Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-07-09
ship Fever.


irrcparably broken.
ship Fever.
Some anxiety has prevailed in our vicinity in
reference to the disease which has to some ex
tent accompanied the masses Of Emigrants that
have recently been poured through our Lake, on
their way from Canada to the States. We
suppose the extent of the real illness, from the
cause alluded othe character OF the diseases that
have been attributed TO these causes and tine oc.
casion for apprehension by the public at large
have been exaggerated and misapprehendcd-
and we say this on consultation with medical
gentlemen among US. That there has been, and
is,consderablc sickness Of a severe type among
the Emigrants, is undoubtedly true-but this
sickness results from peculiar causes, connec.
tel with hali:s and diet, from which our citizens
are mostly exempt. We copy from the N. Y.
Spectator the following timely article from the
Boston Medical Journal that is we'll calculated
to allay unnecessary alarm: -
Ship Fever.
Communicated for the Boston Medical and Sursi.
cal Journal.
A great deal has been said of late by the secular
press and to very little purpose, about chip fever
The public mind has been necdlessly thrown into
alarm, and sundry medical men have been striving to
get up panic, which is wholly uncaled for.
The facts, If rightly understood and spread before
the people, will allay groundless apprehensions, and
we invoke the aid Of the secular press on this behalf
The famine in Ireland has hurried the rapid tide Of
immigration INTO this country. bringing furnishing
multitude, crowdng the seerage Of every packet and
passenger vessc on board which many have suffered
tor want OF food and even of water, while occupying
nIhy and unventllated apartments These throngs Of
immigrants, thus unfavoraby circumstanced, have
by the exhaations from their bodies aeady enceblcd
and emaciated by starvation home, fallen victim,
TO their unavoidable violation of,he laws ofheath and
A malignant and fatal fever has been generated on
board ship, Of which many have died on The passa &c.
while still more have been landed either already sick
OF SO injected by the atmospheric poison that they
soon develope IT. in form no less dangerous and ia
tai than that which has proved mortal on board the
vessels which brought them hither. Hence the ap-
pearance OF the fever in most Of Atlantic cities
alarm by reason Of its APPALLING fatality. In the ia.
ture and character Of his fever there is nothing new
OF PIP ar. n0h,ns ~ isOrt with which The
Jail fever, hospital fever, &c.
lstype IS found to vary as in other cndemics, Blu,
large majority OF the cases well characterized in
the books under the name Of yphus petechalis mean.
ing no more than that variety Ofyphus fever in which
dscooraons and erup.ions appear on the skin usually
about the 9TH day Of the disease. striking differ
is manifest between cases even coming from the
same ship; few are both infammatory and conges-
tive while IN most this fever purely congestve
The most constant characteristic Of the attack is an
overwhelming sense OF prostra'ion Of strength with
the accompanying signs OF what is called indirect de-
blity, great mental depression. dissemination to mo.
tlon with indications of the sudden impairment of the
mucous memoTane lining the digestive canal, Of
WHICH The tongue gives early and papabe evidence.
The frequency OF the pulse is remarkable but usual.
small and compressblc, and is improved by clearing
the PRIME wac by mild emetic or laxative The
predominant state OF the skin is moisture after the
nrst paroxysm has terminated with wiihou, treat
ment. And Its fatality is owing to illusions taking
place IN the cavities of the BRAIN the result of venous
congestion IN that organ, and indicated by delrium
ana coma, very seldom accompanied by hemorrhage,
anu 'iie anyways giving temporary relief though gen.
eraiiy Intellectual 1t occurring after the 5ih day
IN Inc hospitals the patients are received until
The seventh day OF the fever except very few cases
and hence they this late period too often beyond
the reach ofart some vital organ having suffered in its
integrity either by neglect or mediterranean More.
the constitutions OF many have been broken down
oy prvailon and hardship. 50 that they fail to rally
even under the most powerful stimuli.
In the case OF ply sicians nurses &C. who have be
come Injected, the early symptoms being subjected to
treatment this fever is found very the few
cases oil mortality being ascbabe defect in consti.
tuition, some depraved habit, reapses by errors in
diet during convaescence
Medication OF active character is contra .indica
ted so obviously, that physician who the disease
employ but little medicine, and rely upon nutrition and
codals, after clearing the stomach and bowels by mild
and gentle means. Cautious stimulation is called fol
in every late period Of this fever and especially ate
convalescence begins. The internal administrator
OF ice and iced wafer and spongng the head face anc
neck with iced water, are among the most effective
and successful remedies. SnapsIns and bster rs to thu
extremities and abdomen valuable agencies if Their,
be any local lesion But venesection or even loca
boodetting, is seldom fever admissible after the frs
paroxysm OF this fever, and then only in persons pre-
viousy in good health. and when the fever is ushere,
inby wel.marked chill. Nor can calomel or an
other active drug be safely used without great caution
Wire whey, and milk ~ ,ch made with brandy witt
or without qnnine, are often reliable in the Ia
ter periods OF the disease Nevertheless the So. lin
dereri, various preparations of ammonia, and othe
stimulating sudoritcs are often useful auxiiaries.
The conditions OF recovery cleanliness, pure nil
well ventilated apartments, and careful nursing Tn
absence Of one or all OF these explains the of sue
cess IN many hospitals. For filth, confined air an,
privaon OF nourshment not only render the fever ia
tai but may generate analogous disease anywhere an
even reproduce it in the convaescent Hence the ad
vantages derived from removing patients into the ope
air from crowded wards, in open and shanlcs
have been demonstrated at New York in the Bellevu
Hospital and else where From the time the pate nj
are thus placed under favorable circumstances tho
rapidly recover.