Arkansas

Yellow Fever

08/07/2004

Transcribed by : Tina Easley

History

Yellow fever (YF) can be recognized from historic texts stretching back 400 years. Infection causes a wide spectrum of disease, from mild symptoms to severe illness and death. The "yellow" in the name is explained by the jaundice that affects some patients, causing yellow eyes and yellow skin.

                 In medicine, Dr. Walter Reed is generally credited with originating the theory of yellow fever transmission by mosquitos. The truth is that he only confirmed this theory. Carlos Juan Finlay, a modest Cuban physician, was the one who actually originated it. Up until the time that Dr. Finlay began his research into yellow fever, the medical research profession worldwide believed this disease was transmitted through the air or produced by a putrid substance from dead marine organisms. In 1879, Dr. Finlay suspected this theory was wrong and began his research, which lasted two years, after which his findings convinced him that yellow fever was transmitted by mosquitos. For the next 22 years, American scientists, including Dr. Reed, repeatedly rebuffed Finlay's attempts to convince them that his theory was correct. During this period, yellow fever killed more American soldiers than died in the Spanish-American War and claimed the lives of 52,000 French workers constructing the Panama Canal. It wasn't until 1901 that the American scientists, following the lead of their colleagues in Mexico, Cuba and Europe, finally confirmed Dr. Finlay's theory. One can only wonder how many lives would have been saved if more people had listened to him earlier. In 1933, the world paid homage to Finlay in Dallas, Texas, when leaders of medicine from the Western Hemisphere named December 3, his birthday, as the "Day of American Medicine.

Newspaper Clippings and other records

Tennessee

Yellow Fever Strikes

While the membership of the First Baptist Church was still reeling from the aftermath of the Civil War, an even greater siege fell on Memphis.  The city was struck a deadly blow by the onslaught of a yellow fever epidemic.  The epidemic began in 1873 and reached its peak in 1878-79.

During the epidemic, poorer Memphians were placed in camps established outside the city to quarantine the sick from the well. All business ceased except hospitals and funeral facilities.  The city of Memphis lost so many residents that the city charter was repealed  and simply became a taxing district.

There are very few records about the status of the First Baptist Church during this time period.

In 1880 the Rev. R. A. Venable was called as pastor, but due to contracting yellow fever was unable to assume his duties for six weeks.  He remained pastor until 1891 when Dr. R. J. Willingham was called.  He severed for 21 months before being called to the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.