The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-08-06 00:00:00

YELLOW FEVER IN SPAIN.

The following is an extract of a private letter, which
we have this morning received from Cadiz. We trust
our correspondent's apprehensions sill not be realised :

_
" Cadiz, July 2*.
" Perhaps there I. no disease more alarming in its approach,
more fatal in its consequences, nor one that has excited deeper
interest and spcculanua among medical men, than the yellow
fever. _ . . .

" Whether this fever. or epidemic of Andalusia, is imported
from the toasts of Africa, or brought trout the far distant and
sickly Antes of America, or generated at home, through the agency
of known or unknown causal, acting upon peculiar locality, it is
now the subject of gloomy speculation among the French troops of
this garrison.
" Spaniards who have lived to experience several visits of this
destructive malady, say that we are almost certain to have it in
Cadiz this season, and that appearances and circumstances, which
generally usher in this scourge of mankind, already predict its
awful approach. The sprirg of thin year has been unusually dry,
with a continual prevalence of easterly winds, and for upwards of
two months we have had no rain ; consequently fresh vegetables
are not only scarce, but of bad quality ; and I believe all physi-
cians alto have treated of the yellow fever, allow that a particular
constitution of the atmosphere, and a scarcity of water and of fresh
vegetables, pm-dispose the bi:aly to the action of morbific matter.
The Freitch, as they am more fearful and apprehensive than the
natives, are taking all possible precaution to prevent its introduc-
tion from foreign shores, to vfliet which they subject all vessels
coining from the Levant a:id America to the most rigorous qua-
rantine.

" The French Authorities have also taken the Police of the City
under their direction, and the slaughter-house was ordered to be
removed some distance from town. The public hospitals, prisons,
sewers, and streets. have undergone a complete purgation, and
every attention to cleanliness is strictly observed, a circumstance to
which the Spaniards have been little accustomed.
" The heat has now increased to a great event, and these lut
four day, the wean temperature, or average heat in the shade and
in apartments where the sun never enters, and where fresh breezes
from the sea are coisinually blowing, exceeds LS degrees of Fah-
renheit's thernionieter—w ind easterly. This morning a change of
weather was indicated ; the sky was cloeily, with a !nifty horizon,
and a heavy shower of rain actu►lly fell in Cadiz, a circumstance
which seldom or never happens in the month of July. The
Spanish physicians say, that should the fever break out in Cadiz
this season, it will necessarily be very fatal, where there is a gar-
rison of eight or MOO men. and an influx of petty merchants,
tradesmen, and pedlers of all kinds, from various parts of France,
following the fortunes of the army, to nearly the same number,
none of whom have passed this furious malady ; for it is a singular
fact, that one who recovers from this fever is net liable to a second
attaile. Sonic physicians have found mercury to be a specific in
the cure of yellow fever, and hare given upwards of eno grains of
calomel in the space of twenty-four hours; but if the patient re.
covered of the fever, I fear such treatinont would subject him
through life to other and grievous diseases.
" It is said here, that should the lever break out, the French
troops will remove to the interior, and encamp near the Honda
Mountains, and only leave a small detachment of men in the
Carle of San Sebastian with three months' provisions, and all
communication to be cut off with tile ii.liabitanta.
" The French squadron, consisting of the Santi Petri, three
frigates, and a sloop of war, are to sail this night or to-morrow
morning for Brest ; but I have been assured that their intention is
to pay another visit to the Tagus.
It is impossible to give you an idea of the activity of the
French troops. The Engineers and Artillery are at work in all
quarters, and the different batteries, in place of being in a state of
dilapidation, will be put in:o the moat effective repair."