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 55
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14-Citizens of Courtland, Via., 10 cattle, 1 mutton, 6 sacks Hour.
11-P. M. Patterson, Trezevant, Tenu., 7 coops chickens.
11-Salem Church, Atoka, Teun., 4 bbls meal, 1 bx eggs, 1 bbl flour, 1 coop chickens, 1 bbl potatoes, 2 saek - flour and meal.
17-Sabbath School, Concord, Toun., 105 bags flour, 35 sacks potatoes, 1 bbl potatoes, 1 sack peas, 6sacks bacon, 5sacks beans. 1 bx beans, 34 bags nieal, 26 bags dried fruit. 24 Ines onions, I key onions, Scans butter. 3 coupschickens, 4 bble potatoes.
18-Staunton, Va., 22 bbis flour, 3 bags pota- toes, 10 pieces bacon, 3 pieces dried fruit, 3 pkas tea, 1 jar preserves.
18-Millbrook, Va., 2 bbl- Hour.
18-De Paince, Va., 12 bbis flour, 1 bbl pota- toes. I bag soap. 2 pieces mneat.
18-Mount Sidway, Va., 2 bble potatoes, 2 bbls flour, 1 bx baron.
19-Stephen's Cave, Va., 4 bbls flour, 1 bx bacon.
19 -- Mount Crawford, Va .. 710's flour.
18-Harrisonburg, Va., 13 bbls flour, 1 bbl potatoes, 1 pkg toa.
18-Linville, Va., 19bbis four, 1 bbl potatoes, S bags potatoes, 1 piece bacon, 3 eroeks butter.
18-Broadway, Va., 17 bbls four, 1 bag meal, 1 bag onions. 6 bxs jellies, 1 bag pota- toes, clothing.
18-Timberville, Va., 15 bbls flour, 16 bbl flour, 1 bil bacon, 7 bags pota ves, 1 bx potatoes.
18-Forrest, Va., 16 bbl flour, 4 bols potatoes, 1 bag bacon.
1S-Edinburg, Va., 22 bbls flour, 1 bbl pota- toes. 1 bbl onions, 8 bags potatoes, 1 bx jellies, 1 tub lard.
18-Strasburg. Va., 12 bbls flour, 3 bxs, 2 sacks sundries.
1º -- Cedar Creek. Va., 13 bbls flour.
18-Newtown, Va., 2 bbis Hour, 1 bbl and I bag potatoes.
18-Methodist Relief Association, Newtown, Va., 2 hbis flour, 1 bb] potatoes, 1 piece bacon. 1 bag onious, 6 bags potatoes. 18 -- Kenton. Va., I bx tea.
18-Mount Jackson, Va., 35 hhls flour. 11 bags potatoes, 3 bbls potatoes, 2 bxs pota- toes, bacon & apple-butter.
18-Middleton, Va., 6 hbls dour, 1 key tlour, 1 ham. 1 bx sundries, 4 bags onions & potatoes
18-Winchester, Va . 26 bbls flour, 2 bxs & 1 bbl for New Orleans.
15-Stephenson, Va., I bbl flour, 1 piece bacon.
18-Halltown, Va., 4 bxs supplies.
18-Summit Point, Va., Is bbls flour, 1 bx groceries, 1 bbl sundries, 2 bbl cakes. 2 pkys clothing, I bx bacon. 2 bxs eggs. 1 bx sundries, 1 bx flour, 1 bx clothing. 18-Summit Point, Va., for Grenada, 1 bx cheese, 1 pkg clothing, 1 bx potatoes, 1 sack meat.
18-Statesville, Va., 9 bhls flour.
15-Charleston, Va., 10% bbls flour, 1 bx tea. 19-Allensville. Ky., 7 bbls flour. 14, bbl lard, 1 sack bacon, 1 sack potatoes, 1 bx bacon, 1 hx egys.
19-John L. Moore, Quincy. Ill .. 1 bbl wine. 20 -- Elkton Rebei Committee, Elkton, Ky., 1 bx four, 1 bx bacon, I bx potatoes.
