LOCAL OUTBREAKS OF FEVER. The occurrence of fever in isolated localities with few inhabitants affords the best opportunity of determining the special conditions which favor its propagation or spread from place to place, and from person to person. The following reports on local outbreaks are interesting illustra tions of these conditions: CASES NEAR MEMPHIS. The Horn Lake Road, Tennessee.-Inspector B. W. Winn reports as follows, September 15: The Arnold and Glenn families reside on this road, seven miles south of Memphis. Thus far the following cases have occurred in the following order: Mr. F. M. Arnold, aged 50; Turner Clemens, aged 6; Miss Ella Arnold, Mrs. Arnold, Mr. Sutton; Mrs. Arnold, sr.; colored girl; colored man; Mrs. Sallie Freeman. All the above lived in one house. The following cases have occurred in the Glenn family: T. L. Glenn, aged 19; R. T. Stoddard, aged 29; W. H. Enes. ABSTRACTS FROM CONSULAR REPORTS. SAGUA LA GRANDE, CUBA.-United States Commercial Agent J. F. Swords reports as follows: It is absolutely impossible for me to furnish the information desired for the reason that the municipal archives of this town contain no records whatever of vital statistics or meteorological observations. The regulations in force simply require the attending physician to certify to the parish priest that a person named is deceased, when a permit is granted for burial in the town cemetery. No statement of the cause of death is recorded other than upon the bill of the medical attendant, rendered to the family of the deceased for medical attend ance. PORTUGUESE QUARANTINE AGAINST NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY.-United States Consul H. W. Diman writes from Lisbon to the State Department, under date of August 28, 1879, as follows: Referring to my dispatch, No. 50, of the 2d instant, on the subject August 20 Mr. F. M. Arnold was taken sick. Not supposing it was of the quarantine established by the Portuguese authorities on all yellow fever no precautions to secure isolation were taken by his phy-vessels coming from the Atlantic ports of the United States, I now sician. Mr. Arnold died with suppression and black vomit August 25. have the honor to inform the Department that the decree of the 31st August 21 Turner Clemens, a grandson of Mr. Arnold, was taken of July was, on the 6th of August, modified so that the ports of New with the fever. The boy is now up and about. August 23 Miss Ella York and New Jersey, instead of being considered as infected are conArnold was attacked, dying on the fourth day of her illness. Sep-sidered as suspected of yellow fever, like all other Atlantic ports. This tember 1 Mrs. Arnold, jr., and Mr. Sutton were taken with the fever, modification makes but little practical difference, as all vessels from both dying. September 4 a colored girl living with the family was suspected ports bound to any ports in Portugal, the Azores, or Maattacked. She is now convalescent. September 6 Mrs. Arnold, sr., deira must come to Lisbon to perform quarantine, and if their carwas taken sick with the fever, and on the 8th instant a colored man. goes are "susceptible," they must discharge a portion, and have the On the same day Mrs. Freeman was attacked with the same disease. vessel fumigated. As most of the cargoes from the United States These latter cases are still very sick. Mrs. Freeman and the colored consist of grain, in bags, which is classed as "susceptible," all such man will very probably recover, but slight hopes are entertained, vessels are obliged to partially discharge in quarantine. For vessels however, of the recovery of Mrs. Arnold, sr. bound simply to Lisbon, this is very inconvenient, but for vessels Of the nine members of the Arnold family four are already dead, bound to the other ports of the kingdom and the Azores and Madeira, one has recovered, one convalescent, and three still sick. it not only causes great inconvenience, but great delay and heavy When Mr. Arnold was first taken sick he was attended daily up to expense. As I stated in my former dispatch, I consider the imposithe day previous to his death, by his sister, Mrs. Glenn, who lives tion of this quarantine both unwarranted and unnecessary. Since only about one hundred yards from the Arnolds. the promulgation of this decree, eleven vessels coming from the United States have been obliged to perform quarantine in Lisbon, discharge a portion of their cargoes, and fumigate the remainder. All of these vessels brought clean bills of health from the Portuguese consuls at the ports from which they sailed, and not one of