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Correspondence to Mary Snowden Cairns from Sister Hughetta Snowden, St. Mary's Convent, Memphis, TN, 1878 October 18.

Sister Hughetta is writing to her sister, Mary, during the yellow fever epidemic in Memphis, TN that lasted from 1873-1879. She states that "We are all perfectly well...There seems to be but one thought that comes to me, & that the suffering. I have not the least fear of the fever. We have about thirty patients now, have lost in all only four. We go from house to house, carry some refreshments to each, according to what the doctor allows, sitting an hour with one & longer with another. A few of them have hired nurses who watch during the night, but most of them are cared for only by our-selves & their families...Sister Constance(?) takes only too good care of me, in every way. Some think the fever abating. I scarcely think so myself. We have added to our list 13 new names yesterday & today. On the corners of Bradford and Winchester I trust there are ten cases which we visit. I call it 'the little infected district...' This has been a day full of pleasant exciting work. I have been with sixteen of our patients today. All but two are doing splendidly. It is very cold. I feel very hopeful about the disease to night. I had no time to attend the Church Services, after the early Celebration. We have the Holy Communion daily. It is everything to us, it gives us all our strength. We keep so very, very well. All wonder at it... You shall know by telegraph if I am ill so feel perfectly easy about me at all times."

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Identifier

sc.0065.001_016.002

Date

1878 October 18

Keywords

Snowden family., Correspondence., Yellow Fever--history--United States.

Correspondence, to Mary Snowden Cairns from Sister Hughetta Snowden, 1878 October 18

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