20 -- Ladies vi Wihaington, Del., 1 bx cloth-
21 -- A. M Connett, Lebanon, Ky., 6 mattresses and pillows.
I. A. Spaulding, of Lebanon, Ky., bbls potatoes, 7 bbls flour, 2 bble meal. 22-Ladies of Elgin, 11., through C. R. Collins, 1 spread, 26 skirts, 18 aprons, 15 night- dresses, 83 dresses, H waists and saegnes. 19 chemisettes, 30 pr stockings, 1 over- cont, 11 coats, 15 vests. 12 pants, 19 drawers, 4 towels, 53 shirts. S pr hose, boots and shoes, 23 sheets, af pillow- slips. 2 conforts.
2-Friends of Metuphis, at White Pine. Tean., 7 sacks flour, 5 sacks potatoes, 1 sack bucoh.
22-Citizens of Peoria, Ill., through Mayor Warner, Jo1 bn potatoes, 132 Im onions, 7 bbls beans, 475 sacks flour, 24 sacks meul, 9 bxs bacon.
22-Relief Com., Will's Point, Texas, through T. D. Stearn, 11 sacks Bonr, 90 half sacks four.
22-Ladies of Peekskill, N. Y., through Eliza N. Ferris, I bx clothing.
22-Citizens of Fond du Lac, Wis., $2 hbis flour.
22-Citizens of Hollow Rock, Tenn., 2 coops chickens.
23 -- Ladies of Easton, Pa., 41 mattresses. 7 bxs supplies. Mrs. saun't & s. P. Way, 1 bx provisions, wine, jBirs & cloth- ing. Bonsack & Kiser, Boutstek, Va., 14 bbl, flour. Coffin M'Èg Co., Richmond, Ind .. + burial casts.
21-Citizens of Garrettsville, O., 2 bxs cloth- ing.
24-Citizens of Dallas, Texas, 220 half sacks fiour.
25-Citizens of Franklin, Tenn., 24 piligs flour and incat.
26-W. L. Cabell, Dallas, Tex .. 20,000 lbs flour. 26-W. J. Walker. Chicago, IL., 1 bbl Blue Sulphur Water.
26-Mrs. A. B. Fitch, 1 bx clothing.
26-Wm. Woodruff; London, Ont .. 45 blankets. 26-Miss Marland, Cleveland, O., 1 bx pro- visions.
26-I .. Caillet, Creston, Iowa, 1 bx clothing & supplies.
26-W. II. Bonset, St. Louis, 5 eans oatmeal. 1 key farina, 10 cans peaches, 50 bxs crackers,4 bxs shoulders, 10 bxs canned beef, 13 bbls flour, 30 buls potatoes, 20 bbis onions, 5 bbis grits.
27-Citizensof Indianapolis. Ind.,27 bbls flour. 5 bols meal, & bbls crackers, 4 bhls beans, 2 bbls potatoes, 2 bbls salt, 2 bags dried apples, 2 half chests tea, 6 bags potatoes, 4 hatis, 6 bbls pork, 1 bbl bacon, 1 bx bacon, 1 kit fish, 1 bag four, 7 bbls bread.
27 -- Citizens of Elmo, Texas, 62 half sacks four, 9 sacks flour.
27-Guild of St. Luke's Church, Plattsmouth, Neb., 1 hx bed clothing.
27-Citizens of Batigs, Va., 20 bbals flour.
27-Southern Relief Com., through W. H. Purse no city named), 20,000 lbs corn- meal, 500 lbs flour, 2 kits mackerel, 3 pkys dried fruits.
28-Ladies of Battle Creek, Mich., 1 bx deli- cacies
28-Seientific Ass'n. Atlanta, Ga., 1 bx honey. 1 bx wine. 1 dem wine, 1 bbl crackers, 2 bbl flour, 12 sacks flour, 2 bxs drugs & clothing
29-II. & K. Thurbur, New York, 12 ca-es port wine.
29 -- Committee at Newport, Tenn., 4 sacks four, 2 sacks meal, 2 sacks fruit, 2 halt flour, 1 sack onions, 1 bbl potatoes, 2 bags peaches.