them had a single case of sickness on board. On the 5th of August a telegram was sent by the minister of the interior to the consul in New York, inquiring if yellow fever had existed as an epidemic in New York, or any Atlantic city, since July 1st. The reply was, that it had not. I have received the BULLETINS of the National Board of Health at September 3 the first case appeared in this family; Mr. T. L. Glenn, aged 19, being taken down. September 7 Mr. R. T. Stoddard, aged 29, a son-in-law of Mr. Glenn, was taken and died September 11. September 10 Mr. W. H. Enes was attacked. Mr. T. L. Glenn made a good recovery, but Mr. Enes is still very sick. There are five other members of this family liable to the fever and who will very probably have it as they are in constant attendance upon the sick. It is very evident that the fever was introduced into the Glenn family by Mrs. Glenn, although she herself has not as yet been at- Washington, of July 19th, 26th, August 2d and 9th, in all of which tacked. The following facts bearing upon the introduction of the it is declared that yellow fever exists as an epidemic only in Memdisease into the Arnold family have been established: When the fever phis and New Orleans. These I have shown at the Bureau of Public was first announced in Memphis Mr. Arnold, in company with his Health, and at the same time have explained the great distance of brother-in-law, Mr. Glenn, visited the city for the purpose of purchasMemphis from the Atlantic coast, and the great precautions there ing a supply of provisions preparatory to establishing a strict quarantaken to prevent the spreading of the fever, as well as the freedom tine against Memphis so far as their respective families were conof all Atlantic ports from the disease. Seeing no intention on the cerned. This determination on their part was faithfully carried out part of the authorities to modify their regulations, and the complaints until August 13, when a family of refugees from Memphis had the of ship-masters and owners of cargoes being so frequent and pressmisfortune to break their wagon in front of Mr. Arnold's house. Ining, I have reported all the facts in the case to Mr. Moran, hoping spite of his former determination he assisted them in repairing the that by his representations the government may take some action in the matter. wagon and reloading it. The load being rather too large for an injured vehicle Mr. Montana (the refugee) requested the privilege of leaving some supplies and part of the bedding on the portico of Mr. Arnold's residence for a few hours. This request was granted, and in the course of three or four hours Mr. Montana returned for and carried them away. Mr. Arnold was also in the habit of selling watermelons to hucksters from the city, going into the field with them to select the melons. Beyond these two sources of infection no other cause for the disease can be found. PASS CHRISTIAN, MIES.--Inspector Dr. Geo. N. Smith, under date of September 23, reports that he had visited the Miller family, and found the two younger children convalescent from yellow fever. All the family had the fever, except the father, who occupied a cottage about 300 feet from the house, and had no intercourse with the sick; the two children had visited the mother during her convalescence, The premises were disinfected, and the house is to be fumigated when the children are well. · HOPEFIELD, ARK.-Dr. John B. Cummings reports as follows upon a suspicious case which occurred at this place: The house in which the patient died is about one mile from Hopefield, on the railroad. Yellow fever existed in the same house last year. A few days before the patient took sick she washed some blankets and bedding used by yellow-fever patients last season. The symptoms of yellow fever were sufficiently marked to make it a very anxious case to us. This case and one other, now under treatment, are the only cases with any symptoms of yellow fever. HAVANA COMMISSION. SEAPORT AND INTERIOR TOWNS OF CUBA.