Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-03-29
JOHN BURKE.
THE EPIDE MIC.

"a
4 = ture and treatment Of the prevailing cpl
eemic, have thought it proper to make tie
loving observatons, to correct mistate !.
msnts and remove false Impressions.
His the character OF epidemic diseases, to
20 pc most violent and deadly when they first
appear, and to grow more mild as they pro-
gross Hence the greater fatality at frs, under
sny treatment. and the reported more success,
iui practice as they progress The fever is OF
.he oynochus or mixed kind that is, infsma-
terry lsometimes extremely SOY at the be GIN
nne, out degenerating speedily into one OF
oebiii,y, favoring illusions Of lymph and con-
gestions OF blood on vital organs TT, obviate
these istal tendencies Of the disea Sc tynu must
moderate the fever at the beginning and keen
up steady determination to the skin bv per
sPiratioa, oliStering and other irritating app,i-
cations. 1t IS the force of the fever at tn. be-
ginning propelling the blood in undue GUAM
tty upon the brain, lungs and throat which
constitutes its danger. After these vital parts
nave become gorgel or sutfocated with blood.
the only chance of recovery in the worst cases,
Is from the most powerful and unremit,ecl sti~
uiaiion but this is shutting the door after
tne tnlet has entered. IL is the business OF
the physician to prevent this by de cisive blow
at the threshold, or in other words nv attacks
"s tne disease at its onset by such remedies
as sre known to be efficient in subduinp fever
having written on TIE epidemic twice and
enjoying large share Of he confidence of nv
leio" citizens, almost very case came under
my care for the first two or three weeks
Whist gentlemen known to be in good prae.
uce We're dong nothing, was unable with the
MOST active exertions, to attend TO all the bu-
siness which offered The worst ca,.s uccur-
req AT hrst. For five weeks daily visited
rom % to SO patients, and prescribed often
-. ~, as many more whom could not attend
us Almost exclusive practice in The epidem-
laf h. bc,,,
eoihe at participation was an oil iect much &
most anxious y desired 1t VS. determined
mat he end would justify the means publ;c
obhion, founded in ignor nee Of the disease
WIS against the use of TIE lancet in any case
ms was made an instrument in the hands OF
l-hYy 10 accomplish the object. B'ood citing
was announced IN all cases, although il
go Us IN many With the most immediat
aho permanent good effect Envy beipo, tb,,s
frustrated called in the aid of NAL CO u, W..
hrst whispered about that no one bled bnt me
and then that no one lost patients bu, mvs.If
L"iS uhc iSi'iheu conduct was treated with com
tempt and would not have been thus noticed I'm,
ipr my having received several communications
in'efming me that, it Sas reported penerallv
800 ,o'sul .ne coutry that had lost every pa
s 10 "hofn had been c,lled. AS to tie
hrst assertion shall only saw that The 49,,
eminent physicians inthis city have blc,l dur;ns
the wiIter and continue to bleed in tn. nre2
NaIhng diseases. The 81 cond will ba an s,,,or. !
ca ny s'atlnS the number attended bv me- and
the deaths which have occurred. The winter
'ofH OF the disease IA synochus fever camel,
$50 VIM colds, sorethroat, pieursy and
pheumatiim) HIS prevailed epidemicrIly for
months, but sPoradicai!y for 19 months pas,
During these two months musthaye attended
upwards of 800 persons of all dissertations and
co 'ditionsf-Nine disd, viz SIX whites and
three negroes. Three OF the nine were bled
once eschS-the others were not bed Four
Oh uieh were pronounced mortal cases the mo
ment saw them, in consequences of an engor
ged or suttocated state of the lungs Neither
OF these w's bled. In many cases TIA. attacS S
50 sudden and overwhelming that the pati Mt
har'l Snows that he is sick. before he finds
himself IN the agony OF d ath, being carried of
IN from IL to % hours.
My practice for many years has been gene
raj and extensive. attend 10 all applicati-
cations.-Many of thoSe who died. knew
would die, rom the account given, before
saw them, but did not refuse 10 visit them
from fear that | sbou d suffer in reputation
attended promptly and cheerfuIy to such ca
SEES, believing 1t would be consolatary to the
patient and his f-iends.
shall conclude by expressing pity for him,
who boasts that he has practised extsns iveIy
~ the epidemic without ioosing patient, Cor
am sure, his warmest friend will not believe
him. feel pity for those who have declared
that they would not bleed in say case whate
yer, for IT exposes their ejudice aud wesk-
ness, and makes ihem unworthy the profFe SSH
on ! feel th- most heartfelt sorrow for the patti.
ent whose physician suffers his judgment and
practice to be swayed by public clamor and
popular prejudice.
JOSEPH TRENT.
viz Doctors McClurg, Foushee, sen. Ly
ons, Greenhow, McCaw and Worrol
t Ol whom more than 60 were bed-some
twice and nearly all until they grew sick or
FAINT. Neither Typhus miior nor grevior fol-
lowed my practice II was TOO prompt and
decisive The foundation Of innumer able con
will be laid by negiectiug the use
ofl the lancet.
STwo so sparingly from their fears, as to be
~ no account The other sufficiently and was
he most quickly relieved p, rson, from the
most violent attack, had ever seen. lie re-
apsed and died from causes unnecessary to
mention.