, at Playnemine and Donaldsonville 1.000 each, and at nearly 50 other places for numbers rang- ing from 10 to $50 The total cases attended outside the city were 11, 750, making the grand total of patients cared for by the New Orleans Howard, 35,750. Not the sick only, but the suffering appealed to their humanity. Fully de ooy destitute prople were provided for by them during the prevalence of the fever. Let the following table, showing the receipts of the Howards of New Orleans, and the sources of the donations, tell the eloquent story of the unstinted giving that equipped them for their work :
New York 8-2,637 01 ' Pittsburg, Penn .. Philadelphia.
$2.925 00 1 Galveston. Texas.
$1.050 00
9.862 40 Milwaukee. Wis.
2.118 45 Richmond. Va
1,035 90
Boston
26.704 20 Indianapolis. Indl
2.400 00 Charle-ton, S. C.
508 48
Chicago 23.024 40 Washington, D. C 2.101 50
Baltimore, Md
160 00
New Orleans
22.220 60
Hartfordi, Conn 1.861 50
Other parts of our coun-
Sin Francisco 20,675 (0)
St. Louis. 7.43 45 . >vannah. Ga 1.500 00
Brooklyn
3.816 00) . Buffalo, N. Y
1.500 00
Paris and France .....
4.750 96
Providence ..
3,525 00
Albany. N. Y. 1.500 00
Havana
1,009 13
Springfield, Mass 3.010 00
Columbus, Ga 1.562 10
Memphis .. 2.716 94
Louisville, Ky 1,275 00
Total $383,419 93
Portland, Oregon 2,500 00 Mobile, Ala 1,140 30 ,
The full table of disbursements given by Secretary Southmayd includes all moneys and supplies used in the city ati sent to points outside. The following condensed table shows the amount of these expetulitures :
Receipts to date
$ 83,449 93
(32J)
Cincinnati .. 1.513 50
117 .- 07 52
Liverpool and London.
7.275 00
330
APPENDIX.
Executive Committee. - A. D. Langstaff, W. J. Smith, J. II. Edmondson, J. II. Smith, John Johnson, W. A. Holt, P. W. Semmes, A. M. Stoddard, F. F. Bowen, T. R. Waring, J. Kohlberg.
Auditing Commillee .- F. F. Bowen, W. J. Smith, J. T. Moss.
Active Members .- A. D. Langstaff,t W. J. Smith, i J. H. Edmondson, J. H. Smith, t John Johnson, A. M. Stoddard,Y J. W. Cooper, f B. P. Anderson," W. D. McCallum,? Louis Frierson,t D. G. Reahardt, t W. S. Rogers, F. F. Bowen, J. G. Lonsdale," E. J. Mansiord,# N. D. Menken, " J. T. Moss, t S. M. Jobe," R. P. Waring, J. Kohlberg, Charles Howard, t J. W. Page, t T. R. Waring, P. W. Semmies, ! W. A. Holt,t E. B. Fos- ter." J. W. Heath," Fred'k Cole, " A. F. C. Cook," W. S. Anderson, f C. L. Staffer, I Win. Finnie.t
Honorary Members .- Dr. Luke P. Blackburn, Louisville, Ky .; Major W. T. Walthall, Mobile, Ala .; P. A. Ralston, Richmond, Va .; S. F. Cameron, Baltimore, Md .; Rev. W. E. Boggs, D. D., f Rev. S. Landrum, D. D., f Rev. E. C. Slater, D. D.,& Capt. P. R. Athey, t J. J. Busby, Memphis, Tenn.
PRESIDENT A. D. LANGSTAFF'S REPORT.
MEMPHIS, January 6th, 1879.
To the Members of the Howard Association, Memphis, Tenn .:
GENTLEMEN,-Since our last quarterly meeting this Association has again been called into active service, to relieve the distressed and fever-stricken people of this city and of the surrounding country. The labors that the members performed during this term of service is well known to us who have survived. In justice, however, to the memory of our brothers who died, and for the information of those who may hereafter become members of our Association. I submit to you the following brief report.
On Sunday morning, August 11th, our city was startled by a series of tele- grams from Grenada. Miss., announcing that yellow fever had broken out there in a malignant form. A telegram to our secretary, from the mayor of Grenada, asking for assistance, met with a ready response. Ile immediately advised with several of our members.
True to the purposes of our Association, true to their records as Howards in the epidemic of 1573. W. J. Smith and Butler P. Anderson promptly volunteered to answer in person this cry of distress. They went by special train. taking with them several nurses and accompanied by Dr. R. F, Brown, Secretary of the Meninhis Board of Health. The telegram that was received from them soon after their arrival in Grenada read as follows: " Yellow fever, and no mistake : sixty cases and five deaths to-day." This intelligence confirmed the report of the morning.
EXPENDITURES.