—Dr. Chaillé, of the Havana commission, sends the following report of an inquiry into the sanitary condition of Cuban cities and towns, September 11, 1878: During the eleven days-August 24 to September 3-I traveled by rail and boat over 400 miles to inspect Matanzas, Cardenas, and Cienfuegos, the three ports from which, with the addition of Havana, proceed about three-fourths of all the vessels which sail to the United States from the total fifteen "ports of entry" of Cuba. At Matanzas there is but little yellow fever, at Cardenas it is worse than ever known before, at Cienfuegos diligent inquiry disclosed only 3 deaths during 1879, viz, 2 in January and 1 in June. The desperately insanitary condition of the people and of the city of Havana presents a fair but somewhat exaggerated example, not towns and villages which I have thus far seen in Cuba. Every one only of the above three cities, but also of all the fifteen or twenty assures me that I would everywhere find the same conditions. Havana, Matanzas, Cardenas, and Cienfuegos were founded in the order they are mentioned, and, as a result of this, it is observable that, in the same order, the streets and sidewalks become wider, as also the house fronts. It would be difficult to specify any other important particulars in which the insanitary evils at Matanzas, Cardenas, and Cienfuegos are not almost as bad as at Havana, and, ex cepting the fact that Cardenas, where yellow fever greatly prevails, eighteen miles in magnitude, and here vessels anchor farthest from * District of Columbia has 106,000 white, 54,000 colored; deaths, 33 white, 36 colored. Rate per 1,000, white, 1.62; colored, 63.7. Norfolk has 14.087 white, 9,913 colored; deaths, 5 white, 10 colored. Rate per 1,000, white, 18.5; colored, 52.6. Richmond has 46,000 white, 34,000 colored; deaths, 10 white, 29 colored. Rate per 1,000, white. 11.3; colored, 44.5. Charleston has 25,000 white, 32,000 colored; deaths, 6 white, 20 colored. Rate per 1,000, white, 12.5; colored, 32.6. Savannah has 17,493 white, 15.163 colored; deaths, 7 white, 15 colored. Rate per 1,000, white, 20.8; colored, 51.5. Nashville has 17,585 white, 9,500 colored, deaths, 13 white, 7 colored. Rate per 1,000, white, 38.5; colored, 38.4. The following reports for the week ending September 20 are from places not known to require burial permits: Allegheny, Pa., population 75,000; deaths 30; under 5 years 14; consumption 2, diarrhea 4, diphtheria 10, pneumonia 1, scarlet fever 1. Ann Arbor, Mich., 7,500; deaths 2; under 5 years. Augusta, Ga., 26,874; deaths 19; under 5 years 9; consumption 2, diarrhea 2, lung diseases 2. Aurora, Ill., 14,550; deaths 5; under 5 years 2; consumption 2, diarrhea 1. Bath, Me., 10,000; one death; typhoid fever. Battle Creek, Mich, 7,500; deaths 5; under 5 years 1. Belfast, Me., 5,278; one death. Benton County, Miss., 11,000; two infants, 3 days old. Burlington, Iowa, 30,000; deaths 5; under 5 years 4; diarrhea 2. Calais, Me., 7,000; deaths 3; under 5 years 2; consumption 1. Carrollton, Miss., 600; no deaths. Columbus, Ga., 10,000; deaths 4; under 5 years 1; consumption 1, malarial fever 1, whooping-cough 1. Dallas, Tex., 20,000; deaths 2; under 5 years 1; dysentery 1, malarial fever 1. Davenport, Iowa, 25,000; deaths 11; under 5 years 4; diarrhea 2, cerebro-spinal fever 1, pneumonia 1, measles 1, whoopingcough 1. Decatur, Miss., 1,000; no deaths. Dixon, Cal., 1,200; one, under 5 years. Dubuque, Iowa, 30,000; deaths 4; consumption 1, lung diseases, acute, 2. Fayette, Miss., 300; no deaths. Flint, Mich., 10,000; no deaths. Greenwood, Miss., 400; no deaths. Gun City, Mo., 100; no deaths. Helena, Ark, 5,000; no deaths. Helena, Mont., 3,500; no deaths. Hernando, Miss., 1,200; no deaths. Indianola, Tex., 900; one death, under 5 years. Jackson, Miss., 5,000; deaths 3; under 5 years 1; consumption 1, diarrhoea 1. Lawrence, Kans., 8,478; deaths 5; under 5 years 1; diphtheria 1, typhoid fever 1. Louisiana, Mo., 5,000; no deaths. Moline, Ill., 7,000; no deaths. Monmouth, Ill., 6,000; deaths 3; under 5 years 2; cerebro-spinal fever 1, diarrhea 1. Morton, Miss., 200; one death; diarrhoea. Mount Pleasant, Iowa, 5,000; no deaths. New Berne, N. C., 7,500; deaths 3; under 5 years 2; malarial fevers 3. Niles, Mich., 4,630; deaths 2; under 5 years. Norwich, Conn., 17,000; deaths 6; under 5 years 1; consumption 2, typhoid fever 1, whooping cough 1. Okolona, Miss., 3,000; no deaths. Pensacola, Fla., 8,500; deaths 3; consumption 1, malarial fever 1. Portsmouth, Va., 11,000; no deaths. Quarantine Hospital, New York, 1 case of malarial fever; no deaths. Ripley, Miss., 1,000; no deaths. Sacramento, Cal., 25,000; deaths 7; under 5 years 1: consumption 1, diarrhea 1, malarial fever 1, whooping-conghi. Salt Lake City, Utah, 25,000; deaths 12; under 5 years 6; diarrhea 3, diphtheria 4, puerperal fever 1. San Diego, Cal., 3,000; no deaths. Santa Barbara, Cal., 4,000; deaths 6; under 5 years 1; consumption 3, diphtheria 1. Shelbyville, Tenn., 2,000; no deaths. Sing Sing, N. Y., 5,000; deaths 8: under 5 years 2; consumption 1, diphtheria 1, lung diseases 2, malarial fevers 4. Tampa, Fla., 1,000; no deaths Tuscaloosa, Ala., 4,000; one death under 5 years: diarrhea. Waterbury, Conn., 16,000; deaths 3; under 5 years 2. Wesson, Miss., 2,000; typhoid fever 1. Youngstown, Ohio, 17,000; deaths 3; under 5 years 2; croup 1, pneumonia 1, whooping-cough 1. ABSTRACTS OF SANITARY INSPECTORS' REPORTS. QUARANTINE STATIONS IN MISSISSIPPI.