29-Order of the Eastern Star, and ladies of Mt. Vernon, Ind., 15 bxs fruit, 3 bxs clothing. 1 bhl potatoes, 12 bbls grits, 1 bbl Hour, 4 bbls crackers.
20-A lady of Marshall, Mich., 1 pkge.
30-Ladies of Petersburgh, Va., 1 bx clothing. 30 -- Mrs. Jas. E W. Wallace, Albany, N. Y., 1 bx sundries.
362
APPENDIX.
Oct. 1-Citizens of Glade Springs, Va., 200 lbs | Oct. 17-W. L. C'aball, Dallas, Tex., 60 half sarks supplies. Hour.
)-('itizrus of Greeley, Col., 200 sncks flour. 1-Congregations of Friends, Philadelphia, 1 bx clothing.
1-ladies of Patterson, N.J., 11 cas s clothing. 2-Lalies of Goldsboro. N.C., Sbx> clothing. 2-Dallas and Lancaster, Texas, 20,000 lbs tlour
3-Win, Woodruff London, Ontario, 50 pair blankets.
3- Citizens of Greeley, col., 1 carlo) four. 3-Citizens of Westhead, N. Y., I bx clothing 3-Elizabethtown, East Tenn., 800 lbs flour, 4 buls potatoes.
3-Relief c'om . Leetsville, lowa, 1 car-load supplies, for country towns around Memphis.
4-Citizens of Wauseon, Ohio, clothing and building.
5-Citizens of Big Lick. Va., 20 sacks Hour. 5-Sabbath School, Pierceville, Al., 100 sacks tions. 1 bx bacon.
7-E. D. Willett, 1 case clothing.
7-Citizens of Ponghkeepsie, N. Y., 2 bbls clothing.
7-Laulies of Haledon. N. J., 1 bx sundries. 7-W. H. Huntington, Waterloo, III., 10 bhls four.
7-Relie: . Association, Richmond, Ind., 92 pkys conins.
9-German Church. Hazleton, Ill., 8 bb!s . finir, 2 bhis apples. 9 -- Green Allen, W Ri Crock. Tenn .. 100 lbs . bacon, 2 bbls potatoes, 2 sacks flour.
9-J. K. Bunbo, Rural Retreat, Va., 2 bbls flour, I sack flour, 2 pieces bacon.
10-Relief Committee. Charlottesville, Va., 20 lbs fea, 6 tins beef, I doz chocolate, 4 doz corn starch. 1 case wine, 7 bblscocoa, 1 case mustard, 4 lbs mustard. 6 bbls flour.
10-J. H. Baxter, Cartersville. Ga., 2 bxs sup- plies.
12-Citizens of Kentland. Ind., 14 bhls flour, 4 bbls meal, 2 bbls hams, 1 bbl mess pork. 1 hbl beans. 1 case peaches, 1 case canned beef.
12-Ladies of Quiney. Il .. 2 bxs clothing.
12-Citizens of Monroe, Mich .. 4 cases cloth- ing. I bx smoked beef, 4 bbls crackers, 1 hbl potatoes.
13-M. B. Sadler, Centralin. I11 .. 6 bhis flour. 15-From unknown, 1 bx clothing.
15-Peter Hilton, Lumbertown, N. C., 1 bx clothing.
17-Urbana, O., Wine Co., 5 cases champagne.
17 -- Trinity University and citizens of Tenan- cana, Tex., and citizens of Dallas, 45 Marks four.
18-Albert Fischer & Co., Cincinnati. O., 7 casos patted peaches, 6 cas- j . lies. 18-Geo. Hofer, Cincinnati, O., 1bbi Johning. Jo-Leath Orphin Asylum, Cineumnati, O .. 1 bbl clothing.
JS-Sallie MeGraw, Braden, Tenn., 1 coop 21-Ladies of New London, Conn., 2 bxs clothes.
22-Two ladiesand two little girls, Newberry, S. C. I uke clothing.
24-W. B. Englind, Lehmmon, Ky .. 1 tbl four 25-Gen IInet. Cincimint. O., 21bh Hour, 1 bbl pork, I bx sundr.(s.
