The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-09-03 00:00:00, page 4

To the P U.B L I C.
HAVING just arrived from the camp, and been Called
to visit one or two patients at the brink of the grave
with the fall fevers that prevail, here, I hastily drew up and
published a cautionary invitation to those good people who
flight need advice, and chose to apply to me for it, to make
that application betimes, or as early as might be in the dis
order. Perhaps, as lam yet a stranger in the city, it may
Dot be amiss to offer feme fubftantral reasons for thus ad
dressing the public.
The fever, principally affeding the people, in.the instances
which have fallen under my notice, is doubtless of a very
dangerous kind, and highly injurious to those constitutions,
who have the misfortune, for several weeks to sustain its rage,
and yet escape with the remains of life. The animal salts
too long retained in the habit become acrid, and in some
cases io pungent, as to throw the nervous fyflem into the
greatest diforderr Hence we find afilidting spasms, ftridures
on the fecretbry organs, flagnation and corruption of the
jucies, more immediately necessary to the natural, vital, and
animal functions ; in others tumor and inflamation in the
exterior part of the brain, the lungs, pleura, midriff, sto
mach, bowels, liver or mefentery. If these inflammations are
neglected, they too frequently produce mortifications of the
parts ; the belt that can be expected is suppuration, which, if
it happens where the matter cannot find a passage out of the
body, blings on a flower, but as certain death.
From this simple relation of plain fads every considerate
perlon will perceive the propriety of the caution referred to
refpeding a timely application.
About the years 1754 and 5 this fever was rife between
Hudson's river and the interior part of Connecticut. Being
young in bufiuefs, 1 carefully attended to what the most noted
practitioners in that large tract of country applied to their
patients, and found the common course to confilt of the tefta
ceous powders, given in teas of heating herbs, with the pro
feffed intention of expelling the morbid matter by sweat or
perspiration. But, heavens, what expulsions were made by
this ancient,' regular and eltablifhed method of practice !
Doctors were kept riding day and night from one delirious
patient to another, and officioufly adding fuel to flames,
which scorched all before them.
Such horrid devastation ! such manifeft ill success caused
me to avoid the heating regimen altogether; and in this
doubting and unfixed state of mind, the merely accidental
operation of a composition, taken in a violent fever, produced
by a fall from an horse, led me to the train of thinking, and
consequent method of practice I now follow.*
It will not be thought immodest to suggest that so entire a
revolution, brought about by a mere stripling, astonished the
people. When inßead of the speedy and violentdeath of some,
and the fix or eight, to twenty weeks languifhment of others,
they law hundreds recover in a less number of days or hours ;
and very few died of the distemper while I remained in the
country. But reference to a distant place being less fatis fac
tory, I shall improve the opportunity afforded me by a kind
providence to give two instances, fufficiently notable of the
lame success since my return from Amboy. ~Capt. William
Tanner, in the Northern Liberties, was seized with the fever in
question, and through the day was very reliefs, affeCted with
a pain in the head, bones, &c. and taking over night one
dole by my prescription, was next day out of danger and free
* Ps/fifad in the Boston magazine, and the prints of this
Republic,
438
from pain or fever. A f^vapt boy of Mr. James Cannon'
one of the Profeffors in the College, was taken so violently
ill that Mr. Cannon was greatly anxious on his account. I,
like manner was this patient relieved with one dose, and was
the next day capable of attending the table. These would rea
sonably be accounted accidental occurrences, had not the
like consequences as invariably followed the like prescrip
tions, as the favorable smallpox the present mode of inno
culation.
ft may be demanded, why are not these prescriptions now
published, which have so notably affixed numbers ? The plain
and simple anfiver is, that the mystery lyes not in having
thousands 01 the nicest formulas at our fingers ends, but in
accurately difeovering the case, exactly weighing and deter
minding whatever circumstances may be general or peculiar to
it ; and, on that liberal ground, planning the method of cure.
Sometimes a tingle bleeding, puke or purge will prevent a
disorder from raging with the violence, it would have done,
which left to itfelf might have been as fatal as the pestilences
If I have any thing that to myfelf appears peculiar, it is a
felicity in investigating and fettling in mind the causes of the
most intricate diseases ; which once effected, it is universally
allowed the cure is easy, provided the case be within the
reach of known remedy.
This fair and open notice is given to the citizens of this
metropolis, that they may have a full opportunity of inquir
ing and fatisfying themselves whether my services can be of
any importance to them or not ; which should a pretty
liberal share of employment, in a few months manifeft,
I shall be contented to abide with them ; if otherwife,'
I shall attend to the earned and repeated felicitations of
a people, among vOhom I have no need to take any measures
to become acquainted, and remain their sincere wellwilher
and humble servant:
Philadelphia, Sept. 2, 1776. T. YOUNG.
Port of Philadelphia, ) T ,
Pennsylvania, ff. f ALL whom " concern.
NOTICE is hereby given that a Court of Admiralty,
for taking cognizance of, and trying the justice of
captures of vessels, made pursuant to the Resolves of the
Honorable Continental Congress, and brought into this
port, will be held at the Court-house, in the city of Phila
delphia, on Wednesday the fourth day of September, at ten
o'clock in the forenoon of the fame day, then and there to
try the truth of the fads alledged in the bill of John-
Craig, commander of the private sloop of war caked the
CONGRESS (who as well, &c.) againftthe brigantine or :
vessel called the RICHMOND, burthen about sixty tops,
with her tackle, apparel, furniture, and cargo, lately com
manded by George Folger. To the end and intent that the
owner or owners of the said brigantine and her cargo, or any
person concerned therein, may appear and shew cause, if
any they have, why the fame should not be condemned
according to the prayers of the said bill.
By order of the judge,
August 17, 1776. ANDREW ROBESON, Reg.
WANTED a SERVANT. MAID who. is capable of
doing the general business of a small family, and
can wash and iron. A proper character will be expelled.
Inquire of the printer.
PHILADELPHIA: Printed by BENJAMIN
TOWNE, in Front-street, near the London
Coffee-Houfe.