-Inspector Wirt Johnson reports as follows, September 9: I have the honor to report to you that the Mississippi State board of health, by your authority and assistance, has established six quarantine stations for the protection of this State against yellow fever. These stations are conducted in accordance with the rules of the National Board of Health. The following is a list of the quarantine officers at these stations and a partial list of the other employés : Michigan City-Dr. George E. Redwood, quarantine officer; Dr. M. J. Lowry, sanitary policeman; Hardy Evans, cook. Osyka.-Dr. W. C. Warren, quarantine officer; Dr. William Jones, sanitary policeman; James Mitchell, cook. Polk's Landing, near Commerce.-Dr. C. A. Rice, quarantine officer; John S. Shaw, sanitary policeman; Jordan Jackson, nurse; John Williams, cook. Fort Adams.-Dr. E. L. McGehee,quarantine officer; E. A. J. McHenry, sanitary policeman. Corinth.-Dr. J. M. Taylor, quarantine officer; C. A. Lusk, sanitary policeman; L. J. Dorsey, nurse; Kate Holmes, cook. Horn Lake.—Dr. H. J. Ray, quarantine officer; Henry Hayden, cook. SANITARY INSPECTION OF STEAMBOATS.-Inspector Dr. A. N. Bell established the following details of inspection of steamboats at New Orleans, to carry out the rules and regulations recommended by the National Board of Health, to be observed at the place of departure when yellow fever exists there or in the vicinity: Inspectors of steamboats and other vessels will carefully examine and report upon the condition of All bedding and bedclothes, of whatever kind; that which presents any evidence of impurity should be prohibited. Stale feather or hair mattresses, bolsters, and pillows, should be prohibited or required to be renovated by high heat. Wire mattresses, bolsters, and pillows should be recommended in place of all other material. All cotton comforters and soiled clothing not washable in boiling water should be prohibited. Woolen carpets, rugs, and curtains should be prohibited. They may be substituted by matting or by material washable in boiling water. Any decayed wood in the decks or floors should be looked for and required to be replaced by sound wood forthwith, or be left exposed without covering of any kind, and required to be saturated daily with a boiling hot solution of copperas-one quart of copperas to the pailful of boiling water. Upholstered furniture of all kinds should be advised against, and any which presents evidence of retained dirt or of long use prohibited. Cane, or other material not liable to hold dust and dirt, should be recommended in place of all upholstered furniture. All kitchen, pantry, or other decks or floors subject to frequent wettings and dampness should receive a last washing daily with hot copperas All storerooms and closets should be looked into, and the stowing away of damp or soiled clothing therein prohibited. Waterclosets and urinals should be scrupulously clean and odorless. water. The hold and keelson of all steamboats and other vessels should be examined with special care, and whenever any bilge-water or offensive odor is present cleansing should be required by pouring in and pump. ing out water, by the use of the syphon pipes for conveying steam at as high a heat as practicable under the dunnage, and by the use of copperas until all foul odor is removed. Merely damp holds and keelsons should be sprinkled with copperas to prevent mustiness. Barges should be examined with the same care as steamboats. Whenever there is evidence of bilge-water or dirt in the keelson, which may be detected by the pump-water or at the ends of the flooring (the dunnage) fore and aft, the dunnage next to and longitudinal with the keelson should be removed and thorough cleansing required in the manner already described for steamboats. The open spaces at the ends of the dunnage and the bottoms of the scuppers and ventilators communicating with the keelson should be kept sprinkled with copperas. THE INSPECTION STATION AT ISLAND NO. 1, MISSISSIPPI RIVER.