2-T. J. Seixas, South Bend, Ind., ) bbls nieal. 7 bld, and 50 Its donr.
Nov. 6-Soda Bottling Co., Indianapolis, Ind., 1 doz bitters.
23-Laurel Band Class, Geneva Lake, Wis., 1 bx clothing.
20-Citizens of Rogersville, 6 sacks four. 7 hulf sacks flour, 2 sacks mea'. 1 can lard, 2 sacks potatoes, 1 sack sundries. 1 ham, 2 bld- pots toes.
29-Teachers and students Lake Shore Seuti- uary, North East, Pa., 1 bx clothing.
CLEARING-HOUSE COMMITTEE, LOUISVILLE. KY.
Sept. 3-320 ,bags fionr. 1 bbl rice. 1 bhl sugar. 1 tieree hamns. 25 bbIs potatoes. 1 case sago, 1 case tapioca, 1 bag coffee, 1 bx tea. 1 case baked beans. I rask lacon. 3 cases coru beef. 5 Hlds crackers.
9-800 lbs roa.tel coffee. 4.000 paper bags, 6 doz brandy, 2 bol white sugar, 10 bols corn meal, 10 bbis grits. 3 tierces bacon. 1 bx tea. 2 casks Scotch ale. 3 doz ex- tract of beef, 10 bbls erackers, 2 tierces hams, 5 bbls mess beef, 150 jugs seltzer water.
12-300 1bs roasted coffee. 50 lbs mustard, 1 bbl mustard meal. 146 cans corn trei, 5 bbls ham sausage. ? doz extract beef. 12 doz brandy, 2 cases Scotch ale, 12 bbls crackers. 24 doz cans tomatoes, 10 bbls mess beef.
13-90 bbis potatoes. 460 bags flour.
18-1 doz boneset tonie. 60 coffins and dressed lumber, 40 collins and caskets, 25 oz quinine. 50 clinical thermometers, 1 bhl buchu leaves.
Oct. 5-Fresh fruit.
363
APPENDIX.
SUMMARY .*
TOTAL DONATIONS RECEIVED BY STATES, AS PER DETAILED STATEMENT.
Arkansas
$ 6,690 37 ' Maine
817 00 ' Oregon .. .... $ 2.514 00
Arizona ..
5 00 Maryland.
495 98 , Pennsylvania .... 11,750 ::
Alabama
6,251 43 Massachusetts
3,964 28 Rhode Island 6,512 00)
California.
29,017 20 Minnesota
2,651 77 ; South Carolina.
Colorado.
3,950 95
Mississippi.
727 65 Texas ..
11.400 0
Connecticut
5,070 28 | Missouri
16.891 37 | Tennessee ..
Dakota ..
653 50 |Michigan
11,200 43 . Utah Territory
Delaware
41 02
Montana
057 00
Virginia
9.52;
Florida
1,516 ×3
Miscellaneous
9,607 18
Vermont
No 31
Georgia.
11 414 31
Nebraska
4.509 41
Washington, D. C.
1.775 .0
Illinois 52,307 60
Nevada ..
1,374 91
West Virginia
Indiana.
13,757 60
New Hampshire
1,607 50
Wisconsin
10.502 77
Towa
6,407 5%
New Mexico
181 30
Kansas
6,550 67 New York.
56,504 16 :
Kentucky
8. 410 52 North Carolina
7,190 76
Louisiana.
1, 127 15 , Ohio.
26,029 72 1
CASH RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS.
1×78.
1878.
April 1-To am't in Secretary's hands. $
22 50 ! Dec. 31-To interest on bonds $ 1,211 ()
Ang. 31-To proceeds sale of $15,000 U.S.
31-To donations, per exhibit "A" 400,412 54
bonds
15,800 62 |
Total .. $417,536 06
CREDITS.
1878 ..
1878.
Dec. 31-By amount paid to nurses ...
