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Long Hot Summers in 1850, Yellow Fever Epidemic Re-Enactment at Westville

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  • Long Hot Summers in 1850, Yellow Fever Epidemic Re-Enactment at Westville

    Yellow Fever Epidemic Re-Enactment at Westville
    Long Hot Summers in 1850
    http://www.theweekly.com/news/2006/September/27/Yellow_Fever.html

    Lumpkin, GA-(September 27, 2006) - Historic Westville ?Georgia?s Working 1850 Town? will re-enact a 19th century Yellow Fever outbreak on Saturday, October 14, 2006.

    Westville will present a day of programs to help visitors explore the strife and stresses of disease outbreaks. The ?Sickly South? was an important facet of the regions image in the 19th century when Yellow Fever epidemics repeatedly ravaged the Gulf States.

    Yellow Fever came to the Western Hemisphere by way of the African slave trade. The long hot summers fostered insect life, made food preservation difficult and increased sanitary problems. For most of the 19th century health officials concentrated on epidemic emergencies with limited knowledge of the nature of the disease or the mode of transportation. It was 1901 before the United States Yellow Fever Commission proved the connection with mosquitoes.

    Visitors on this day of programs will see villagers in various states of alarm. Victims with fever, chills and headaches, and advanced stages with jaundice and black vomit.

    A doctor will treat with medicines, bloodletting, purging, sponging and open-air exercising. One village home bears a black wreath indicating death with the funeral in the afternoon.

    Westville is located in Lumpkin, GA 35 miles south of Columbus, GA on US 27. Village hours are Tuesday-Saturday from 10am-5pm.

    Admission charge is $4/students and $10/adults. For more information call toll free 1/888-733-1850 or E-mail director@westville.org.

    Please visit our web site www.westville.org .
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