—Dr. F. W. Reilly, in charge of this sta tion, after giving a minute description of the inspecting boat, adds the following remarks: The unlooked-for outbreak of yellow fever at Memphis at such an unprecedentedly early date, threw the river towns into a panic which seriously impeded all attempts to establish inspections, or, in fact, any other preventive measures save the enforcement of absolute non-intercourse. Owners of boats and barges either refused outright to charter their craft for inspection and quarantine purposes, or demanded a rate of rental which would in a short time amount to the actual value of the vessel. It was under these untoward circumstances that this boat was finally obtained through the efforts of Capt. W. L. Hambleton, a public spirited citizen of Mound City, Ill., who went to Saint Louis and bought the "Vansant" for this special use. The delay occasioned by the panic and opposition referred to, and the urgent need of surveillance of river traffic at or near Cairo in order to protect the States of Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio from a repetition of the "J. D. Porter" visitation of 1878, and that of the towboat “Bee” in 1873, left no time to complete repairs; but, after such work as was absolutely necessary, the boat was towed down to this station on Sunday forenoon, August 10. I risk nothing, I think, in saying that this has now been accomplished; and I have only to add in conclusion that the practical value of the inspection system has, in my judgment, received ample confirmation in the immunity of the Ohio and Upper Mississippi River towns from yellow fever this season. Both railroad and boat inspections at this important point, Cairo, covering the two great rivers and five states, have been made continuously since July 15, up to July 28 by myself unaided and frequently under the most adverse circumstances. Before this station was established I was personally a witness to the efforts of Inspector J. H. Rauch, made at the expense of comfort and convenience in boarding steamboats in the rivers from tug or skiff and meeting incoming trains along the line of road, and this at all hours day and night and in all weathers. Although this establishment is by no means imposing in appearance nor in its expense account, and can hardly yet be said to be complete in its appointments, it is believed no necessary or pertinent work has been left undone. HORN LAKE ISLAND, TENN.-Inspector B. W. Winn reports as follows, September 16: Horn Lake Island is twenty-five miles south of Memphis on the Cow Island road. To date there have occurred the following cases, confined to two families, in the following order: Mrs. Krankel, aged 28; Mr. Krankel, aged 35; Mr. Kreuter, aged 28. August 28 Mrs. Krankel was attacked with the fever, but made a good recovery. September & Mr. Krankel was taken and is now convalescent. September 11 Mr. Kreuter returned from the city to his temporary home on the island with the fever upon him. He died Sunday, Sep tember 14, at 11 a. m., with black vomit and complete suppression for National Board upon securing the services of Dr, C. A. Rice as one of thirty hours previous to death. About four hours before his death, its inspecting corps. I have had some correspondence with him Mrs. Kreuter while kissing her husband got and swallowed a mouth-touching his trials and difficulties in enforcing the system, and judge ful of black vomit. She has not as yet been attacked with the dis ease. There are three children in the Kreuter and four in the Krankel family liable to the fever. The following facts bearing upon the origin of the disease have been ascertained: About 15th of July, Mr. Krankel and Mr. Kreuter removed their families from the city to Horn Lake Island, twentyfive miles below Memphis. During July they did not visit Memphis, but did so quite frequently during August, remaining in the city a day or so each time. September 8 Mr. Kreuter visited the city to look after the brewery with which he was connected, and returned on the evening of the 11th with a high fever. No one from Memphis ever visited these families, as they were too far away and the roads very rough. After the death of Mr. Kreuter, his wife burned everything in the house, fumigated the room thoroughly with sulphur, locked it up and left the house altogether. BAILEY STATION, TENN.