.. $185,666 52
Dec. 31-By expense account .. $ 14,636 31-By amount paid for supplies .. 74,432 91 31-By transportation and livery account .. 10.265 12 31-By amount paid for drugs and medicines 30,233 95 31-By burial account 10,520 5 31-By amount paid to physicians 39.225 80 31-By infirmary account 4,220 5) S !- By donations to other points .. 19,457 05 31-By amount paid, board. phy- Total. $115.79 33 sicians, and nurses .. 18,131 30 Balance on hand $1,746 13 J. H. SMITH, Secretary. JOHN JOHNSON, Treasurer. * The following statement is as near correct as is possible. The world at large contributed for the people of all the stricken States of the South, during the prevalence of the epidemic of 1878, $4,548,503 as follows : Alabama. $64,920 Indian Territory .. $ 916 ! New Hampshire .. $ 6,920 | West Virginia. ...... 813.915 Alaska 375 Iowa. 45,120 1 New Mexico. 1,175 Wyoming Arkansas 37.4-16 Kentucky 169.052 New York. 679.340 C'aunda. Foreign countries. 104. 11 California .. 132,11% . Louisiana North Carolina. 126,208 ['. S. Government. 1:00,0 0) Connecticut $0.275 Maryland 881.022 Jakuta 15.332 Massachusetts 143.275 Delaware. 27.936 Michigan 40.674 Dist. of Columbia. Florida 2.615 Mississippi 119.675 Georgia 113.6~4 Missouri. 199.353 Texas. 1.30,524 Idaho 1.050 Montana 2.611 l'lah. 5,522 Hanois. 192.45 Nebraska 15,14I Virginia 89.145 Inliaua 117, 526 | Nevada. 9,651 Vermont. 11,125 ! Grand total .. $1,545,703 Ohio. Oregon .. Pennsylvania Rhode Island. 14 .~ 45 60.242 | Express Compa- 394-1 Minnesota South Carolina Tennessee 145,952 1 nies. free ........ 255.' .** W. U. Telegraph C'o., free ....... Colorado 21.1-6 ; Maine. 19.621 11,441 . Miscellaneous 4: 15 New Jersey 36,94% Wisconsin Arizona 4.750 . Kansas 22.535 MEMPHIS, TENN., December 31, 1878. Wyoming Indian Territory ... 5 00 New Jersey. 3,983 67 Total. .$100,112 51 248,090 ; R. R. transporta- tion, free ... 364 APPENDIX. AUDITING COMMITTEE'S REPORT. To the President, Directors, and Members of the Harard Association of Memphis, Tenn .: GENTLEMEN,-Your auditing committee beg leave to present herewith their report for the six months commeneing July 1st and ending December 31-1, 1878. Your committee would state that the reason that no audited account- were roulered at our quarterly meeting, October Ist. was on account of the prevalence of the yellow fever, and the utter impossibility to spare the time from the afflicted to investigate and audit accounts. Your committee examined very carefully the books of the Secretary and Treasurer. We noted carefully the receipts, and compared the disbursement- with the vouchers : and when it is considered that there are more than eight thousand vouchers for nur-es alone, you, gentlemen. can form some idea of the magnitude of the work. Your committee was surprised to find so few clerical error- in the accounts, when it is remembered that the Secretary and Treasurer received over four hundred thousand dollars in less than three months, from all parts of the United States and Europee. in sums ranging from fifty cents to one thousand dollars, and paid it out in the -ame manner. Your committee very carefully examined to see if the proper credits had been given, and from what source received, and tind, with but few exceptions, that they have been credited to the States from which received. There were hundreds of dollars re- ceived from individuals who were either too modest or who forgot to give their names. all of which appear in the miscellaneous receipts. Of the disbursements, we find vouchers to correspond with each amount disbursed. Your committee consider it wonderful that accounts balanced so well. when it is remembered that the Treasurer died at his post of duty October 1st, and the Secretary was struck down October lith. and others had to fill their places. Your committee take great pleasure in testifying to the correct condition in which they found the books of the Association, when we consider the amount of labor required. the amount of money handled. and the amount of business generally transacted by the officers of the Association in such a short space of time. The Auditing Committee think proper to state, to those not familiar with the mag- nitude of the work done by the Association during the past year, that we have had in our employ over two thousand nine hundred nurses, and have furnished supplies to more than fifteen thousand persons. Your committee would report the financial condition of the Association as follows. to-wit: 1878. July 1-Cash in hand of Secretary .. 22 50 1-U. S. bonds 38,290 00 Aug. 31-Premium and interest on $15,000 bonds sold. 090 62 Dec. 31-Interest on bonds. 