Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-04-23

ing, and Thomas Mller's on the zotn. WIN uoSo
of some others, after short sicknesses, spread an
universal terror.
The removals from Philadelphia began about
the e5th or 26th of this month: and so great was
the general terror. that, for some weeks, carts,
wagons, coaches, gigs, and chairs, were almost
constantly, transporting families and furniture to
the country in every direction. Many people
shut up their houses wholly; others left servants
to take care Of them. Business became extreme
" dull. Mechanics and artists were unemPloy-
ed; and the streets wore the appearance OF gloom
and melancholy.
The first official notice of the disorder, was
on the 22d of August; on which day the Mayor
of Philadelphia, Matthew Clarkson, Esq. wrote
the city commissioners; and after acquaintlng
them with the state of the city, issued most per-
emptory orders. to have the streets properly
cleaned and purified by the scavengers, and all
the filth Immediately hauled away. These Or
ders were repeated on the eth, and similar ones
given to the clerks of the market.
The Goth of the same month, the college OF
physicians had meeting, at which they took INTO
consideration the nature of the disorder, and the
means Of prevention and of cure. They publish
ed an address to the citizens, signed by the pres,
ident and secretary, recommending TO avoio al
unnecessary intercourse with the lnfecteo; 10
place marks on the doors or windows where they
were to pay great attention to cleanliness
and airing the room Of the sick; to provide large
and airy hospital in the neighborhood of the city
for their reception: to put stop TO the tolllng
of the bells; to convey to the burylng ground.
those who died of the disorder, in carriages, and
as privately as possible; to keep the streets and
wharves clean; to avoid all fatigue Of body and
mind, and standing sitting in the sun; or In the
open air; to accommodate the dress to the wealth
err. and to exceed rather in warm than in cool
clothing, and to avoid intemperance; but to use
fermented liquors, such as wine, beer and cider,
with moderation. They likewise declared their
opinion, that fires in the streets were very dan
gerous. if not Intellectual means of stopping the
progress of the fever, and that they placed. more
dependence on the burning of gunpowder. The
benefits of vinegar and camphor, they added,
were confined chiefly to infected rooms; and they
could not be too often used on hanekerchicfs. or
in smelling bottles, by persons who attended the
sick.''
In consequence of this address, the bells were
Immediately stopped from toling. The expedi-
ence of this measure was obvious; as they had
before been almost constantly ringing the whole
day, so as to terrify those in health, and drive
the sick, as far as the influence of imagination
could produce that effect, to their graves. An
idea had gone abroad, that the burning of fires
in the streets, would have a tendency to purify
the air, and arrest the progress of the disorder
The people had, therefore, almost every night,
large fires lighted at the corner Of the Streets
The goth, the Mayor, conformably with the opin-
ion Of the college of physicians, published proc
lamation forbidding this practice. AS substi-
tute, many had recourse to the firing of guns,
which thev imagined was certain preventative
of the disorder. This was carried so far, and
attended with such danger, that it was forbid
den by an ordinance Of the Mayor.
The goth, the Governor of the state wrote a
letter to the Mayor. strongly enforcing the ne
cessty of the most vigorous and decisive exer-
tions to prevent the extension off, and to des-
troy. the evil" He desired that the various di-
rections given by the college of physicians, should
be carried into effect. The same day, in his
address to the legislature, he acquainted them,
that contagious disorder existed in the city,;
and that he had taken every proper measure to
ascertain the origin, nature. and extent of it
He likewise assured them that the health officer
and physicians of the port would take every pre-
caution to allay and remove the public inquiet-
ude.
The number of the infected daily increasing,
and the existence of an order against the admis-
sion of persons laboring under infectious diseases
into the Aims House, precluding them from re-
fuge there some temporary place was requisite;
and three of the guardians of the poor, about the
Goth of August, took possession of the circus,
in which Mr.. Ricketts, had lately exhibited his
equestrian feats, being the only place that could
be procured for the purpose. Thither they sent
7 persons afflicted with the malignant fever,
where they lay in the open air for some time, and
without any assistancc.t Of these one crawled
out on the commons. where he'died at distance
from the house. Two died in the circus, one of
whom was seasonably removed; the other lay in
state of putrefaction for above 4S hours, owing
to the difficulty Of procuring "a person to remove
him. On this occasion occurred an instance of
courage in servant girl, Of which at that time
few men were capable. The'carter, who final
ly undertook to remove the;corpse, having no as
sistant, and beinsunabe to put it into the coffin.
was on the point of relinquishing his design, and
quitting the place.-Ihe girl perceived him, and
understanding the difficulty he labored under,
offered her services, providing he would not in