-Inspector B. W. Winn reports, September 20: Bailey's Station is nine or ten miles east by south from Memphis, on the Memphis and Chattanooga Railroad. Mr. H. L. Bedford resides one mile west of the station. Louie Bedford, aged 12, daughter of Mr. H. L. Bedford, was attacked with fever about midnight of the 16th instant. Bennie Bedford, aged 7, son of Mr. H. L. Bedford, was attacked on the morning of the 18th. Louie A close examination into the clinical history of these cases proves, beyond a doubt, that they are genuine cases of yellow fever. Bedford I found dying, having had black vomit for 18 hours previous to my visit; the urine heavily loaded with albumen. The following facts as to the origin of these cases have been obtained: Mr. H. L. Bedford is a brother of Mr. Julian Bedford, who died of yellow fever September 3, and resides about four hundred yards from the residence of the latter. During the illness of his nephew, Mr. E. K. Bedford (a history of whose case I have already forwarded to the Board), he visited the house of his brother, sat up with, nursed, and helped to lay out his nephew. Two days later he was himself taken sick, the physician in attendance pronouncing it acute dysentery. He informs me, however, that he suffered with intense pain in his head, back, and limbs, had fever 72 hours, after which the diarrhoeal symptoms set in. After his recovery he again visited the residence of his brother and nursed him, he being at that time sick with the fever. His wife, Mrs. H. L. Bedford, also visited Mr. Julian Bedford during his illness. Louie and Bennie Bedford slept in the same room with their father and mother, during and since the illness of E. K. and Julian Bedford. There is no evidence of any other exposure on their part. There were four cases, one fatal, of yellow fever in the house now occupied by Mr. H. L. Bedford, during the epidemic of 1878. The patients were, Mrs. H. L. Bedford, her mother, nephew, and sister, the latter case terminating fatally. The bedding, &c., used by the patient who died, has been, since that time, stored in an out-house about fifty yards from the dwelling-house. That used by the other patients has been used by the family ever since, not having been disinfected. Inspector Dr. J. H. Rauch writes as follows from the inspection station, Mississippi River, below Cairo, September 22, 1879: SIR: On my return to Cairo from the inspection station on Monday last, September 15, I received a telegram from Vice-President Billings, and also one from Sanitary Inspector Wirt Johnson, announcing the existence of yellow fever at Concordia, Bolivar County, Miss., and at once notified Sanitary Inspector Reilly of the fact, and instructed him to allow no passengers or freight from Concordia or vicinity to be landed at Cairo or other Illinois towns. This outbreak has again demonstrated the value of the inspection system, since, notwithstanding the demoralization which ensued upon the announcement, there has been no interruption to river travel, and, with the exception of a few points below, there has been no resort to the former policy of non-intercourse. Among these points, however, are the two important Kentucky railroad termini, Hickman and Columbus. At both these places boats from any points south have been forbidden to land, and passengers for the Nashville Road, at Hickman, and for the Mobile and Ohio, at Columbus, have been obliged to come up to Cairo and take the Mississippi Central south to its intersections with those lines. I have not felt warranted in deprecating this action, nor in suggesting any exercise of authority by the Kentucky state board of health, as a member of the sanitary council, as I should probably have done had inspections below been begun sufficiently early to have established confidence in their thoroughness and efficiency. There is marked evidence, however, of improvement in the details of these inspections during the past week, and I congratulate the him to be in downright earnest in his work, with a full comprehension of its scope and value and a determination and ability to carry it out. Learning from him that boats often refused to land at his station for inspection, I telegraphed, on the 18th, from Springfield, Ill., to the health commissioner at Saint Louis, and to the mayor of Cairo, requesting them to notify all Mississippi River boats to stop at the Mississippi stations on both their up and down trips. These notifications have been published in the daily papers, and will relieve him, I think, of the trouble complained of-since the river men cannot afford to neglect any hint looking to shutting them out of Cairo or Saint Louis. Reference was made in my last to the. inspection of two boats for United States mail service on the St. Francis and White Rivers, in Arkansas. Mr. Waldron, the superintendent of river mail service, called on me in Cairo, on the 15th, and stated that the suspension of mails on these streams has occasioned much financial and commer. cial trouble-drafts, remittances and registered letters having been thus prevented reaching the proper