Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-09-18
Fer tbs Enquirer
TIL. FEVER.

Gentlemen on ulu IHc ihe ia'oi w i13
some observations in your paper, on The ia'ai le-
yer of last summer, which swept of SO many va
liable citizens. | send you another communica-
lion on The same subject, which hope VIII not
he inconyenienl for you 10 give 10 your readers.
II would seem, from the first thought, that me-
dical journal was the mos, proper place Tor such
essavs. hut as The communication is intended
more especially for the people who have but little
opportunity of reading such works, it appears 10
me that paper OF more extensive circulation, IS
nroncr medium OF infomalion-and as your
naper circulates extensively in this section o The
country. choose TO trouble you with The request
II reallyrappears 10 me, that il scraps Of medl
cal information were oiiener spread before The
people al large 50 as 10 dissipale the darkness
that surrounds the subject, il might be attended
with great good. know that the sanctuary ol
medicine has been pretty much regarded as TOO
sacred 10 be entered but BY the high priests of the
profession, and none should minister in This tent
pie but the anoned. To certain extent this
sentiment is true; but doubt very much il, IN
This enlightened age very valuable use might
no, be often made OF medical facts, if they were
circulated more generally among The people,
even 10 The same extent with religious, agIicul-
the most fruitful source OF calamity in The world
il is the very Upas Tree that spreads its baneiu
influence over all the scenes OF social life. How
dense would be that darkness which would sur
round the political horizon but tor that broad and
sweeping light that is difusei around us by The
press
But 10 the subject The fever which prevailed
las, summer. | regarded it in my former COM
municalion, as OF RENTING character, mol July
developed in its first appearance among us. FER
haps from The more powerful action OF those causes
which produce il in ordinary years, there were
Unmarried 10 il some unusual phenomena and
some aesravation Of force. II often happens, |
have no doubt, in the onset OF an epidemic dis
ease that there is some obscurity in the nantes
,a,ions OF its type; Nature being for a while OPP
pressed below the point Of vigorous reaction,
she is unable 10 give at first The ordinary land
marks But as the systems OF men where the dis
ease prevails gradually accommodate themselves
10 The poison, Nature is enabled 10 throw of The
Disguise and 10 express herself more openly char
aclerstic, and imparts 10 the epidemca more sim
pie face Ii is what ply sicians cal oppressed action
which takes place in the circulation, that oflcnei
th,o ws the fever aside from lis simple course
than. perhaps any other circumstance, oiving
more or less congesiiyc phase 10 The epidemic,
l..l l.-.- LII ----L, :. - 49, 49, T-."' =
is,ence Of this condition OF The circulation, in
IONS under different constitutions Of years, and
requires such constant change in The treatment,
that makes all general plans OF treatment OF so
liuc use) Local causes and wrong treatment
must also be taken into account in The matter
Nothing can acl more certainly IN asgravating
and daIkening The type OF fever, than mistake
in the remedies and nothing contributes more 10
the calculation OF lis character, than timely as
.islance given 10 Nature by The right medicine
There is often cry Of maignity when this
very malienily is occasioned by wrong prac-
lce.
MOI only did the fever Of last Summer mani
fest itself in lis progress 10 be Of The renting
| lype, but The same general fever has again ap-
peared this sulnmerwih faiTer Developments OF
lis true character perhaps owing 10 change,
both in the secret and sensible qualities OF the air
since that lime. ] am aware that the lever we
are describing was regarded by some respectable
physicians in some places as of continued kind.
IT'S true the practice and other local causes did
diversity its appearance in different neishbor-
hoods yet, as lar as have been able TO learn, The
epidemic was, in lis general character, renting
| fever and even where lis approximation was the
nearest 10 the continued form, it, nevertheless,
showed preference for The remedies best adapted
10 remiitent fever.
The quinne will Think lie more admissible
this Summer than the last, though il was then
The master remedy. But yet | would caution
against giving it, without some consideration, in
every case; though in lie fever of this consitu-
lion there exists very peculiar friendliness il
may 40 speak, 10 This medicine, which the physi-
clan discovering may lead him 10 an indiscrmi-
| nate and careless use oil II.
As The people have it in their power TO apply
the anlidoe rather than The remedy, will give a
| few remarks on the causes OF the fever We
have every reason 10 believe on! atmosphere is
| forever undergoing secret as well as sensible
changes IN lis qualities which not only predispose
10 epidemic levers, but in diferen, years TO le-
vers OF the same general type; appears some
times for a series Of years-lhsn disappears, and
again returns and again disappears. lam inclined
10 think, as j, regards the leading traits fever
is not so diversified but greatly in their lesser
symptoms, aud pecuiarities impressed upon them
by The constitution OF The air and other crcum-
stances; and while fever leans more or less TO a
certain general practice, It's varieties call for a
constant change in the most special treatment
And here | would remark that the successful
course OF treatment depends on those nicer discri-
limitations Of the temperament il may so speak,
| OF the particular epidemic; and adapting The re-
| lnedies TO those strange pecuarities which are
constantly occurring Their lesser traits often
escape the notice Of The more careless pracli,ion-
ers This accounts for The Startling discrepancies
which appear in The treatment OF such general
fevers by physicians, and which are the fruitful
source Of medical scepcsm.
II behooves every one, during The prevalence
of fatal epidemics, 10 acquaint himself with
those means which prevent The spread and lessen
the violence OF the evil. Removing filth, ven
tilaling houses, and cleaning out springs and
wells, should be Immediately attended 10 when
an epidemic prevails; for although there is a
general tendency in the air 10 produce the dis.
ease universally, il is often not sufficient without
The cooperation VI local circumstances over
which we have great control. When these things
are attended 10, it is like sprinkling the door-pos
with blood to The children Of Israel, when the de-
sroying Angel passed through the land.
Charlotte County, Va J. Re-.
The above remarks were penned in June, 1916