NARRATIVE OF THE CHOLERA EPIDEMIC OF 1873 IN THE UNITED STATES. 43D CONGRESS, 2d Session, House of Representatives. Ex.Doc.No.95 Images Submitted By: DEB HAINES [http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00003.html#0000719] Transcribed By: CHERYL WILSON [http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00003.html#0000720] ==================================================================== ************************************* USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and by non-commercial entities as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for profit or any form of presentation, must obtain the written consent of the file submitter, or his legal representative and then contact the listed USGENWEB archivist with proof of this consent. ************************************* Pages 258 through 264 CHAPTER XI. KENTUCKY GROUP. KENTUCKY CONTRIBUTORS. Dr. J. W. Thompson, McCracken County. Dr. Charles H. Todd, Daviess Co. Dr. J. W. Becker, McCracken Co. Dr. Haines, Daviess County. Dr. B. Taulber, McCracken Co. Dr. Stewart, Daviess County. Dr. J. A. Maxwell, McCracken Co. Dr. W. D. Sturman, Daviess County. Dr. D. D. Thompson, McCracken County. Dr. B. H. Hobbs, Daviess County. Dr. B. Saunders, McCracken Co. Dr. O. Newland, Christian County. Dr. P. K. Worthen, McCracken Co. Dr. J. D. Woods, Barren County. Dr. C. R. Royster, McCracken Co. Dr. H. McDowell, Harrison Co. Dr. A. C. Wright, Warren County. Dr. J. K. McCreary, Shelby Co. Dr. J. F. McElroy, Warren Co. Dr. W. R. Pusey, Meade County. Dr. Miller, Warren County. Dr. N. B. Lewis, Carroll County. Dr. Van Meter, Warren County. Drs. Davis and Taylor, Webster County. Dr. Waggoner, Warren County. Dr. L. Prichard, Carter County. Dr. L. C. Porter, Warren County. Dr. J. W. Prichett, Hopkins Co. Drs. Combs and Atchison, Warren County. Dr. W. McNarey, Hopkins County. Dr. Thomas, Warren County. Dr. N. L. Taylor, Adair County. Dr. Lackey, Warren County. Dr. J. C. Cassidy, Crittenden Co. Dr. Malloy, Simpson County. Dr. W. S. Graves, Crittenden Co. Dr. Foline, Simpson County. Dr. Lindsey, Trigg County. Dr. G. W. Duncan, Simpson Co. Dr. Stanrod, Trigg County. Dr. Edwards, Simpson County. Dr. Slaughter, Hardin County. Dr. James Duncan, Simpson Co. Dr. Anderson, Hardin County. Dr. W. R. Bryan, Simpson County. Dr. Pusey, Hardin County. Dr. Milliken, Simpson County. Dr. A. Warfield, Hardin County. Dr. Suddeth, Simpson County. Dr. Davis, Hardin County. Dr. Simmons, Simpson County. Dr. Fletcher, Hardin County. Dr. Richards, Simpson County. Dr. Berry, Oldham County. Dr. Hawthorn, Simpson County. Dr. Douden, Oldham County. Dr. B. Letcher, Henderson Co. Dr. David Keller, Bourbon County Dr. J. H. Letcher, Henderson Co. Dr. J. F. Hickman, Nelson County. Dr. J. J. Diehl, Henderson Co. Dr. N. G. Leake, Nelson County. Dr. J. A. Hodge, Henderson Co. Dr. Wilkinson, Nelson County. Dr. J. O. Collins, Henderson Co. Dr. Wise, Nelson County. Dr. W. D. Furman, Henderson Co. Dr. A. Smith, Nelson County. Dr. J. L. Cook, Henderson Co. Drs. Chandler and Base, Taylor County. Dr. Thompson, Henderson Co. Dr. W. T. Chandler, Taylor Co. Dr. J. B. Cook, Henderson Co. Dr. Hodgen, Taylor County. Dr. W. M. Hanna, Henerson Co. Dr. Schively, Taylor County. Dr. James Beaty, Henderson Co. Dr. J. S. Warren, Garrard County. Dr. J. A. Carr, Caldwell County. Dr. S. L. S. Smith, Garrard Co. Dr. H. T. McNary, Caldwell Co. Dr. W. Berry, Garrard County. Dr. J. A. Maxwell, Caldwell Co. Dr. F. C. Wilson, Garrard County. Dr. L. W. Jones, Caldwell County. Dr. L. S. McMurtry, Garrard Co. Dr. Reid, Garrard County. Pg. 259 Dr. P. B. McGoodwins, Caldwell County. Dr. S. P. Craig, Lincoln County. Dr. J. A. King, Caldwell County. Dr. W. H. Spillman, Mercer Co. Dr. Lewis Rogers, Jefferson Co. Dr. J. D. Jackson, Boyle County. Dr. S. L. Manly, Jefferson County. Dr. W. B. Harlan, Boyle County. Dr. T. Anderson, Jefferson County. Dr. J. M. Meyer, Boyle County. Dr. Atchison, Jefferson County. Dr. W. W. Cleaver, Marion Co. Dr. S. A. Foss, Jefferson County. Dr. W. H. Hopper, Marion county. Dr. F. Paschel, Jefferson County. Dr. M. Schuck, Marion County. Dr. John M. Duke, Mason County. Dr. J. Shuck, Marion County. Dr. Adamson, Mason County. Dr. W. E. Mattingly, Marion Co. Dr. Schackelford, Mason County. Dr. B. W. Avritt, Marion County. Dr. Pickett, Mason County. Dr. Palmer, Marion County. Dr. J. W. Williamson, Union Co. Dr. Warren, Marion County. Dr. W. A. Jones, Union County. Dr. Blenco, Marion County. Dr. W. W. Henderson, Kenton Co. Dr. B. J. Moore, Marion County. Dr. A. Kullman, Kenton County. Dr. H. B. Peterson, Marion Co. Dr. J. T. Wise, Kenton County. Dr. L. D. Knott, Marion county. Dr. J. F. Christian, Kenton Co. Dr. W. R. H. Carr, Marion Co. Dr. J. M. Riffe, Kenton County. Dr. J. B. Evans, Marion county. Dr. J. J. Temple, Kenton County. Dr. Porter, Marion County. Dr. F. H. Noonan, Kenton Co. Dr. O. Polin, Washington