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Letter to Editor
August 21, 1799
Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
What is this article about?
Citizens request the Health Committee to provide an official statement on the rumored malignant fever in the city to counter exaggerated reports, inform the public of any dangers, and prevent disruptions to market supplies from the countryside.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
For the Mercantile Advertiser.
A number of citizens would take it as a favor if the Health Committee in this city would favor the public with an exact statement, as far as they know, concerning the malignant fever at present said to exist amongst us.
As yet we know but little, only from common report; and often what we have from this source proves upon examination to be erroneous. Many exaggerated reports are circulating in the country, stating matters to be worse than they really are; such reports will have a much worse tendency in deterring country people from coming in with produce, so absolutely necessary to supply our markets, than an impartial statement of facts issued officially by the board of health, to which, no doubt, credit would generally be given, both in city and country. This would have another good effect: If there be danger, then both citizens and country people would be warned of it and conduct themselves accordingly, as they would then be informed of the particular spot where danger may be apprehended; and if there be no danger, they ought also to be informed of this. Such a measure would have a tendency to check the influence of false reports.
RR.
A number of citizens would take it as a favor if the Health Committee in this city would favor the public with an exact statement, as far as they know, concerning the malignant fever at present said to exist amongst us.
As yet we know but little, only from common report; and often what we have from this source proves upon examination to be erroneous. Many exaggerated reports are circulating in the country, stating matters to be worse than they really are; such reports will have a much worse tendency in deterring country people from coming in with produce, so absolutely necessary to supply our markets, than an impartial statement of facts issued officially by the board of health, to which, no doubt, credit would generally be given, both in city and country. This would have another good effect: If there be danger, then both citizens and country people would be warned of it and conduct themselves accordingly, as they would then be informed of the particular spot where danger may be apprehended; and if there be no danger, they ought also to be informed of this. Such a measure would have a tendency to check the influence of false reports.
RR.
What sub-type of article is it?
Persuasive
Informative
What themes does it cover?
Health Medicine
Social Issues
What keywords are associated?
Malignant Fever
Health Committee
Official Statement
Exaggerated Reports
Produce Markets
False Rumors
What entities or persons were involved?
Rr.
Health Committee
Letter to Editor Details
Author
Rr.
Recipient
Health Committee
Main Argument
the health committee should issue an exact official statement on the malignant fever to counter erroneous reports, inform the public of any real dangers or lack thereof, and prevent market supply disruptions from deterred country suppliers.
Notable Details
Exaggerated Reports Circulating In The Country
Deterring Country People From Bringing Produce To Markets
Official Statement Would Be Credited And Check False Reports