The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-10-09
Yellow Fever andits Causes Lee
ture at Bellevue College by Pro-
fessor Warren Stone, Of New Dr.
leans.
From the New York Herald,

i
A lecture was delivered yesterday
morning at Bellevue College by Prof.
Warren Stone, OF Louisiana, on yellow
fever, its origin, nature and treatment
There was an unusually large atten-
dance of students, and the medical
profession of the city was well repre-
sented. The Professor began by say
ING that yellow fever was disease pc
enliar to warm climates, and was the
result of something purely atmospheric,
and which totally differed from all 9th
er causes of disease. The filth of cities
and unhealthy surroundings, though OF
course they would render the disease
more deadly by lowering the vitality
and lessening the powers Of resisting it,
could never generate yellowfever. The
fever frequently attacked the healthiest
locations, and sanitary neglect did not
seem to attract its presence. Whenev-
er the fever spread throughout the
country districts it was invariably no
ticed that it ragged with greater viru-
lence and severity than in the cities.
He believed yellow fever to originate
in some peculiar condition of the at
mosphere, and to be spread, not by
personal infection, but by the trans
mission through the atmosphere of the
poison which constituted this peculiar
and dangerous disease. He was espe-
cially anxious that it should be clearly
understood that the fever was not per-
sonally contagious, because of it's bear
ing upon the quarantine question, and
also to prevent the needless fright and
alarm which many persons suffered
), when yellow fever was discovered in
their houses. He had noticed in New
Orleans that business men. compelled
to 90 through the sections of the city
where yellow fever was raging, would
, be attacked, while their families, who
resided outside the city, or even in a
healthier portion Of it, to which the at
mospheric infection had not spread,
: would escape; even though they dwelt
5 for days in the same house with the
, person sick with the disease. At the
, Charity Hospital there were at one time
so many patients, and nurses were SO
/. scarce; that the filth created by pa
0 tents could not be properly cleared
: away. IF yellow fever were contagious
every one ought certainly then to have
: caught the infection, butinstead of that
' they fell sick with a peculiar disease,
e which closely resembled house fever,
: so common in the army hospitals. In
regard to the very best treatment for
yellow fever, he said most persons had
. an idea that yellow fever was violent
y disease, and could only be controlled
Il and mastered by violent remedies
The best treatment, in his opinion, was
that which caused the least annoyance
to the patient, and allowed him to re-
main as quiet and composed as posi-
BILE, care being taken to properly nour-
/, ish him with articles Of diet easily as.
i simulated, such as beef tea and stimu.
,. lants. Many physicians erred in carry
: ing even good remedies too far. Il
was undoubtedly well to encourage
'e moderate perspiration and keep the pa
d tient warm, but it was unnecessary ant
j. injurious to bring on excessive sweat
!, ing, and the same thing applied il
= manv other resDectS.