The Delaware gazette., 1810-03-28
THE GAZETTE.
SPOTTED FEVER.

|
pestilence to Prtersham, Daaa and other town
in Worcester county, Mass. we are happy Il
find, by a late paper, has received successful
check from the experience and observations o
the Medical Faculty. Its first appearance wa
SO sudden, its symptoms so various, the tebril'
crisis SO premature, and mortality ensued SC
speedily that the physicians, participating ir
the general CONSERVATION which it diflused
scarcely INDUCED in experiment, or al'owct
themselves time and composure to publish those
which terminated successfully. This terror
having, in great measure, subsided, the phy.
sicians of PeierSham and Dana, have publ Shed
the result of their observations, which proves
that the disease can be con,rouled, and will
yield to judicious practice.
! We hope it may have a tendency to aid the
cause of humanity by giving to our readers an
| account Of this practice The Faculty state,
that the most ellicacious and only safe mode of
| treatment which has occurred to them, consists
in bold and liberal use Of the 9ifas!bie stimuli,
,
| together with the several means of powerfully
| determining TO the surface, by the aid or warm
baths; and keeping up that determination by
cloths wrung out Of a solution OF salt in hot vim
| cgar and applied 10 the extremities, adequate
TO the exigency of the case--at the same time
exciting tho action OF the brain by blls,ers on
the nape Of the neck, and by ether and ether
stimuants applied to the head.
The diHusble stimuli employed by these
physicians, consisted chiefly Of brandy, opium,
ether, volatile spirits and eamphor; and, in
some hys,erical cases. the pure oil of amber.
| but in one instance has the lancet been used
and that with success. Out Of twenty five ca
ses all but three have yielded to the stimuli
practice, and these three were very young
children. The extraordinary length which
thest physicians have carried the practice of
ereHa6sIity, is almost astonishing. TO give
our readers some idea Of the extent to which
they have successfully administered the most
powerful ofthese eifTusible stimuli, VIC shall
.NOlS q saSS III tllS!r own WOTuS
young woman, aged about 20 years,
who recovered from the disorder. being very
violently attacked, and high Gelevium with
great distress supervening, took more than a
QU.7RT OF BRANDY, and not less than 90
grams OF good Turkey Opium, aided by the a.
bove means of determining to the surface, in
less than twelve hours, and before and material
mitigation OF her disorder could be obtained !:
and what is truly wonderful, unhoat tie least
| appearance u Mtoritafion Indeed we have
been obliged frequently to exhibit ten grains OF
OPIUM Tor dose. in some of the most violent
cases attended with strong spasms, and have
never known II to produce stupor in a single
instance"
lhus we see the wonderful operation and
successful effects Of this powerful practice
which, through tie benenity of an indulge,
providence, promises 10 rob of its terrors this
most irightfu of AL epidemics.
! Since the above was in type we are sorry 10 an.
nouce the receipt of the following distressing letter
contained in Boston paper.
Erf'Get cfa (efter from Barre, IN lie couaty oj
Worcester, dated Afarch 90.
" hlle myself and family are in usual health
! tt'od only knows how soon the scene will
| chanSe devote moment to acquaint YOU OF
the distressing situation of this place. Iha,
most dreadful disorder, the Shotted Feper, ra.
SeS mere IN an awful manner, and in the vicini-
y. In my nelghborhood four persons were
inferred Yesterday. Mrs. Perry attended the
iuhefai oi her brother yesterday, was seized
WIN me disorder at nine in the evening, and
died at three in the mo'nng-Mr. Perry is at
this moment in violent delIriun, and NOT o.,
pectet to live. Mr.. Thompson was in a very
dangerous state through the night, but is lii.
'c better this morning. Last evening upwards
OF h'ty cases were reported, and an additional
number TO day. No less than six or scyc,
PhysIclANs from otll:r towns arc cnnA.an1l.