Howard Association. New Orleans.
.$275.550 15
Other associations, New Orleans
8,451 222 Country points :
.$20,018 50
Ioetors.
. 31.871 95
Nurses
Money and supplies
40,904 01
92,854 45
BALANCES.
$1.800 00
Pittsburg orphan fund.
800 00
Reserved for claims in suits, printing report, etc 10 4زين
3.264 10
Total
Chicago special fund. .........
The amount received un to September 12th, and advires of further sums to come were so numer- ous. that the Association judged it wise to send ont notice theit they were amply supplied. and that no more contributions would be needed. The rapid and meexpected spread of the disease after that Ine, however, compelled other appeals for help. The cad was answered in such a manter as to leave them unfettered for their work, and to allow of their distritoti: g a certain sum among the physicians who had aided them without fee thus far. With a wont of reply to some unmanly calumnies upor. the is- sociation, equally fais, and malicious an i against which they need no defense here at the North. Mr. Southinnya closes his r port by expr sing the gratitude of the Howardis for the divinely inspired charity which enabled them to carry on their work.
* Died of yellow fever during the epidemic of Iss.
t Members who had the fever, during ile epidemie of 15;s, and recovered.
331
APPENDIX.
Monday morning brought more telegrams from Grenada, all telling us the painful news that the disease was spreading rapidly, and asking for more nurses, medical supplies, and disinfectants, which were forwarded at once. Our Association met the same day and took such action as was necessary to render further aid to firenada, if called for, and to provide ways and means to assist any of our own citizens who might be attacked by the disease, a visitation of which was becoming hour by hour more inevitable. While that first meeting was progressing dispatches were received from Smith and Anderson of a still more alarming character than those previously received. Anderson had tried by public speech to quiet the people of Grenada, who were fleeing from their homes as if pursued by a monster ready to devour them. Aided by a few who remained, he and Smith be- gan operations. For a complete report of their operations I refer you to the report of W. J. Smith. How nobly they fulfilled the mission of mercy and charity which they had entered upon, how calmly and earnestly they acted in that trying ordeal, is a very prominent part of the history of the epidemic of 1878. They labored until attacked by the disease. Well do we remember the night when W. J. Smith returned to us on his bed, before rising from which he almost died. Butler P. Anderson continued at Gre- nada until he too had to snecumb to the disease. As he could not be brought home, we hour by hour waited for information as to his condition. In a few days, although at- tended by his wife and receiving every attention to promote his recovery, he yielded up his spirit to the God who gave it.
This Association may well be proud of having such members to represent them. While they were battling with the pestilence in Grenada, we at home were allowed to be at rest. At our first meeting. August 13th, the following members answered to the roll-call: J. G. Lonsdale, Sr., Edw'd Mansford, E. B. Foster, A. M. Stoddard, W. S. Rogers, W. A. Holt. P. M. Semmes, T. R. Waring, J. H. Smith, J. II. Edmondson, F. F. Bowen, J. W. Cooper, and A. D. Langstati. The following members were elected after- wards, during the epidemic, and assigned to duty : N. D. Menken, W. D. McCallum, A. F. C. Cook, S. M. Jobe, J. W. Heath. Fred'k Cole, J. W. Page, Wm. Finnie, C. L. Statler, D. G. Reahardt. J. Kohlberg, Charles Howard, John T. Moss, R. P. Waring, Lewis S. Frierson, and W. S. Anderson. At our meeting August 14th, John Johnson, who had, since 1873, been an honorary member, was elected an active member and superintendent of the nurse department. The wisdom of our choice was shown afterward by the faith- ful performance of the very responsible duties of that department.
On August 13th the President of the Board of Health published the first ease of vellow fever, the victim being Mrs. Bionda. All hopes that our city would be spared from the disease were banished by us, and all things necessary for active service were provided as rapidly as possible. Our people, like those of Grenada, became panic- stricken, and fled from the city as rapidly as possible. Future events prove that had they gone less promptly our Association would have been paralyzed in endeavoring to nurse them, and all of us would have died. On August 15th the first nurse was placed . on duty; then began what afterwards culminated in the most terrible and deadly epi- demie that our Association has been called upon to combat. All business, save that pertaining to the relief of the distressed, soon ceased. Pleasant carriages and mer- chants' drays were replaced on our streets by funeral carriages and hearses. The fever, from which none then seemed to recover, invaded the homes of all. Death, with rapid strides, marched through our streets, leaving victims everywhere. He was, indeed, the king.
On August 19th two physicians were employed by the Association, which number was increased on the 20th to five. On August 27th the Howard Medical Corps was es- tablished, with R. W. Mitchell as Medical Director, who at once proceeded to organize his department, to promptly provide medical attention to the stricken.