Co. Dr. J. B. Stevens, Kenton Co. Dr. J. R. McGee, Washington Co. Dr. D. H. Jessup, Kenton Co. Dr. J. Debo, Washington County. Dr. C. F. Thomas, Kenton County. Dr. B. F. Wood, Washington co. Dr. J. H. Blane, Kenton County. Dr. McElroy, Washington County. Dr. E. H. Luckett, Daviess Co. Dr. James Fields, Russell County. Dr. L. M. Lovelace, Ballard Co. Surgeon William J. Bloan, U.S.A., Medical Director Department of the South. Acting Assistant-Surgeon R. G. Redd, U.S.A. Acting Assistant-Surgeon S.L. S. Smith, U.S.A. Surgeon P. H. Bailhache, U.S. Marine-Hospital Service. Dates of Initial Cases. McCracken County........May 21. Carroll County..........July 12. Warren County...........June 3. Christian County........July 12. Simpson County..........June 5. Barren County...........July 19. Jefferson County........June 8. Daviess County..........July 19. Henderson County........June 16. Hopkins County..........July 20. Trigg County............June 16. Meade County............July 27. Union County............June 16. Webster County..........July 31. Carter County...........June 20. Garrard County..........August 10. Kenton County...........June 22. Marion County...........August 11. Caldwell County.........June 29. Nelson County...........August 20. Ballard County..........June 29. Lincoln County..........August 29. Mason County............June 29. Adair County............August 29. Henry County............July 6. Washington County.......August 30. Oldham County...........July 8. Boyle County............August 30. Hardin County...........July 8. Clinton County..........August 31. Bourbon County..........July 10. Mercer County...........September 6. Taylor County...........July 12. Russell County..........September 9. McCRACKEN COUNTY. The Kentucky group, in the cholera-epidemic of 1873, opens on the 20th day of May at the city of Paducah, McCracken County, which city is located upon the bank of the Ohio River, at the mouth of the Tennessee, and a few miles below the point at which the Cumberland empties into the Ohio. From its advantage of location, Paducah is a point of importance in the river carrying-trade, all steamers between New Orleans and Cincinnati touching at the wharf-boat on each trip; and being the market of an extensive tobacco-district, the city is much frequented by all classes of individuals financially interested in this staple. The city is the terminus of two railway-lines: the Memphis and Paducah Road, which connects with the Louisville and Memphis, and the Nashville, Chattanooga and Saint Louis Railroads, and the Louisville, Paducah and Southwestern, which connects with the Evansville, Owensborough and Nashville, the Saint Louis and Southeastern, and the Louisville and Nashville Railways. It is seen that Paducah is in constant communication with the South, West, and North. In 1870 Paducah had a population of 6,866, of whom 4,865 were whites, 2,001 were negroes. The population of McCracken County, at the same time, was 13,988, of whom 10,699 were whites. The city is built upon a plain of considerable extent, elevated above high-water mark of the rivers. A portion of the city, which is represented upon the accompanying map as within the red- lined boundary, overlies a deep bed of red gravel and is well drained at all seasons; the remainder of the city, or that portion south and east of Broadway, (see map,) is located upon alluvial soil. As is common along the line of western water-courses, the banks of the river are elevated somewhat above the level of the country in their rear, so that the surface drainage or creeks, or to be collected into ponds. On the 18th day of May, 1873, the river-steamer John Kilgore, from New Orleans, La., bound for Cincinnati, Ohio, arrived a Paducah, and remained at the city wharf-boat for over an hour. This steamer had left New Orleans, La., on the 13th instant, at which date cholera was epidemic in the city. Accurate data of this journey cannot be now obtained, from an unwillingness on the part of the officers to impart any information; but it is known that before she reached Memphis, Tenn., two or more persons were extremely ill upon the lower deck, both of whom died before the boat reached Shawneetown, Ill. At Paducah it was positively denied that cholera was on board, and free communication between the city and boat took place. Passengers landed and freight was discharged. Among the citizens of the city who visited the Kilgore at this date was Mr. William G. Baldwin, a young man twenty-one years of age, unmarried, sober, but a free liver, who as the shipping-clerk of the Limboyd tobacco-warehouse, went on board to arrange for the shipment of tobacco to New Orleans upon the return trip. He remained on board during the entire stay. On the 19th (the next day) he complained of malais; on the 20th of slight diarrhoea was acute, and Mr. Baldwin imprudently drank a quantity of lager beer, and ate some fruit. At 11 