Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-09-29
From the Savannah Republican
Yellow Fever Treatment.

From the Savannah Republican.
yellow Fever Treatment.
The following letter from DR.. Daniel Hook, of At.
anta, 10 his friend DIR. s. D. Brantley of this city,
is in reply 10 an enquiry made by the latter gentle
man 10 DR.. H. mode of treatment of yellow fever
In furnishing this letter for publications Dr. Brant-
ley remarks
"Dr Cooks long experience and known ability in
the profession, we'll his great success in the
treatment of yellow fever in Augusta in IS39, make
his opinion valuable and in the hope that | may
render service to the afflicted of Savannah the
home of my recent adoption, have, through his
Kindness procured them, and hope you will give
them to the public"
The treatment of DR.. H., we learn, is the same
as that adopted and in successful practice by
the Faculty here.
ATLANTA, Sept. is, 1854
Dr.. S u. BrantLev-
My DEAR SIR: Your favor of yesterday, receiv-
ed this morning. asking me for the mode of prevent
ing and treatment of yellow fever, which / found
most successful in Augusta in 1889, answer at once
to manifest my sympathy with suffering fellow.
citizens of Savannah, and in the humble hope that
may thereby do some good
In reference TO the prevention of this fell disease
shall make but three remarks, my experience is
very limited 1s holding the opinion that it is of
congesllve character, have always proposed to meet
its insdlous approach by revulson or in other words
by mustard bath to the feet, and free potatons of
sage tea Or other unlrritaing diaphoretc drink 3D.
succeeded IN keeping it OFT in my case, until
39, until the I'd of October, by taking what sleep
could get out of town. and by drinking freely of tea
whenever languor a check of perspiration admon-
lshed me.of It's approach. Sd. My driver was pre-
served throughout the whole season by the above.
and the advice not to sit down loiter in the shade
of the houses, but to be in his carriage or walking
about in the streets when not employed
/ Entertaining the conviction that the yellow fever
proximatey deFended upon congestion of important
organs-most commonly of the abdominal viscera
direct my mind wholly to this condition, and regula.
ted the treatment accordingly 1t was, therefore, very
simple Ii was first, to the collapse induced
by the congestion to the effects of
this collapse and congestion high fever and suppress.
sion OF natural seCretionS and, thirdly, to prevent
the recurrence of the congestion. AS soon as went
to Augusta to aid the afflicted, requested all who
desired my services 20 send for me Immediately on
the commencement of the attack, and it gives me
much satisfaction say that no one died of the manv
that thus called me. No treatment do consider as
promising uniform success unless it is resorted to in
the first stage of the disease.
My first object, as may be inferred from the above
was to produce reacton-that is to call the circu.
ation to the surface and to the extremities No
MEANS TO this end, in my judgment, are to he COM
pared, in excellence 10 mustard baths and plasters
These used instantly, and continued until the
desired effect was fully produced. The baths were
hot and very strong-they were also put in the deep
est vessel at hand, so TO mmerse as much of the
legs as possible. AT the same time the plasters were
applied the stomach and to the arms and thighs
During this effort at revusion. nothing was admin
iStered but ice water or other cooling drinks No
stimulant whatever was allowed
AS as full reaction produced to abate the
fever and TO restore the natural secretion one large
dose OF calomel administered. If there was anv
apprehension of distress in the stomach, it was given
in divided portions, every hour two until the whole
dose was taken. This dose usually exceeded TWEEN.
twenty grains. If it operated well nothing else was
necessary, if not little castor OIL or large tepid
water injection became indispensable In this pro-
CESS stmulant allowed, and indeed nothing
but the cooling drinks of the first stage. The least
tendency 10 return of the congestion promptly
met by return to The mustard applications As
general thing, full reaction was a certain indca-
tion of cure, bn sometimes the reaction was excess
i've, and then sponging with cold water a most
valuable addition to the cold drinks | am very
much inclined to think, from subsequent experience
in typhoid fever and typhoid dysentary that the wet
sheets would be more beneficial than the spong-
ing with cold water.
In most cascs-perhaps in every one where reac-
tiOn was produced in two hours from the
commencement of The attack there was an abate-
ment of the fever as as the medicine began 10
operate, very soon thereafter, and then my pur-
pose to brace up the system 10 prevent the re-
cuuence of congestion. With this view from two
to five grains of qunne were given every hour, ac-
cordIng to the emergency OF the case. | know no
substitute for this valuable article. 1t should be
given to the extent of twenty thirty, forty fifty
grains if the case be very alarming 10 protec,
the brain, greatly prefer giving it in small doses,
and repeating 1t until the Iequise quantity is given
The uniform heat Of the body, the natural feeling OF
the skin, full, soft and slow pulse, with the healthy
character OF the perspiraton, will indicate the time
when it may be dispensed with. 1t should be given
mixed in water dissolved in water with acid, or made
A INTO pills with moasses honey, syrup that
e readily dissolyes. kaye seen life endangered by
the quinne passing through the system undissolyed
The best adjuvant for quinlne, is occasionally 10
ba,he the feet in mustard water and to drink sage
tea, with the view of promoting perspiration. Nc
stronger smulant than sage tea and qunine should
o be used throughout the whole treatment. Opium
b brandy, SC, arc fatal in their effects.
One other remark and shall have said all that
4 deem important proper, in view of the object you
\ have maned-that of beneftng those who cannot Sc
cure physician. 1t is this that the foregoing
, course pursed whether called late or early to q
case; but must be candid enough repeat that il
only when resorted to in the first hours of the
attack that it was uniformly successful | may
; however add that | found it more successful than
> any other treatment in any stage of the disease.
With much respect and kindness, rem ain your
S friend, DAN'L HOOK.
In 1889 the tonnage OF the United States reached
] only the amount of 29l562. In 1858, us shown by
E furnished IInitad Treasury