To him, personally, and to the physicians, both abroad and at home, who were men- bers of the Howard Medical Corps, is great praise and honor due from us, and from the citizens of Memphis. Many of them sacrificed their lives in the discharge of their Anties. For a full report of this department I refer you to the report of the Medical Director, herewith submitted. Br a vote of your executive committee, J. G. Lonsdale, Jno. Johnson, and J. H. Edmondson, were appointed, on August 15th, a committee to confer with the city authorities relative to sending our patients to the City Hospital. The arrangement was perfected. Within five days other hospitals had to be provided. By direction of the executive committee I obtained possession of Market-street School- house, and at once had seats and desks removed, and, with the assistance of Major W. T. Walthall and others, had it ready for the reception of patients. In three days it was filled. Other hospitals or infirmaries were immediately opened. I respectfully call your special attention to that part of the report of the Medical Director referring to the organization of a National Howard Association, for the purposes set forth therein. Little did we anticipate, in the early days of the epidemic, that it woukl assume the proportions that it afterwards did assume: that citizens would die at the rate of five
.
332
APPENDIX.
and six score per day; that instead of providing two hundred or three hundred persons with nurses and assistance, we would provide for twice as many thousands; that our expenses would be ten thousand instead of five hundred dollars per day ; nor did we anticipate that the surrounding towns would be stricken with the fever, that our Associ- ation would be called upon to distribute to them, by donations of money and provisions, by supplying them with physicians and nurses, and by having relief trains on the several railroads leading out of Memphis. Relief was furnished to the neighboring towns to the amount of about forty thousand dollars. More would have been furnished them, to have enabled them to fully pay all their indebtedness, but they did not advise us of the amounts needed, although asked to do so in several instances, until we had noti- fied the world not to send us further funds, and not until our own fund- had become nearly exhausted. To enable us to meet all these expenditures, amounting to more than $500,000. a generous people furnished the means. From every hamlet in our land, from countries separated from us by thousands of miles of ocean, from the orphan and the widow, from rich and poor, from white and black, came the aid to help us. "Let us not forget, brother Howards, that our A-ociation has not, during this epidemic, made an appeal for aid: it came to us without the necessity of an appeal. We ought to, and do feel gratified that an appreciative people had not forgotten our previous record. Wherever the name of our Association is known, that it is respected and honored. There is no organization. so far as known, that is as purely charitable as ours. All applicants for aid are the same to ns, whether rich or poor, white or black, saint or sinner. If I had to choose between ours and any other association, I would prefer to be a Howard. Remembering the many kind word- that have been said to us, and of us, for our efforts in relieving the distressed since August 12th, we have reason to feel that said efforts have been appreciated. Our hearts are sad, however, for we must at all times, and particularly when gathered together on such occasions as the present, remember our absent brothers, who have given their lives, and who are now sleeping in the tomb. I here record their names: Butler P. Anderson. John G. Lonsdale, Sr., Elward B. Foster, Edward J. Man-ford. J. W. Heath, W. D. McCallum, Nathan D. Menken, Samuel M. Jobe, A. F. C. Cook, Fred Cole. But a few days ago they were with us, and were ever ready to assist the distressed. They more than fulfilled God's command " Love thy neighbor as thyself." for they proved, day after day, that they loved their neighbor more than themselves. The records of our Association show that I am the only survivor of the little band that organized this Association, for work in 1867, who now belongs to it. All are dead, except three. These dead brothers well knew, before they entered upon the field of duty, that they went with their lives in their hands. They faced greater danger than the soldier on the field of battle. They did not thus endanger their lives either for their own glory, or for the glory of any church or nation. Their hearts were moved with a sympathy and pity, the depth of which all people appreciate, yet few personally understand, for their suffer- ing fellow-being- who had become the victims of the fever. That their good deeds may not be forgotten, but serve to inspire those for whom they labored so well to do likewise, I respectfully suggest that a committee be appointed to solicit subscriptions, from the citizens of Memphis, for the crection of a suitable monument to their memory, in the Howard lot, in Elmwood Cemetery, where they are buried. I must not forget here to remember the worthy actions of several of our honorary members, who labored by our sides with a devotion second to none of us. To Rev. W. E. Boggs, in particular, who was more closely identified with us, and acting under our orders. am I pleased to make mention. I desire also to record the organization, by Gov. Alex. Shepherd, of Wash- ington, of the relief boat "Chambers,"# which left our sister city. St. Louis, early in October, laden with supplies for the yellow fever sufferers along the Mississippi River. When a commander was needed for this expedition, Lient. H. HI. Benner, of the United States Army, promptly volunteered, as did also Lieut. Chas. S. Hall, of the 13th U. S. Infantry, and H. M. Keys, assistant surgeon of the same army, to accompany him. The officer, and other-, who with them formed the officers and crew of the Steamer Chambers, are worthy of the most lasting remembrance for their unselfish devotion to
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