The Memphis Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1878

The epidemic began in New Orleans, when ships carrying infected mosquitoes stopped there to trade. Resident mosquitoes then bit infected people and passed on the virus to everyone they bit.

Many other cities and towns were struck by yellow fever, but with nowhere near the devastating results that Memphis suffered in that year. This was a particularly virulent strain which progressed faster and caused a greater percentage of deaths.

Since no one knew at the time what caused yellow fever, there were many futile attempts at prevention. Mail leaving Memphis was “fumigated” with sulphuric fumes by postal workers.

After the mass exodus of 25,000 panic-stricken residents of Memphis in August, 1878, roughly 20,000 people were left in the city. Of these, 14,000 were black and 6,000 white. Deaths: a little over 600 blacks and more than 4,000 whites. (It is suggested that since yellow fever originated in Africa that blacks have a natural resistance [not immunity] to the disease.)

Interesting comments from J.M. Keating, from his book about the epidemic (see title below):

“There were hours, especially at night, when the solemn oppressions of universal death bore upon the human mind as if the day of judgment were about to dawn.”

“Peculiarly a disease of the nervous system, it was fatal to those whose energies had been exhausted by debauchery. But neither cleanliness or right living were a shield to stay the hand of this destroyer. He invaded the homes of the most chaste and the den of the vilest. He took innocence and infamy at the same moment and spread terror everywhere…”

Article in the London Standard (quoted in Keating’s book):

“The South has borne herself bravely and nobly during the yellow fever scourge. No people could have behaved better…The journalists of the South…have reflected credit on themselves and the profession by the resolve and fearless manner in which they have discharged to the fullest their highest duty.”

Comment by Reverend Doctor Landrum, Central Baptist Church:

“A remarkable feature of this pestilence is its malignity, the mortality at one time being one death in every two cases. Of my flock who have remained in the city more than half have died…”

(See page 439 of Mr. Keating’s book for the full sermon by Doctor Landrum given October 26, 1878, just after the epidemic.)

"Extreme dread, panic and terror were, in my judgment, the cause of death in many instances." Dr. H. A. Gant, "The Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1878".