Yellow Fever in New Orleans. Autograph Letter Signed. Two pages of a bifolium, 7.75" x 9.75", Mobile, Alabama; August 17, 1858. Signed, "Joe." In this letter to his brother, Joe writes in part: "...the city still continues very healthy for the season tho a great many at present are suffering from colds Rheumatics & c on account of late north winds & rainy weather. There has been a well authenticated case of Yellow Fever here this year. I believe I wrote you before that there was some but I find it is a mistake. At New Orleans there were 300 deaths for the week ending on the 14 th . It is hoped that after the 20 th there will be a decrease (not of population). Citizens are sanguine here of escaping this year..." A fascinating account referring to the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1858 that claimed nearly five thousand lives in New Orleans alone. It was the second deadliest outbreak in the city after the 1853 epidemic when the casualty list numbered nearly eight thousand. As this is a disease that thrives in warm, humid areas, the port city of New Orleans was especially prone to outbreaks in the summer months; the final outbreak in the city occurred in 1905. Condition: Minor discoloration from ink oxidation with smoothed mailing folds. Present on paper is a blind stamp with two watermarks. HID03101062020 © 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved