Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 | Outbreak | 1
American History Tellers
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The Death of a Single Patient in a Month
Despite his title, Mayor Clarkson held little real power in Philadelphia Actual authority to pass laws and raise money rested in various committees that ran the city Still Clarkson listened as Rush explained his theory that filth in the streets was causing yellow fever to spread. Even though his title was largely honorary, Clarkson was determined to use his office to do whatever he could to stop an epidemic. The next day he placed a notice in the newspapers declaring, A dangerous infectious disorder now prevails in this city He ordered city workers to clean the streets and gutters of rotting garbage and dead animals Suddenly, Philadelphia's could talk of nothing but the deadly fever raging through their city.
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