o'clock a.m. the same day he was taken violently ill; was carried to his home; cholera was fully developed, and the case terminated fatally after an illness of eight hours. There is a popular report among certain citizens of Paducah that on the day preceeding the death of Mr. Baldwin, a young girl who lived near the steamboat-landing, and who had returned to the city from a visit to some point below Puducah on the steamer Kilgore, died of the same disease. The physician who attended this case being now in Europe, and the family to which she belonged having removed from the city, no accurate information as to the case can be obtained. Mr. Baldwin was attended, during the few hours that his illness assumed a violent form, by his friend, Mr. P. E. Calhoun; and by this gentleman the last services to the body of his dead friend were rendered. On the 23d of May, Mr. Calhoun was seized with symptoms of cholera, and at once secured medical attendance. The disease was fully developed, and the patient barely escaped with his life. Three cases, none of which terminated fatally, occurred among negroes frequenting the wharf-boat and tobacco- warehouse. With these cases the disease subsided, as far as can be discovered, until June 3, when a Mrs. Mary W. Bechtold, a German woman, thirty-five years of age, arrived at her home, after a visit to Memphis, Tenn. Mrs. B. arrived by the noon train on the Memphis and Paducah Railroad, and after reaching her house was in perfect health and spirits, and so continued until a few moments after she retired to bed at 10 o'clock p.m., when experiencing an urgent desire to empty her rectum, she left her bed and went to stool. A few moments later and the desire returned; this time the action was profuse and watery. Others followed in rapid succession; by midnight she was fully collapsed, and at 10 o'clock a.m. the next day (June 4) she died. During the illness of Mrs. B., she was nursed by her friend, Mrs. Teresa Eagle, who resided in the next block. By Mrs. E. all the excreta were emptied, the clothing was removed, and the body prepared for the grave. After the funeral on the 5th of July, Mrs E. was taken with a slight diarrhoea, which contined for three days, or until the 8th, when the severity of the symptoms increased, cholera was fully developed, and the case terminated fatally after an illness of forty-eight hours. From these two cases the disease spread. The location of the dwellings in which these deaths occurred is shown upon the map, and it will be seen that they form the initial point in the infected district of the city. It is also an ascertained fact that the majority of the river-steamers that touched at the wharf-boat of this city during the month of June were more or less infected with cholera. On the 10th of June, a deck-hand of the steamer Quickstep was carried to the city hospital, where he died of cholera the next day. Dr. R. Saunders reports the cases of two negroes who were removed from the steamer Fisk to their homes in the city on the 19th with cholera. On the 21st the body of a negro who had died of cholera was removed by the city sexton from the same boat; and on the 22d the same vessel of cholera occurred among the laborers employed at, and the individuals who frequented, the tobacco warehouses. Of the last-named class, the case of Mr. R. S. Cobb is illustrative. Mr. C. was a gentleman of the best locations of the city. This gentleman was a tobacco-buyer, and frequented the warehouses devoted to that trade. He was temperate and methodical in his mode of life. June 15 he was awakened at an early hour of the morning by an uneasy sensation in his bowels, which resulted in two or three rather loose actions. He, however, breakfasted as usual, and after visiting the market paid his morning visit to the warehouses. While the Planters' tobacco warehouse, (Buckner & Terrell,) the severity of the diarrhoea was increased and he had several large, watery, and exhausting actions. At 12 o'clock m. he was removed to this home; at 3 o'clock p.m. he was perfectly collapsed, and died at 11:30 o'clock a.m. the next day. The case of Henry Fletcher, an employe of Buckner & Terrell at the Planters' warehouse, is illustrative of the onset of the disease among his class. This man, an active and most respectable negro, forty years of age, was taken with a light diarrhoea June 10, which continued for three days, during which he remained at his work, using the common privy of the warehouse, (Mr. Cobb used the same privy before and after his attack.) June 14, the diarrhoea still continuing, Fletcher took a dose of cathartic pills, and attended the funeral of a child that had died the day before of cholera. While at the grave he was taken with cramps; was carried to his home, where he died at 2 o'clock p.m. the same day. This man had been a religious leader among the negroes, and previous to his attack had visited all who