1.211 00 Donations received 400,412 51 Total .5140.736 65 Expenditures as per Secretary and Treasurer's account 2415.720 53 Balance. $24.946 13 Which consists of cash on hand. $ 1.746 13 U. S. bonds. 23.200 00 Total $24,940 13 365 APPENDIX. Your committee find the account of J. H. Smith, Secretary, and John Johnson, Treasurer, as follows : SECRETARY AND TREASURER'S REPORT. 1878. July 1-Balance in hand of Secretary .. 22 50 Ang. 31-To proceeds of sale of $15,000 U. S. bonds 15,890 62 Dec. 31 -- To interest on bonds .... 1,211 00 To donations as per Exhibit 1 100,4412 51 Total $417,536 65 CREDITS. 1878. Dec. 31-By amount paid to nurses. $185,666 52 By amount paid for supplies .. 74,432 91 By amount paid for drugs and medicines 39,233 95 By amount paid to physicians 39,225 80 By amount paid donations to other points By amount paid board physicians and nurses 19,457 05 18,131 30 By amount paid expense account .. By amount paid transportation and livery 14,636 SS 10,265 12 By amoum paid burial account .. 10,520 50 By amount paid infirmary account. 4,220 50 Total 8415,790 53 Balance in hand. $1,746 13 Your committee would report that the difference between our report of the financial condition and the Secretary aml Treasurer's report, arises from the fact that the $38,200 in U. S. bonds was in charge of bond committee, and safely deposited at the German National Bank. Fifteen thousand dollars of bonds being sold, the proceeds thereof went into his accounts, the remaining 823,200 being still in charge of the bond com- mittee and deposited at the German National Bank. All of which is respectfully submitted. F. F. BOWEN, W. J. SMITH, Committee. JNO. T. MOSS, J . REPORT OF DR. R. W. MITCHELL, MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE HOWARD ASSOCIATION. A. D. Langstaff, President Howard Association of Memphis: SIR,-When notified of my election to the position of Medical Director of the Howard Association, I immediately commenced the organization of a Howard Medical Corps, by seenring the cooperation of most of the local physicians, in a systematic effort to supply medical attention to those sick with yellow fever. I soon saw from the rapid progress of the disease that, nnaided, we could not give the requisite attention, and requested you to call on Southern cities to assist us by sending here acclimated physicians. By acclimated I mean those who have had yellow fever. This call was promptly responded to by medical men from all parts of the United States. On reporting to me after their arrival, I was surprised to find that a majority of them had never been exposed to yellow fever. 24 30G APPENDIX. I immediately apprised them of the great danger they incurred, and advised the unacclimated to leave the city. Less than ten took my advice and left. When they told me they were fully aware of the risk they incurred, and were determined to stay, I assigned them to duty where they were most needed. My plan of directing their labors was to have a certain number of them to report to the local physician in a ward, and to have this subdivided into small districts, each physician being assigned to a sub-district. As the disease invaded new districts, I would Te-assign those on daty with the new-comers, and in this way endeavored to keep pace with the epidemic. My advice to every unacclimated physician who reported to me, was to put himself in the best possible condition for recovery if attacked; to accomplish all the work he could between the hours of sunrise and nightfall; to get eight hours' uninterrupted rest, and to commit no excesses of any kind. I knew that to be stricken down when ex- hansted mentally and physically was to insure death. For a time I experienced great difficulty in obtaining conveyances for the use of volunteer physicians, and had to rely upon express wagons. There was one advantage in this, for the driver- were familiar with the city, and could readily take the physicians wherever they wished to go. The physicians were supplied with rubber coats and um- brellas to protect them from the weather. Blank books were furnished to each physician employed by the Association, and he was requested to keep his book in such shape as would enable me to utilize it when we were relieved by additional assistance. Many physicians resided in distant parts of the city, and I could not require them. after a hard day's work, to come to my office to report, and I knew they had no mean- of sending a report. But when the physicians fell. their records were lost sight of. My estimates. therefore, are necessarily approximations to the truth, for it was utterly im- possible for me to obtain complete reports. Those who were with me can readily appreciate why, but the world can never realize our condition. I endeavored in the beginning of our organization to obtain blank