Winchester Republican

YELLOW FEVER IN BALTIMORE.

The reports which have been in circulation for a few days past, are, it is to be feared, too true. We have given below every thing we find in the papers:

The passengers from Baltimore, we are sorry to say, bring the information that several cases of the Yellow Fever have occurred about Bowley's and Smith's wharves, and that the people are removing from that neighborhood with proper precipitation, and other precautionary measures are taking, in consequence of a proclamation of the mayor.

Nat. Intelligencer.

We can but express our unfeigned obligations to our board of health for the prompt, honest, manly, and independent manner in which they have thus early published the truth: nothing is ever gained by procrastination, nothing by timidity, nothing by a suppression of fact. They deserve the thanks, and they will, for such an act of justice, acquire the increased confidence of their fellow-citizens.

[Balt. Morn. Chron.

Health Office, Baltimore,
July 9, 1821.

In consequence of a considerable degree of alarm having been excited in the public mind, owing to several cases of death having occurred from malignant fevers, the board of health conceive it their duty to furnish the citizens of Baltimore with a correct account of the present state of health in that part of the city, in which the disease existed.

The board have to state, that several cases of Malignant fever have occurred about some of the wharves. The two first cases, which can be traced, occurred on the 26th of June—one of them in M'Clure's dock and the other at the lower end of Spear's wharf. Between this period, and the 3d of July, several cases have occurred in Commerce, in Pratt, between South and Gay-streets, in Gay-street, south of Water-street, on Spear's and Smith's wharves, in Frederick, south of Water-street, and on Dugan's wharf The whole number will be seen by reference to the bills of mortality.

The board deeply impressed with the value of the lives of the many worthy citizens, who inhabit that part of the city, which was supposed to be unhealthy, and aware of the usual mortality attending the disease supposed to prevail, deemed it advisable to call into council twelve of the physicians, who were known by the consulting physician, to have seen cases, supposed to have been malignant. In compliance with an invitation from the board, a majority of the physicians attended a meeting of the board on Saturday morning the 7th of July. From the information afforded by the physicians, individually, and a more general account from the consulting physicians, the board were induced to believe a measure which they had in contemplation, and which was recommended by most of the physicians present, ought to be carried into effect, which was the removal of the inhabitants from the parts known to be infected. In consequence, however, of the necessary delay in procuring notices to be served on the heads of families and the intervention of Sunday, the board were induced to defer carrying this measure into effect until Monday morning, the 9th inst. The board having met this morning the 9th of Jul, were informed by their consulting physician, that "no new cases of the disease day. 2d July. except one at the corner of Commerce and Water-streets" A few cases of fever have occurred since that period, but they are reported to be of a mild aspect. The consulting physician reports as his opinion that owing to the temperature of the atmosphere being constantly below 80 degrees since the 3d of July, and sometime nearly as low as 60: together with plentiful rains. that the miasmata, which gave rise to the disease. have diminished in quantity, or have lost their virulence. In addition to this favorable change in the weather, the vigilance the board are using in having every thing in the form of a common nuisance removed, and the free use of lime, proper ventilation of warehouses, &c. they trust they will in all probability arrest the disease.

The board relying, under a kind providence on the efficiency of the means which they have been using and intend to carry into effect, for the removal of the cause of the disease, earnestly invite the citizens to co-operate with them in using every endeavor to banish this destructive foe; and they cherish the hope, that the owners of property will deem nothing a sacrifice that will add to the security of human life. The board, under this belief, are determined to pursue active measures, but none other than those that are well advised.

On the part of the inhabitants, they hope to find a willing compliance with the following advice: Let all the lower apartments be white washed; all yards an cellars freely strewed over with fresh lime daily; avoid throwing any offals into the streets; let every lower apartment be well ventilated daily, from a very early hour in the morning to a late hour in the evening. [Signed by the commissioners of health and the mayor.]