had been taken with the disease. It will be noted by reference to the accompanying map that but few cases occurred in that portion of the city overlying the bed of red gravel, of which mention has already been made; and it is worthy of note that but one multiple instance occurred within these limits, which is occupied almost entirely by the better classes of the community, whose houses were invariably supplied with cistern-water. In that portion of the city which is located upon alluvial soil, and which is represented by the deep shadings upon the map, the disease was epidemic and raged with virulence. This portion of the city is inhabited by the middle and lower classes, Germans, Irish, and negroes, whose drinking-water was obtained from wells which could only be supplied by surface-water. Some few residences of individuals of the better classes in this portion of the city, which were supplied with cistern-water and kept in good sanitary condition, were not visited by the disease. On the 25th of June the sale of vegetables was prohibited in the city, and the mortality among the negroes began to decrease; this, however, did not apply to the German population, who, regardless of the prohibition, on each Sunday would visit the country and indulge in vegetable food, besides bringing into the city a supply for the week; and it became a recognized fact that each Monday a larger number persons from this class were buried than on any other day of the week. We are informed by the physicians of this city, who remained constantly at their post, that it was by no means an uncommon thing to find negroes upon the streets in all stages of the disease, and that this seemed particularly applicable to those who worked upon the public wharf. No physician died of the disease, but all suffered more or less with the premonitory symptoms. Those who attended the sick and cared for the dead were not exempt from the disease. An illustration of this will be found in the case of Sister Ursual, who nursed devotedly the wife of a drayman named Donovan, until released by the death of the patient, when she was herself attached with the disease at the religions house of which she was a member, and died June 23, after but a short illness. Her death was followed by numerous cases of acute diarrhoea among the other inmates of this house, which were all, however, arrested in the second stage. Disinfectants were actively used, and every effort was made to improve the sanitary condition of the infected district; but from the 14th of June to the 29th of July the disease raged maintained undoubtedly by constant cholera arrivals from infected points both on the river and railroads. The medical men were indefatigable in their battling with the disease. When any one of their number was prostrated, the additional labor was ungrudgingly performed by the well, and to their honor be it said, that this excess of labor was almost entirely gratuitous. While constantly working by day and night, it was among a class of the community who were unable to reward their physician that demanded his expenditure of time and skill, this personal exposure to contagion, but in all instances the necessities of the poor were as promptly considered as were those of the wealthy, and this when the existence of the disease almost entirely destroyed the professional income of these brave, devoted men. The treatment most relied upon during this demonstration of the disease was calomel, opium, and stimulants. In all instances where the patient was reached in the early stage of the disease it was arrested, and convalescence resulted. Some few instances of recovery from prolonged collapse are reported. Dr. Saunders reports very strongly in favor of the hypodermic use of atropia, and under date of October 26, 1873, states in some forty or fifty cases in which he made such exhibition of this remedy, none of the cases advanced beyond the second stage of the disease. December 4, 1873, Dr. S. writes, in all cases which came under his observation, in the first or second stage of cholera, he exhibited hypodermically, atropia gr.1-30, morphia gr.1-6, and repeated in from four to six hours as required. In McCracken County cholera was developed at but two points outside of the city of Paducah. On the 29th of May, a farmer living at what is known as Cross-roads, some six miles distant from Paducha, who had been in the city on the previous day, was taken with cholera, the disease was fully developed, but after an illness of ninety-six hours the patient was pronounced convalescent. This case was followed by the occurrence of five distinct cases cholera, two of which terminated fatally. In this group the connection of the case with Mr. Morrow, who contracted the disease at Paducah, is absolute. The demonstration of cholera at Woodville, a village some twelve miles to the southwest of Paducah, is of great interest. On the 13th