hands and having accumulated at this point and at Saint Louis. One of the boats started for the station, but was "snagged" and sunk above Cairo, and the other has not yet put in an appearance. Hearing nothing from New Orleans in response to my telegrams of the 14th to Drs. Bemiss and Herrick concerning train and boat inspection, and being informed that no certificates were issued, nor inspection made at Hammond's on the 17th, I again telegraphed Dr. Bemiss, on the 18th, from Springfield, asking if inspections and certificates inspected here until October 1. To this Dr. Bemiss replied that nothwere given up, and, if so, why; also informing him that trains will be ing from him had authorized such suspenson; that the local board informed him that they were continued; and added that Dr. Bell was in New Orleans "looking after that alone." From your position in Washington, with the whole field under your eye, you will better appreciate than can those directly concerned in any one town or city, whether it be New Orleans or Memphis, the necessity which exists passed, the precautions which have, and with reason, restored confifor keeping up, unrelaxed, until every semblance of danger shall have dence to this large area along the Mississippi and Ohio. As was justly remarked in a recent number of the BULLETIN, and also in my own communications to the Board, September is "the most dangerous month of the season"; and it would be the sheerest fatuity to now invite alarm, if not positive danger, by withdrawing the supervision which has thus far served so well. The end is rapidly approaching. I am daily congratulated on the success which has attended our efforts; and I feel that such congratulations are deserved in view of the substantial immunity of the region in which I have directly worked, and the fact that not a single case of yellow fever has developed among the thousands of passengers I have allowed to enter the State of Illinois. Do not let us mar this record by a premature abolition of necessary precautions whose enforcement entails little inconvenience and no hardship. It would not in the least surprise me if there should be a recrudescence of the epidemic in Memphis even yet before frost, nor if there should be local outbreaks at any point where the fever occurred last year. Some of the severest epidemics have begun between September 1 and October 20, as in Mobile, Montgomery, and Selma, in Alabama, at Natchez, Vicksburg, Memphis, Cairo, and various points in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. While the general health of the valley remains unusually good--a result sanitation-yet as the season advances there is a natural letting down undoubtedly due, among other canses, to general and more thorough of tone consequent upon prolonged heat and exposure to malarial influences, and it is to this fact that I attribute in great part the dangerous character of the month with reference to yellow fever. Then, too, there is every reason to anticipate warmer weather than prevailed during August and the early part of this month. During that period the temperature was very moderate in this region, on the 9th instant the extremes being 54 and 70. Within a few days the temperature has steadily risen, so that in the past twenty-four hours the extremes were 57° and 90°. These various considerations have influenced me in determining to continue train inspections at least until October 1, and boat inspections for some time longer. Noticing the continuance of new cases in the vicinity of Memphis, I inquired of Dr. Winn the probable cause, to which he replied that "all yellow fever now outside of Memphis has leaked out in dirt roads from communication with the city. There are no cases in towns along railroads." Another proof of the value of the "sanitary supervision of railroads and of travel and traffic by rail." It is to be regretted that Memphis herself could not be subjected to such supervision. Sanitation, as there practiced, has not, in my judgment, been directed with the intelligence and zeal her terrible lessons might have been expected to arouse. The opposition to the enforcement of Rule 6, concerning cotton, and the tearing up of the Nicholson pavement during the epidemic are quite in keeping with the removal of fever-poisoned refuse and night-soil during July last. Dr. Johnson of the board and myself deprecated this latter action during our visit in July last, and discountenanced the proposition then mooted to remove the Nicholson pavement before the advent of cold weather. I have telegraphed my support and indorse |