Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-09-22


Sunday, August 5, 1855, in the morning and
afternoon of that day, and heard him preach two
dlscourses, and found him one of the most pleas
ing orators | had ever heard. His great personal
beauty reminded me of description had read
of Jesus Christ, by an Ambassador from Paes-
tine to the Roman Empire, describing infinitely
to the Romans the extraordinary personal attrac-
tons of the Saviour, he saw him in his sacred
walks around PALESTINE
There is much more of the same sort, but this
is sufficient specimen.
From the New York American Medical Gazette
Letter from Professor j. G. 5. Monkur, of
baltimore, on the NIuriatcd Tincture OF
Iron In yellow Fever and other Dis
eases.
BALTIMORE, Jan. II, 1855
Dapid M. Reese, NJ. D.-My Dear Doctor:--I
send you short detail of my trials with the mu-
rated tincture of iron in yellow fever. 1t is
suggested to me TO mention my experience with
this medicine in a number of cases of yellow
fever, which occurred in Baltimore, October
1854, from reading the extract in your journal,
| taken from the Northw western Medical and Sur
gical Journal, headed 'sYellow Fever in Savan-
nah"
My dear doctor, it is long time, for very
many years have passed since we both witnessed
the memorable epidemic yellow fever, which was
that time to the present do not recolect having
seen a reriiabie case of yellow fever until last
October, 1854, when the disease suddenly pre-
sented itself in the confines of southwest district
of our city, embracing Thames, Phpot, Block
and Will streets, localities with which you have
been well acquainted This district courses
along the wharves, docks, and shipyards at Fell's
Point, and you may remember it as one of the
places where yellow fever prevailed extensive
ly, and was so fatal, in the epidemic of 1919 In
1854, the fever, as in lSl9 had a domestic or
local origin, there can be no question of doubt,
and did originate from the filthy condition of the
streets, stagnant vegetable refuse, covered by
piles of lumber, which had been permitted to re-
main during the spring and summer in the ship
yards bordering on those streets. The last year,
1854, all the other districts of the city kept
remarkably clean, through the untirIng exertons
of our worthy Commissioner of Health, and il
may be truly said that no other city enjoyed
| more general exemption from epidemic and other
diseases than did Baltimore.
| The attention of the Board of Health to this
| infected district soon removed the sources of
disease and arrested the progress of the fever
and thus shut out further extension and fatal
| ity. In the infected district many cases had oc-
Cured with fatal results, previously to my hav-
| ing seen case. Those cases witnessed, sick.
| ened in October. The first few cases had been
| under the treatment of other physicians for some
| days, and when visited by me had all the malir-
HdIl pcCulldI Oh THIS leNeT. mere
was yellowness of the skin; redness and suffusion
of the eyes, the peculiar, impressive, ardent or
| deep-seated heat on the application Of the hand;
| black vomit, and hemorrhage from the gums,
mouth and ears. In several houses, three and
| FIVE inmates were simultaneously attacked, and
the greater number Of the cases proved fatal pre-
senting the marked symptoms and progress of
| the fever. In my own cases, there was black
| vomit, and where this symptom was absent, there
was hemorrhage from the gums and mouth. In
one case the hemorrhage was from the ears.
Several of the had been treated in the first
days of the fever by the attending physicians,
with mercural and saline purgatives and quinne.
So far as ! could learn, this was the treatment
pursued by other medical gentlemen in all their
| cases. The first few cases | visited, such was
the malignant presentation Of the symptoms, that
the patients condition appeared hopeless to-
wards restoration. Having read, a short time
previously, Doctor Wildman accommodation Of
the muriated tincture of iron in yellow fever,
took these cases as a favorable opportunity TO
test his account Of its remedial power in this
fever.
Laying aside all other treatment, the patients
were placed under 90 to 40 drops Of the tincture,
diluted in wineglass full Of cold water; repeat
ed every three hours. Where hemorrhage OF the
mouth and gums were present, stronger solu-
ton was used as wash by means of a sponge
mop. They were made to take beef essence as a
nourishment freely possible. Where the
fully carried out. All these unfavorable cases re-
covered. Other patients, with severe attacks Of
the fever, came to my attention on the day of in
vasion. One a robust youth, previously perfect
ly healthy, blacksmith by occupation, on tho
first day Of his fever took acute derium. lie
was bled from the arm copiously, followed by
cups to the spine; mercurial and saline purgatives
administered TO free purgation; notwithstanding
this activity Of treatment, the third day he had
the black vomit. His previous treatment was
discontinued, and the iron administered in 80
drop doses, repeated every three hours with a
few doses Of charcoal in water. This checked
the vomiting, when the iron was continued in re-
duced deses and more extended intervals. lie ro-
covered. The remaining cases, when first SEEN
were actively purged by calomel and rhubard and
saline aperents. Immediately thereafter the iron
was freely and repeatedly given. During tho
prevalence Of the fever, there a number Of
fatal cases. ! did not witness an unfavorable ter
mination, and attributed the success TO the iron
! am not informed if the iron has been used by
other practitioners You will have perceived that
in my cases il largely administered internally
and as wash for the mouth, and was the only
remedy prescribed, except the purgative prepare
ton.
have already remarked that | was led TO the
adoption OF this course of treatment in yellow
fever from the published report Of DR.. Wildmnn
and others, and put in no claim TO originality in
suggestion or employment do not mean you
shall understand hold the muriated tincturo Of
iron a specific in yellow fever. ] have no be-
lief in this class Of medicinal agents; but must
acknowledge was not prepared to expect such
results from any single agent, as was afforded me
by the tncture of iron, in the cases OF fever TO
which ] have succinctly referred. Within the
last three years have treated many severe cases
Of erysipelas and after proper preparation, com
pletcd my with the iron. have been better
satisfied with IFS use in this sometimes dangerous
disease, than any previous modes Of treatment. |
In scarlet fever have always prescribed il, but /
have not had opportunity 10 employ il in a suli-
Gent number Of cases to speak advsedly oft in
Auence as a curative agent. The experience al
ready had with the iron convinces mo that IL is
remedial agent Of decided power; one Of which
we may depend on when timely and properly OK