forms for report>, but before they could be issued all the printing establishments closed. So rapidly did the disease spread that for some week> not more than one-half the sick were seen by a physician at all, and I could not relax in my own personal atten- tions to the sick. Had I, however, remained to listen to all the personal appeals for help. I would not at might have moved a step from the spot I stood upon in the morning. Mr. W. S. Pickett, who acted as my Secretary, had his whole time occupied in directing applicant- where to leave messages for Howard physicians (calls were to be leit at the different drug-stores in each ward). For his efficient services and ceaseless attention to all demands made upon him, I am greatly indebted. Soon all the market-houses were deserted, and the question of nourishment for the sick became a grave one. At my request, his Excelleney Governor James D. Porter sent me daily a supply of fresh beef. The continued hot weather soon made it necessary to procure live stock instead. and then a great difficulty followed in finding a butcher. To my call for one. Mr. George Whitsett responded, and I take this occasion to acknowl- edge his invaluable services to the public until the clo-e of the epidemic. The meat was cat into two-pound pieces, and supplies sent to every Howard depot. In this shape it furnished material to make broth for the sick, and also answered as food for the nurses, and was supplied on every requisition made for the sick. All the beer and mutton which could be bought within a distance of twenty miles from the city was purchased. Another serious difficulty encountered was the supply of medicines. All our whole- sale drug-houses closed. and most of the retail houses were compelled to do the same thing on account of sickness, death, or absence of proprietors and employés. The few that remained open ran short of supplies. I was then compelled to obtain, for a time, drugs from St. Louis, Louisville, and Nashville. Afterward, on representing the condition of affairs to Mr. W. N. Wilker-on. of the firm of Wilkerson & Co., he turned over the keys of his large drug establishment to me. Mr. (. L. Clay, of Fernandino, Florida, with four assistants, was placed in charge, and from this time there was no scarcity of medicines. All requisitions for drugs from physicians throughout the country, who were in the habit of procuring their supplies from the city, were filled. To him and his assistants are we indebted beyond measure. As the fever extended along the line of railroads leading from Memphis, I was called upon to send physicians to other towns and villages to counsel and advise with their physicians, who were unacquainted with the fever. These calls were all responded to; and where a community was withont medical aid, a physician was detailed to re- main with it as long as his services were required. 367 APPENDIX. After the Associated Press agent, at my request, had announced that the mortality among unacclimated physicians was so great that I would not put them on duty, they still continued to report to me. Under these circumstances, I urged them invariably to leave the city. Even then some would go into the ont-kirts and work. Whenever such information was brought to me, I would send for and assign them to regular duty. I am happy to state that of those who came here in this way, though all sickened, none died. When an epidemic becomes general in a community, the demoralization is great. Fear renders men helpless and irrational, and, in many instances, heartless. In this epidemie, while examples of generosity, heroism, and unselfishness were abundant, vet, on the other hand, there were many instances of ties of kindred and friendship broken -- friend deserted friend, parents deserted children, and husband dr- serted wife. And again, when you called upon the country for help, while many excellent and worthy nur-e- came, others also came whose only purpose seemed to be plunder and the gratification of alcoholie thirst, and whose presence here was scarcely less destructive to human life than the plague itself. In Southern seaboard cities, where yellow fever frequently prevails, a large propor- tion of the people are protected by previous attacks, and can well care for the sick ; but with us the population was wholly unprotected, and consequently at the mercy of hun- «freds of uninformed and incompetent nurses. Under stich circumstances the mortality must necessarily be great. In New Orleans, because of the acclimation of so large a per centage of her popula- tion, while there will be six or eight out of ten to nurse their own sick, with us nineteen out of twenty were unprotected. Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.