Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-11-19
Gbt Stan0arb*
From the Richmond Enquirer.I

From the Richmond Enquirer
Remarks ON Camp Fever, by Bedford Brown
M, d., Surgeon in Confederate States Army
Since our present struggles for independence, our
armies have been infested with, and nave sullerea
to fearful extent, from peculiar malay 'er'hea
"Camp fever" i
While there yet exist doubts IN the minus oi
manv that the fever infesting camps presents sui
6c;ent necuarty of type to entitle it to specific
character or designation, can see no good reason
whv the peculiar influences of camp life should noe
generate disease presenting equally peculiar char
acteristics.
Causes.-It may think, be correctly assumed
that camp fever is due to no single cause but to a
combination of many and diverse circumstances
brought to bear on the system and co operating for
a certain period to impair the general health
Food both insufficient in quantity and variety;
the want of fresh vegetable food excessive fatigue
and exposure; the habitation of Close crowded and
Differentiated tents; the noxious exhaatlons from
uncleanly camps and tents all fruitful sources
for the origin of this fever. Nervous prostration
resulting from extreme mental depression and anx-
iety ard extreme change of habits from those of the
simple and regular character, peculiar to our agr-
cultural population to those of extreme irregularty
in army life. -
Our armies are made up in great part from the
rural population, whose habits of sleep, eating and
exercise are observed with great regularity Hence
tie tedious and dangerous seasoning process neccs-
sary to fit this class of people for army life
Probably of all single causes, contagion or infec-
ton, when once generated and undtr favorable Cir
cumstanccs, is the most actively productive of this
affection Nurses, and other healthy persons occu-
pying tents rooms, with of camp fever, are
peculiarly liable to contract the disease. Again,
patients i'll with this atlicton, returning home
from the army, are almost certain to disseminate it
among families and neighborhoods.
These facts 60 far to prove the infectious proper
ties of camp fever and should teach u.s. an mpor-
tant preventive measure, the necessity of always
separating the healthy from the sick Among 9th
er predisposing causes, there may be enumerated
the various affections incident to camp life to which
soldiers are subject in rapid succession all tending
to impair the constitution. City troops VIGOROUSLY
resist with greater obstinacy the diseases of camp
than those from rural districts. The former being
more thoroughly Injured to defective ventilation, in
lection and irregular habits.
iStages.-In character with the disease and as
matter of convenience campfeve may bcdvided into
three distinct stages. The first, or Preliminary
the second, Febrile; the last stage of Depres
sion, or Typhoid stage
The second appears 20 be the stage of Fcbrile re-
action, following the first impression of the morbid
causes, brought into operation during the Prelmi-
nary stage. Where this has been tedious and en-
haustng the type of fever during the second stage,
will be adynamc. But to the contrary, when the
first stage has been brief and rapid the second will
be attended with high febrile excitement
Preliminary or Stage Of Observation-Disclosures
of camp fever are often maturing for many weeks
preceding the formal onset of the disease Persons
may be presenting all the preliminary indications
for many weeks, though moving about, and grad
ually declining, and always complaining of Hide
fined sensations of general bad health. They are
troubled with slight diarrhoea; accelerated pulse
without fever. headache with neuralgia symptoms
pervadng different portions of the system; loss O.
appetite and strength, with progressive emaciatiou
and retraction of the abdomen. This latter symp.
tom is Characteristic. In some cases, while the ap-
petite is voracious, the emacat.on continues -
Not unfrequently in connection with these dis
tressing cough pertinaciously cngs to the patient
Thus assimilating the early stages of tube:cuar
consumption, or marasmus Occasionally drops-
calsymptoms appear during this stage, with albu.
mlnous urine In a majority of cases. while all or
most of these symptoms may be present, this stage
is of shorter duration.
The Second, OF Stage Of Febrile Reac,ion.-This
stage may commence with single distinct chill or
succession Of ch;ls, followed by fever of daily oc-
currence, resembling quotidian ague, or the type
of fever may assume the continued form from the
beginning. During this stage the febrile reaction,
except In decidedly malignant cases. is usually high,
with considerable aggravaton ofa! the preceding
symptoms. 1t is rare circumstance here to Ob-
serve conted tongue. tits almost invariably clean,
and red, but not 0ery moist During this stage the
form of fever is often decidedly renting. The
febrile exacerbations are high attended with fire.
Quent pulse, neuralgia pains in the head back and
limbs Camp fever, though often assirnilatins at
this period the ordinary masnatic fevers in type,
appears in these forms in localities where the latter
nreyajl This Stapa do.
in duration eight or ten days.
1he 1@s'a, or 1dynaneic Stage.-This is pecrl-
larly the stage of vital depression in camp fever
during which, all of its leading elements and fea.
lures are developed.
The relationships existing between the fcbriIe re
action and circulatory excitement observed in the
carly periods, fail to correspond in this While tho
degree OF animal temperature dminishcs the circu
latIon increases in certain ratio. This difference
continues to increase until tendency to health is
established when the normal relationship or balance
IS resumed. 1t Is in this Stage that the nervous
system becomes seriously unbalanced in the form
OF stupcr, somnolcnce, and delirium In some case:
OF camp fever IF anomalous character. dclirinn
appears from the beginning, and continues for sew
eral weeks, the subject having but little fever ant
being aoie to move about usual, presenting tn,
appearance of ordinary lunacy
In other instances, the form of delrium nrcsent.
Tympanitis according to my own observation. il
very rare IN this affection. 10 the contrary, anoth
or characteristic symptom, extreme reduction aut
retracton OF the abdominal walls takes its place a.
this stage. This generally progresses to such al
extent tina. the spinal column, and pusations of tn
aorta can be felt without pressure In connectio,
with this condition diarrhea is almost UNIVERSAL,
present At this period hemorrhage, either fron
the nose, gums, stomach, or intestnes, is common
complication; The blood exhalcd is generally thin
serous' ana but little disposed to coagulate. Tn
rosecolored eruptions of the Enterc Fever of Louis
have never observed in this affection Nor am
aware that liberation of Peyers glands is ever re
realed after DEATH heneuralg icsymptoms which an
noy the patient in the early stages disappear in this
The varying conditions and appearance of tn
tongue during the progress of camp fever are hicb
Characteristic of important morbid changes in th
vital processes Of secretion, nutrition, circulation
and dlsIntesratIon OF tissue Rarely heavily coated
it is usually clean, rel and smooth, and always dr.
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