day of June, a man named Taylor, who resided three and a half miles from Woodville, went on business to Paducah, and remained one day and two nights at that city. On the 15th he returned to his home and complained somewhat of diarrhoea. In a few hours cholera was fully developed. Early on the 16th he was found by Dr. Marshall, of Woodville, in collapse, and in a few hours died. Disinfectants were freely used, and no other cases occurred in the neighborhood. On the 28th of June, a Mrs. Benton, who lived two miles north of Woodville, was taken with cholera and died in a few hours. This woman, who was a widow, lived in an isolated position, in an old dilapidated log-house upon the banks of a small creek. The yard around this house was covered with high grasses and weeds. The ground was covered with debris. The family used water from a well on the hill-side, some 60 or 80 yards from the creek. This well was curbed with planks which were rotten. It was supposed that this woman could in no way have been exposed to the infection of cholera. Dr. C. G. Royster, of Woodville, who reports the case, did not reach her bed-side until the patient was hopelessly collapsed. June 29, John Rogers, aged thirty years, a son of Mrs. Benton, and who resided with his mother, was attached with cholera, and died after an illness of but six hours. Rogers was a single man, of no fixed employment, worked whenever he could obtain work, and it was found that during the previous week he had visited several trading- boats at a point on the river some five miles from his home. For two days previous to his attack Rogers had suffered from diarrhoea, and on the day before his mother was attached had many painless dejections on the ground in the vicinity of the house. After Mrs. Benton was taken sick on the 28th, her married daughter, Mrs. Sink, who lived nine miles distant, was sent for and arrived at her mother's house two or more hours before Mrs. Benton died. Mrs. Sink was accompanied by her husband and young child. These people remained at this house until after the funeral of Rogers, when, as they were about to return to their home, the young child was taken with a profuse watery diarrhoea. Dr. Royster administered a full dose of calomel, and directed absolute rest. The next day (June 30) the child's condition being much improved, preparations for departure were again made, when Mrs. Sink was suddenly taken with an urgent desire to go to stool, and had a large watery dejection, which prostrated her so severely that she was carried into the house. Laudanum, calomel, and brandy were administered, and the surface of her body was covered with sinapisms. While Mrs. Sink was being treated, her husband was attacked in an almost identical manner, and the same line of treatment was adopted. In both cases absolute rest was enjoined upon the patients. July 2, Mr. and Mrs. Sink, with their child, all being convalescent, started for their home, accompanied by Phil. and Tom Rogers, and Ida Benton, the young brothers and half-sister of Mrs. sink. The family arrived at home safely, but during the succeeding night the disease was again developed in the person of Mr. Sink, and soon after daylight he was violently ill. Failing to secure medical attendance, a runner was dispatched to Woodville. At 8 o'clock a.m. (on the 3d) Phil. Rogers was attacked with cholera; at 11 o'clock a.m., Mrs. Sink was taken with the same disease; and when Drs. Royster and Marshall arrived from Woodville, at 3 o'clock p.m., Mr. sink was dead; Phil. Rogers was in articulo mortis; Mrs. Sink was hopelessly collapsed; and she died at 9 o'clock p.m. the same day. About 6 o'clock the same evening Tom Rogers had a large, watery, and exhausting dejection. He was placed at once in bed, and laudanum, calomel, and quinine were administered. During the same night Ida Benton was attacked in the same manner, and the same treatment was had. Both cases recovered, although the convalescence in both was tedious and slow. No other cases occurred. A sister-in-law of Mrs. Sink was assiduous in her attention to the sick in this demonstration. She remained alone in the house during the night of July 3 with the two sick children and the dead, but did not at any time exhibit any symptoms of the disease. WARREN COUNTY. Bowling Green, the county seat of Warren County, is a well-located inland city, situated nearly in the center of the county, upon the line of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, and one mile from the head of navigation of the Barren River. Railway communication with Louisville, Memphis, and Nashville is almost hourly. Twice each week a steamboat arrives from Evansville, Ind. The data of the epidemic of cholera at Bowling Green is unsatisfactory, from the fact that none of the physicians had preserved records of [Cont'd on Page 265] Original images can be found at http://www.usgwarchives.net/ky/state/cholera.