The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-09-09
The rsHozv Ftv+r il If domeaie origin.


An occurrence has taken place in this city, of
CO liderable ufe to the medical world. Its i'm
portance may be eftimated by the Jingle fact,
that it satisfactorily decides the Congratulated
difpute Of the origin ofthe yellow fever. All
doubt, all difputation, all cavilling--muR
yield before it.
The queftion is, whether the yellow
fever OF our cities, is of foreign or dometic
origin: whether il isimported from the Wet In
dies, or generated by the noxious air of our
towns. The iaft has been the general opinioa \.
1t was evident that if the fever could be import
ed, it might be conveyed from one peri IN to A.
mother, or from place to place. But experience
had proved, that it was Z" incommunicable in
tie country either by perfons under the difeafs,
or by goods carried from difrafed pIaces"*
Wast then reafonable 20 fuppofe, that fever
which could not be co nmuncatrd from the
town to the country, could be carried from
one country to another; from the ports of the
Welt Indies, to thoie of the u. States?
1t NUT be admitted, however, that this fact
is not of fuch diredr and Overwhelming kind
eluded, but not defroyed its force. 1t
is commended, that the noxious miafma
only acsin large cities, where the atnloEbberes 70
impure as to be tbrozVH into fite of noxious
fermentation, or where human bodies are 70 enfee-
bledbythe impurity of the air, as to be rsaioojcd
for its action. When transported into
the country, the atmosphere is too pure
TO admit of its operation. 1t has no indus
to receive it. 1t is without that train of favour
able circu .nfances, which mutt concur and aC-
fit its yirulence. The air is too pure to be
thrown into fermentation, and man too healthy
to be predifpofed for its atton.-" 1t is for this
reafon," fay the advocates of imported lever,
"that it is not always communicated from the
town to the country. We admit that the fever
is not alone fufficientto produce its full effect in
towns; bat we contend, that when IL doef ap-
pear in our cities, it NUT owe its f-R germ to
foreign importation"
But the following incident is of kind TO re-
move ar oppohtion.
The rity of Richmond at this time enjoys an,
almof unexamped fhare of health. Bilious
complaints have by no means an uncommon II.
taIty. Rockett's landing, our only depot of
fortign trade, is not peculiarly afflicted by any
fpecies of acknefs much lefs by any of an un.
common appearance. Will the advocates of i'm.
ported fever then believe, that at this very mo-
ment it has appeared in the Penitentiary at
lone ditance from the centre of the CITY, on
the very fkirts of the country, INFLATED from G.
very other building, and on the obboffe lide of
the town to Rockets landing ?--Sueb however
is the melancholy fact.
That the fever ofthe Penitentiary is the vel
low FEVER OF our cities, ij decided by the two
exberieaced and ingenious phyfcians, who have
attended It. Its fymptoms are the fame in kind,
though infinitely lefs in degree: the pain in
the head,-the red eye,-the kin of hue much
darker than gold,---the black vomt, or black
faces, according to the courfe of the bile.
In the only cafe, where the patient has fallen
a victim, the fenhbty of the Gomach was 10
excefiiye, that by gently touching with fin-
ger the region OF the ftomdch, it produced
the hiccup 10 fymptomatc of the complaint.
Where is there A fact more conclufve as TO the
origin of the Yellow Fever, Becaufe 10 little
cOnfutsd Ivy the operation of contrary caufes /?
1t would almof be a miracle, had the Unmarried
germ OF the yellow fever vlited the Penitentiary.
Here are felt of meu almoa completely coop
ed up from the Teft Of the world The turn
keys; the Respectable fuperiitendant of the
Peuitentiary; his whole family are healthy.
The guard, who traverie the outfide of the
building, are too FAR removed to commu-
nicate the contagiop. Few perfons have
accels into the building no one can en-
ter it without permit from two infpee-
tors no one, whs has riited it lately, has