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 / By J.M. Keating.

  • Keating, John McLeod, 1830-1906
Date:
1879
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: 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 / By J.M. Keating. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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    PREFACE. This history of the yellow fever, and record of the epidemic of 1878, in Memjihis, had its origin in the wish exjaressed ])y a large number of intelli- gent citizens, at home and abroad, who desired that the origin, progress, and results of the recent epidemic, esjjecially, might be rescued from the evanes- cent columns of the daily press and put in an enduring form—a monument testifying to the sufferings of the people of IMemphis, the unparalleled losses of life, to the humanity and overflowing charity of their fellow-countrymen of all the States, and the people of many of the nations of Europe; and, above all, to the heroism of the women and the men who illustrated, as physicians and nurses, with a sublime self-abnegation, the first and chiefest of Christian virtues. All the known and well autlienticated sources of infiirmati(jn have been freely availed of, and it is believed that nothing has been omitted that could increase the value of the book as a history of the yellow fever and comijlete record of the epidemic of 1878, from the occurrence of the first to the date of the last known case. Tlie author has, it will be seen, confined himself to focts, and has not in- dulged, as he could wish, and tiiey deserve, in extended panegyrics of those who so nobly perished at the post of duty, or of those who, doing their duty, survived the ordeal of death. Want of space firliade. The nature of their employment will sufficiently speak the added danger, if any, encountered by each, whether Howard or citizen; and the official station they filled will mark those for special remembrance by the Avorld, Avho, l)y their courage, zeal, and efficiency, were the life and inspiration of the comparative few who performed what, to them, was a sacred duty.