The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-05-17
DEBATE ON YELLOW FEVER.


Convention in New York, a long debate ensued on
the resolution of Dr. Stephens, which is to the
following effect:
"In the absence of any evidence establishing the
conclusion that yellow fever has ever been convey
ed by one person to another, 1t is the opinion of
this convention that personal quarantine OF cases of
yellow fever may be safely abolished"
DR.. Stephens briefly supported his resolution by
insisting the theory that yellow fever was nom
contagious.
Dr. John Bell, of Philadclp ha, perfectly agreed
with DR. Stephens that yellow fever was not con-
tagous anywhere. The gentleman cited various
cases in Vera Cruz, Pensacola and elsewhere, in
which his own experience proved that yellow fever
could not be communicated from one person to
another. In 1888, the crew of the French ship
Gomat, who suffered dreadfully from yellow fever,
were transferred to the hospital at Pensacola The
nurses got frightened, when one of the physicians,
to convince them it was not contagious, wrapped
himself in the bed clothes of who had died
of black vomit at II o'clock at night, and slept in
them till morning without taking the disease.
Yellow fever disappeared at Vera Cruz at the
change of the winds from the south and southwest
as it did here from frosts, when communicated
through our badly managed quarantine. With re-
gard to the communicating Of yellow fever from
ships and goods, there appeared to be no doubt
whatever The disease was communicated by
passing through the air.
The venerable DIR John w. Francis, who stated
that he had been acquainted with the theory OF
fevers for so years contended that yellow fever was
an idiopathic affection, arising from other causes
than ew-made ground, &C., as advanced by some
people. While many were of opinion that yellow
fever was not communicated by one person to an
other yet the learned and excellent DIR Mitchell
related an instance in which the disease was COM
municated by bank note handed from one person
to another. He also remarked that every man car
ried the yellow fever in his breeches pocket, and
were thus all yellow fever subjects. DIR. Francis
trusted they would not, by hastily adopting DR..
Stephens resolution, make themselves the laugh
ing-stock of Europe, with all her learning. They
had passed too many mountebanks; if they
abolished quarantine, they would do an irreparable
injury to this nation.
Dr. Stephens challenged DIR Francis to point to
q single of cOntagiOn.
On motion of Dr. Bell, the resolution of DR. Ste
phens was amended by adding
''PrOvidod that fomtes OF every kind be rlgldly
restricted"
DR.. Bell explained the fomtcs including stuff
ing, dunnage, clothing, &C., Of every kind. lie
insisted that the poison Of yellow fever caught
from the moisture arising from earth, in Africa
where ashes rained on, and the sun absorbing
the moisture, made it great garden for the growth
of the disease
DIR. Harris, in advocating the resolution, stated
that in 1856 there at least fifty Of yellow
fever transferred from the most populous parts of
the city to quarantine, many of them throwing up
black vomit the way i'll the streets of the city
and on the ferry boats and yet no person who
came in contact with these persons as or
otherwise, had been known to take the disease.
Professor Wood, Of Philadelphia, said he OPP
posed to the present system Of quarantine because
it was doing great injury by exposing healthy indi
viduas to infection. The great point whether
yellow fever was personally communicable. If this
convention thought it not, it was clearly their
duty to say So He was Of opinion that the disease
could not possibly be conveyed by person. though
it might be so conveyed by the clothing Of u we'll
person as we'll as sick one.
The resolution was also advocated by DR. Gil
man, Of Baltimore, and others, and finally
adopted as amended-ayes 20, nays 1.